# 10 things I hate about Ronald Reagan **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 5, 2004, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-things-i-hate-about-ronald-reagan/248840 "2004-06-05T19:06:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2004, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-things-i-hate-about-ronald-reagan/248840/141 "2004-06-06T01:47:10Z")
> [@This Year's Model](#): > > As I stated way back at the beginning of this thread, "So we should sit silent while the hagiographers have their way? Fuck that. " I’m not happy a man died. But neither will I be silent while those who believe he was the greatest thing since sliced bread have their say, and worse, believe that all proper Americans should agree with them. Fuck _that_. When somebody posts a Reagan tribute that says something like that, go right ahead and disagree. This thread wasn’t started by a hagiographer, though, was it? This thread skipped the part where somebody else did something you disagree with, and jumped right to the “YEEEHAAAA!” What is so hard to understand about this? Nobody said every American should be weeping and rending their clothes. Nobody said you have to say you’re sorry, or even that you have to be sorry. Just don’t act like such a bunch of fucking barbarians, for Christ’s sake. The bar isn’t set that high. Besides which, if you really are trying to change minds, talking about the party you’re having or celebrating in gigantic type isn’t exactly the most brilliant way to go about it. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2004, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-things-i-hate-about-ronald-reagan/248840/142 "2004-06-06T01:47:23Z")
Just to make this clear: I don’t see anything immoral about being relieved or even happy at the death of someone you find morally repugnant. This applies equally across the board. I may be scum, but I’m not a hypocrite. I’m not going to get offended at people for doing something that I have no moral qualms about doing myself. Yeah, I’m glad Reagan is dead. So what? Me being happy didn’t make him die any sooner, and me being sad wouldn’t have kept him alive any longer. I’d also like to state for posterity that, if I die while still an active member of this board, anyone who doesn’t like me has my blessing to open a Pit thread about me on the same day. Spit on my memory, dance on my grave, piss on my bones. I won’t care; I’ll be dead. > [@Abbie Carmichael](#): > > The fact that anyone on this board takes [you] remotely seriously is beyond me. That confuses the hell out of me, too. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2004, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-things-i-hate-about-ronald-reagan/248840/143 "2004-06-06T01:50:38Z")
Well, so much for showing people that the Board I am so fond of is filled with thoughtful, compassionate people who know what they are talking about. ☹ **htns, lexi -** Reagan would not be bothered by the likes of you, and neither should we. The yapping of cur-dogs should just be ignored. God Speed, Mr. President. ---
**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2004, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-things-i-hate-about-ronald-reagan/248840/144 "2004-06-06T01:50:55Z")
> [@TeaElle](#): > > This thread has made me feel, for the first time since subscriptions were started, that I’ve wasted my money in becoming a part of this “community.” Some of you very clearly need professional help. And a huge, honking helping of history, humility and humanity. > > The crap I’ve read in these three pages makes me want to vomit. You’ll certainly be missed. You _are_ leaving, right? ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2004, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-things-i-hate-about-ronald-reagan/248840/145 "2004-06-06T01:52:29Z")
Gazing into my crystal ball, I can see that leaving this thread open would probably result in a whole mess of warnings and possibly a banning or two. So I’m gonna close it. Lynn For the Straight Dope ---
**Author:** ![TVeblen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2004, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-things-i-hate-about-ronald-reagan/248840/146 "2004-06-06T01:55:42Z")
> [@rfgdxm](#): > > Interestingly enough, an argument could be made that those who hated Reagan should have hoped he lived longer. Basically, his death today just ended what I presume was a miserable existence for him. Now, Reagan no longer suffers. Cogent point, **rfgdxm**. Uncomfortable, but cogent. I strongly disliked much of what Reagan did as president, though much of it is debatable. One of his worst, IMO, was the decimation of the mental health care system. I witnessed then, and continue to see, some of the most plainly incapacitated people marginalized even more. I approved of his determination to cut waste in governement, because there’s plenty. But too much of it came at the price of tossing badly impaired people onto the streets where they didn’t belong, couldn’t cope and became the problem of local governments–unfunded, of course. Iran Contra, etc.? Usual political sleaze, IMO. Seems like just about every administration is haunted by it. Maybe I’m becoming inured, which is scary. Oddly enough, I think the most damaging, lasting Reagan legacy will be his canny mastery of media. He just brought JFK’s ground breaking oratorical flair and telegenic qualities to fruition. Reagan was _never_ just what appeared on the surface. He spent money like it was water, deliberately co-opted the religious right to his cause–bedamned to actual conservative values–while merrily confounding the media he courted. It was a brauvura performance, and heartfelt. It just wasn’t all that well thought out for lasting consequences. A long term thinker he wasn’t. I don’t think he was a great president. I think he was a _significant_ president, but not actually all that beneficial in terms of legacy. But I certainly wouldn’t wish the horrors of his Alzheimer’s decline and death on him, or his family. I hope he and his family have finally found peace. Veb ---
**Author:** ![rfgdxm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c0e974/32.png) [@rfgdxm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rfgdxm)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2004, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-things-i-hate-about-ronald-reagan/248840/147 "2004-06-06T01:56:38Z")
> [@milroyj](#): > > Whatever, dude, you are being highly offensive, for no apparent reason. Fuck off. I’m fairly new here. Could someone explain the reasons required to be offensive in “The BBQ Pit” here? ---
**Author:** ![htns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ba8739/32.png) [@htns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/htns)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2004, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-things-i-hate-about-ronald-reagan/248840/148 "2004-06-06T01:58:06Z")
> [@Lynn Bodoni](#): > > Gazing into my crystal ball, I can see that leaving this thread open would probably result in a whole mess of warnings and possibly a banning or two. So I’m gonna close it. > > Lynn > For the Straight Dope Thanks. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![CuriousCanuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@CuriousCanuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CuriousCanuck)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2004, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-things-i-hate-about-ronald-reagan/248840/149 "2004-06-06T01:58:23Z")
I am no fan of Reagans, but the man has just died. And regardless of how you felt about his policies, let’s not reduce ourselves to dancing in the streets over a death. I would like to think we are all beyond that. ---
**Author:** ![SallyStar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@SallyStar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SallyStar)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2004, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-things-i-hate-about-ronald-reagan/248840/150 "2004-06-06T01:59:22Z")
> [@htns](#): > > Thanks. 😉 Thanks for what 😕 ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2004, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-things-i-hate-about-ronald-reagan/248840/151 "2004-06-06T02:00:14Z")
On the _nihil nisi bonum_ side, Tip O’Neill correctly observed “Give Reagan his due. He would have made a helluva king.” ---
**Author:** ![rfgdxm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c0e974/32.png) [@rfgdxm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rfgdxm)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2004, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-things-i-hate-about-ronald-reagan/248840/152 "2004-06-06T02:02:34Z")
> [@Lynn Bodoni](#): > > Gazing into my crystal ball, I can see that leaving this thread open would probably result in a whole mess of warnings and possibly a banning or two. So I’m gonna close it. > > Lynn > For the Straight Dope This thread is titled “10 things I hate about Ronald Reagan”. Would not you expect that in this thread hatred of Reagan would be posted? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-things-i-hate-about-ronald-reagan/248840.md?page=7)