ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE'S MOST FAMOUS VICTIM
The man who managed to cut government spending in as many ways as he found possible: environmental initiatives, the arts, welfare, public assistance, anything that remotely smelled of Democrat or Liberal agenda, and who managed to grow the deficit to sky high numbers, has passed away.
I never liked Reagan when he was alive, and I donít have even a slight semblance of warmer feelings for him in his death. His family suffered the horror of a loved one with Alzheimerís Disease; they are the ones who had a more heart-wrenching time of late than Reagan himself. Alzheimerís is a terror on the afflicted, and even more so on those who care for them.
Of course, that Presidential pension and benefits package provided the Reagan family with the best health care money could buy. Yet another reason to feel not even a twinge of remorse or sadness.
Covert wars in Nicaragua and El Salvador were conducted on his watch and with his blessing. Iran-Contra, the illegal arms for hostages deal Reagan denied, then conceded when evidence emerged showing his hand-on authorization, was Reaganís bete noire.
Yes, he conceded that heíd lied about his authorization and his involvement. He lied to the people. What heíd first claimed, in addressing the people, was bullshit, a white lie. Reagan ultimately ìconceding,î as in, ahem, admitting to lying about, repeat: LYING to the public while in office.
Arms for hostages, a helluva lot worse than lying about getting a blow job from an intern. And this man is heralded as a great leader?
Economic disaster was his legacy. Deregulation policies, the government stepping aside so big business could operate without watchdogs or restriction, were introduced under his watch. Look at the airline industry, broadcasting, energy, all fields that were supposed to bring benefits to the people when federal watchdogging and supposedly restrictive policies were lifted.
Those deregulated arenas fell into some degree of suspended animation during Bush the Elder, as there was less and less money around, thus less opportunity for the monopolies to grow or to take advantage of the freer atmosphere. Then came Clinton the Centrist, who furthered much of the Reagan Deregulation Agenda. And now, with Bush the Younger, all hell has broken loose.
For many years now, when asked about politics or matters relating to business or financial issues, my answer has always been this: I blame it all on Ronald Reagan. He is the root cause of most of what is wrong today.
It would be hypocrisy for me to lament his passing. He was plagued by Alzheimerís, so in many ways he is probably better off today than he was the day before. His family, and American taxpayers, no longer have to shoulder the responsibility of his care.
All sorts of speeches will be made. His strong points will be lauded. The usual platitudes will be replayed: he was a patriot, a poor boy made good, an enemy of Communism, the man who led the final charge against the cold war enemies. The same old same old one hears when a former leader passes.
He was a good speaker, yes. He was telegenic, he could get savaged by the press and come out of it with good sound bites, a grin, and gleaming with that Hollywood smile of his.
Rather than write some false, trite drivel about Reagan, it seems more patriotic and of greater urgency that one think and take action concerning getting Reaganís Veepís son out of the Oval Office.
A moment of silence, maybe, while we consider the Iran-Contra affair, the families that lost government support, the welfare recipients who lost benefits, and that one Reagan nugget: Ketchup is a Vegetable. Yes, thatís the lasting memory that comes to mind when considering that Bonzo Led The Country for eight years.