I am normally very neutral when it comes to politics, but I think Reagan was a very honest, smart, and likeable man. He was way better than most recent Presidents considering the recent Presidents were the two Bushes, Carter (one of the worst Presidents ever), Johnson, Kennedy, and the ultra-corrupt Nixon.
2007-06-16 14:27:22 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
Absolutely. Reagan was an amazing president. Liberals don't like him, but they don't like anyone who isn't liberal.
He kept the economy humming along, kept government relatively small, and successfully guided us through the Cold War. He made speeches that were compassionate and inspiring. Seriously, who can forget, "Mr. Gorbechov, tear down this wall!"
2007-06-16 14:33:19 · answer #1 · answered by Farly the Seer 5 · 1⤊ 3⤋
I think that Reagan was considered by many to be great because the economy was so bad under Carter and it got better under Reagan and also Reagan made you feel good with those whoop *** speeches, and of course he had some good policies as well as some bad. Many people today believe Reagan helped the Islamics gain more power by helping the Mujahadeen in Afganistan against the Russians while it might have been better in hindsight to let the Russians take care of them in their way. Hindsight is 20/20 though and we were in the cold war, but the Russians are atleast manageable in talks while the Osama's of the world aren't.
2007-06-16 21:44:57 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I just have to assume that people on here are too young to really remember Reagan:
1. Under Reagan, he sent the deficit skyrocketing, growing faster in real dollars than under any other president, including the current one.
2. He cut social spending to the bone, creating the homeless problem by turning hundreds of thousands of mentally ill people out on the streets.
3. He cut school funding, trying to classify ketchup as a vegetable.
4. He traded arms, money, drugs, and hostages between Iran and the Nicaraguan rebels.
5. More appointed officials were indicted and convicted of crimes than under any other president. Over 100 Reagan appointees were convicted of crimes committed while in office.
6. He gave chemical weapons to Saddam Hussein and gave him satellite targeting of Kurds.
7. He claimed that trees cause most pollution.
8. He catastrophically lowered taxes in 1981, creating debt so bad he raised taxes each of the next six years and still didn't make up for it. Tripled the national debt in 8 years.
9. He created the largest-ever shift of tax burden from the wealthy to the middle-class and working poor.
10. He practically eliminated the Department of Energy, making us more dependent on foreign oil.
11. He created the Savings and Loan mess that we are still paying for.
12. Completely ignored the AIDS crisis
13. Wasted billions on a worthless "anti-missile" Shield which violated the ABM treaty.
14. Suppressed Surgeon General C. Everett Koop's reports that followed good science but disagreed with policy.
15. systematically broke the Unions, driving down the middle class.
16. Started the elimination of Tariffs so American companies could move jobs overseas.
17. Artificially inflated the dollar against the yen in an effort to get people to buy American cars. It didn't work. People just paid more for Japanese cars. This also had the affect of destroying the Japanese economy.
Oh, yeah, a great president.
2007-06-16 23:00:26 · answer #3 · answered by s 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You can think that Reagan was a great president and still be considered to be independent; the two are mutually exclusive. The best members of the American electorate are the true independents. We make the politicians work hard for our votes instead of giving them unfaltering obsequity!
2007-06-16 22:24:32 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe and Teddy Roosevelt...No disrespect to Reagan, but best ever is a tall order and I think he falls short to some of the men mention above.
2007-06-16 21:39:44 · answer #5 · answered by East Lansing Brat 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Reagan was great and had the line item veto to battle the democrats in the house and senate. you say Nixon was corrupt that is false Nixon inherited a war and done a better job than most could have done.
2007-06-16 21:33:16 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
The great thing about America is you are free to consider whomever you want whatever you want. And I am free to either agree or disagree with your opinion. Btw, independent doesn't mean you have no opinion.
2007-06-16 21:36:01 · answer #7 · answered by David M 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You may be independent, but not very bright.
Much of the current degradation of the U.S. started with Ronny.
There has yet to be an actor in an elected position that was not a disaster.
The impending failure of the Social Security System is an example of pure Reaganomics. He took a system that had a growing surplus in spite of repeated plunderings, and destroyed it, sending all SS funds into the general fund.
2007-06-16 21:34:03 · answer #8 · answered by Gaspode 7 · 4⤊ 3⤋
Well, I don't know what political persuasion I am (a heinz 57??)but I agree Reagan was one of the greatest presidents ever.
2007-06-16 21:33:13 · answer #9 · answered by hearts_and_thoughts_2003 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Yeah, I guess it's alright. I don't like Reagan's fiscal policies or some of his social stances, but I don't hate him or even really dislike him. He's a Saint compared to Bush.
2007-06-16 21:34:27 · answer #10 · answered by The Doctor 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋