More images of Ronnie from back in the day…
You’ve provided plenty of handwaving and pouting. Facts and reasoning, not so much.
True, I’ve never seen all of “Black Hawk Down”. You do have that on me. :rolleyes:
Ignored.
Stranger
I love Reagan. I turned 18 in 1980 and I voted for him in my first vote ever, and have voted GOP ever since. He was a good man. I fear we will never hove another president like him.
Why? What did he actually do that was good, in your opinion?
I first posted this in Mellophant:
Reagan was the President during my politically-formative years. The first presidential campaign in which I voted, 1984, was one in which I voted against him (I was and remain a Democrat, although I have voted for Republicans for lesser offices). In hindsight, I think Reagan did more good than harm, but it’s a relatively close call for me.
*For better: *Economic boom including taming inflation; lower taxes overall, and the important '86 tax reform; a long-overdue defense buildup (including, most importantly, the Navy); confronting the USSR in Afghanistan and elsewhere, playing a key (although not absolutely determinative) role in ending the Cold War with the defeat of Soviet communism; much closer ties to the UK due to the Reagan/Thatcher friendship; firing the PATCO (air traffic controller) strikers who had sworn oaths not to strike; overall, vastly improved national mood and self-confidence.
*For worse: *The gap between America’s haves and have-nots increased quite a bit; the Federal budget deficit ballooned; deep cuts to social spending; hostility to teachers; the Christian Right had unmatched influence; endemic corruption among top Reagan appointees; outright hostility towards environmental protection and energy conservation; very conservative judges were appointed at all levels of the Federal courts; violating international law by invading Grenada and supporting the contras; a botched intervention in Lebanon that ended with the bombing of the U.S. Marine barracks; pervasive militarism; an extreme view of Presidential power that was built upon by Dubya; a very poor response to AIDS; use of horoscopes and other mumbo-jumbo by Nancy behind the scenes; very little done to bridge the country’s racial divide; and of course the Iran/Contra fiasco.
[ul]
[li]He brought about the largest peacetime economic expansion since WWII (by doing the exact opposite of what Obama is doing I might add).[/li][li]He made our military strong.[/li][li]He was pivitol in the fall of the Soviet Union.[/li][/ul]There’s three. Any president would be happy just to have those three alone under their belts. Reagan has more.
Have you actually read the rest of this thread? Much of this is already addressed, and has more to do with the myth of Reagan than the reality.
What is Obama doing that is the opposite of what Reagan did?
Its no myth. Its a fact.
[ul]
[li]Massive expansion of governemt: Reagan cut programs, Obama expands them.[/li][li]Weakening the military: Reagan strengthened the military, Obama is planning even more cuts.[/li][/ul]
That’s two big ones. Need more?
And BTW: What sort of MORON cuts military spending in times of war!
So how do you respond to arguments against this in the rest of the thread.
Who cuts spending during the a near great depression or cuts taxes during a war?
You may as well ask me to respond to someone who says there is no God. I would not waste my time on such lunacy.
Could I please ask that you present reputable cites or retract your claim? This is a debate, not ignorant-assertionfest2011.
[quote]
[li]Massive expansion of governemt: Reagan cut programs, Obama expands them.[/li][/quote]
Specific examples. And explain why those specific examples were bad ideas. And while you’re at it, look for specific examples of where Reagan increased government programs.
[quote]
[li]Weakening the military: Reagan strengthened the military, Obama is planning even more cuts.[/li][/quote]
The cuts Obama is suggesting for the military are asked for by the military itself. Explain specific cuts you dislike and explain why you think they’re bad, kay?
A moron who realizes there are specific military programs that aren’t helping the cause of the war and are, in fact, wasteful. Just because you don’t understand something doesn’t make it stupid. Especially if you’re particularly ignorant about the facts of the situation.
Is that because you have no desire to test your beliefs? Which would be typical of an awful lot of religious folks.
Intelligent people should be able to explain why they believe the things they do. If you just believe the things you *want *to, that’s the opposite of being rational. Why are you at a website dedicated to increasing rationality if you don’t value it?
There is no god. Well, except for Neko Case.
Stranger
Yes, the ultimate arbiter for the 21th Century is indeed Youtube.
Stranger
Could you try to make an actual argument instead of linking to a poorly made video without comment? Doesn’t it bother you that you can’t articulate why you believe what you do? Doesn’t that suggest to you that your beliefs are preferences, not intelligently thought out positions?
Is your inability to rationally advocate for what you believe in embarrassing? It seems like it should be embarrassing.
Of course we won’t, it would be almost impossible to triple the deficit these days.
This article is the best I’ve seen:
As it points out, one of the most tangible problems people faced in the 70s economic slump was inflation. It’s forgotten now, because inflation hasn’t been an issue in 30 years, but it was a huge problem at the time, and Reagan played a role in ending it.
Ronald Reagan was a fucking idiot.