In Reply to: Re: About Reagon posted by Hmmm on June 06, 2004 at 23:36:15:
I'm not a big fan of many of Mr. Reagan's policies, but I do believe it's bad manners to speak ill of the recently departed. I would often feel astonished at how much I liked Mr. Reagan even though I would disagree with 90% of what he was saying at any given time. I thought he was an incredible communicator and had a very likeable, congenial personality. He made me laugh, even when I hated what he was saying.
For better or worse, Mr. Reagan DID introduce revoluationary tax cut policies, which appeared to contribute to economic growth in the late 80s and throughout the 90s. It helps that President Clinton was a fiscal conservative who managed to hold down spending while economic growth caught up with the deficits created by tax cuts.
Causality is a fairly complex phenomenon, and I think it's pointless to argue which of the two presidents should take credit for the economic boom of the late 80s and 90s. It's also pointless to argue whether the current round of tax cuts are an inappropriate application of Reagonomics in our current situation. At some point we will have to put a cap on spending or the deficit will eat us alive before economic growth catches up.
Finally, I am willing to give Mr. Reagan the credit for hammering the nail into the coffin of soviet style communism.
I'm not sure spoofing TF with Reagan's ghost is disrepectful, but if you are grieving the loss of someone you viewed as a good man, it's worthwhile to talk about your sensitivies & perceptions.