Originally posted by gwellington:
He changed America in the early 80's. After the true Christian guidance Jimmy Carter provided Americans on moral and human rights issues during his Administration, Ronald Reagan taught us that all that was wrong. He taught us that it was okay to be rich. He taught us it was okay to ignore, even hate, the disadvantaged. He taught us it was okay to think only of ourselves. He taught us that human rights was a joke, and that being a Christian meant being wholly un-Christ-like in our thoughts and deeds. For that he will truly be remembered.



Ronald Reagan certainly DID change America in the early 1980s. He and his policies brought us out of the pathetic state we were in after four years of Jimmy Carter. Let's see, I believe the "Misery Index" was started when Carter was President... Under Reagan we had a booming economy. The computer industry, high tech, and many other industries took-off and grew like mad.

Another thing. It IS okay to be rich! How do you think this country became the greatest and most free country in the world?!? By everyone being a penniless third-world beggar? NO! By EVERYONE having the opportunity to make something of themselves, REGARDLESS of race, creed, class or anything else! In America it does not matter what "class" you begin life in. Through hard work and perseverence, you can achive virtually anything you set your mind to. (We could achive even MORE if taxes and government regulations were not so onerous... ) When was the last time you got a job from a poor person?

Reagan did NOT teach that it is okay to ignore or hate the disadvantaged. He believed that government is NOT the best way to help these people. Remember that "War on Poverty" thing? Looks like THAT'S really helped, after how freakin' many BILLIONS of dollars we've dumped into that rat-hole. HELLO! If people got to keep more of the money that they earn, they would have more to donate to charities and other agencies to help the less fortunate among us. America is by FAR the most generous country in the WORLD! How many gazillions of dollars do we give to other sorry-assed countries every year? EVEN when they turn around and spit on us and say we're not doing enough!

I don't know what crack you're smoking, but Reagan was one of the most God-fearing presidents we've had. Not one of these poser-Christians who makes sure he's seen by the media carrying a BIG Bible into church come election time, either. (Clinton, wannabe-Pres Kerry...)

Lets see, he also ended the Cold War -- by WINNING!!! And no, we didn't end up with nuclear holocaust either, as the whiners on the left feared. (Bush should take some hints from Reagan as to how to win a war by showing that we are not afraid to use every means at our disposal to win...)

You wanna talk human rights? Do you know what kind of a miserable hell-hole the people in the Soviet Union were living in? Is that the kind of existence you'd like people to endure? Now the former Soviet Union and, in particular many of their former little eastern-bloc states are enjoying more freedom and prosperity than they have ever known. Heck, we just admitted some of them into NATO! They KNOW what kind of Evil Empire the Soviet Union was. Maybe that's why many of them support our war in Iraq.

So yes, Ronald Reagan certainly did change America. He also changed the world.

Marty

98 SVT, Black, No. 786, May 7, 1997. K&N, MSDS, Xcal2, Tint, Antennas, Big Gulp(R)-Sized Cupholder, Rear Dome Lt., Koni/Eibach, DMD, Pre-98 Sails, Brake Cooling Deflectors, Sidemarkers, Etc. 147K+ Miles "Get the Door - It's GrooveNerd!"