The Truth About Ronald Reagan That Conservatives Ignore
Think Progress has compiled a list of facts about Ronald Reagan that are rarely mentioned as the myth surrounding his legacy grows. Conservatives have no real leader now, so they’ve constructed one and given it the Reagan persona. As we approach the 100th birthday of the iconic president, this puts things in perspective.
- Reagan was a serial tax raiser. As governor of California, Reagan “signed into law the largest tax increase in the history of any state up till then.” Meanwhile, state spending nearly doubled.
- Reagan nearly tripled the federal budget deficit. During the Reagan years, the debt increased to nearly $3 trillion, “roughly three times as much as the first 80 years of the century had done altogether.”
- Unemployment soared after Reagan’s 1981 tax cuts. Unemployment jumped to 10.8 percent after Reagan enacted his much-touted tax cut, and it took years for the rate to get back down to its previous level. Meanwhile, income inequality exploded.
- Reagan grew the size of the federal government tremendously. Reagan promised “to move boldly, decisively, and quickly to control the runaway growth of federal spending,” but federal spending “ballooned” under Reagan. He bailed out Social Security in 1983 after attempting to privatize it, and set up a progressive taxation system to keep it funded into the future.
- Reagan did little to fight a woman’s right to chose. As governor of California in 1967, Reagan signed a bill to liberalize the state’s abortion laws that “resulted in more than a million abortions.”
- Reagan was a “bellicose peacenik.” He wrote in his memoirs that “[m]y dream…became a world free of nuclear weapons.”
- Reagan gave amnesty to 3 million undocumented immigrants. Reagan signed into law a bill that made any immigrant who had entered the country before 1982 eligible for amnesty.
- Reagan illegally funneled weapons to Iran. Reagan and other senior U.S. officials secretly sold arms to officials in Iran, which was subject to a an arms embargo at the time, in exchange for American hostages. Some funds from the illegal arms sales also went to fund anti-Communist rebels in Nicaragua — something Congress had already prohibited the administration from doing.
- Reagan vetoed a comprehensive anti-Apartheid act. which placed sanctions on South Africa and cut off all American trade with the country. Reagan’s veto was overridden by the Republican-controlled Senate.
- Reagan helped create the Taliban and Osama Bin Laden. Reagan fought a proxy war with the Soviet Union by training, arming, equipping, and funding Islamist mujahidin fighters in Afghanistan. Reagan funneled billions of dollars, along with top-secret intelligence and sophisticated weaponry to these fighters through the Pakistani intelligence service. The Talbian and Osama Bin Laden — a prominent mujahidin commander — emerged from these mujahidin groups Reagan helped create, and U.S. policy towards Pakistan remains strained because of the intelligence services’ close relations to these fighters.
Copyright 2011 Liberaland
DNavyBrat September 24th, 2014 at 03:02
We didn’t forget….it’s just since it’s over some 25 years ago
DNavyBrat September 24th, 2014 at 03:02
We didn’t forget….it’s just since it’s over some 30+ years ago! So to quote a recent saying…. ” “what difference does it make!?”
VicV December 8th, 2014 at 18:28
Everything without context. It’s just more BS, Allen.
VicV December 8th, 2014 at 19:28
Everything without context. It’s just more BS, Allen.
Looseafir December 8th, 2014 at 19:00
Yet every Republican quoted him and every Democrat wishes he was him.
Looseafir December 8th, 2014 at 20:00
Yet every Republican quoted him and every Democrat wishes he was him.
Chestertonian December 8th, 2014 at 19:10
Then why do progressives hate Reagan? He enacted nothing but democrat policies and lied about it the entire time, according to Think Progress. If true, then Reagan was every democrat’s wet dream president.
Chestertonian December 8th, 2014 at 20:10
Then why do progressives hate Reagan? He enacted nothing but democrat policies and lied about it the entire time, according to Think Progress. If true, then Reagan was every democrat’s wet dream president.
CatoYounger December 8th, 2014 at 21:22
This slanderous load of BS is just sad. Anyone who writes such trash should be ashamed.
CatoYounger December 8th, 2014 at 22:22
This slanderous load of BS is just sad. Anyone who writes such trash should be ashamed.
Mike Shapiro December 8th, 2014 at 22:21
Alan Colmes wrote this article. He is a flaming liberal.
Mike Shapiro December 8th, 2014 at 23:21
Alan Colmes wrote this article. He is a flaming liberal.
LMW51 December 9th, 2014 at 07:30
Reagan is not President today. Obama is.
LMW51 December 9th, 2014 at 08:30
Reagan is not President today. Obama is.
Scrap iron January 4th, 2015 at 11:19
These are true facts.
But one must put them in perspective.
And what about income inequality?
BFD
People earm what they are worth, no more, no less (except if you work for the government).
Reagan also attempted to close the federal Department of Education, but was prevented by a DEMOCRAT controlled congress. Why wasn’t THAT little fact lentioned?
Oh, that’s right. It doesn’t show Reagan in a bad light.
Scrap iron January 4th, 2015 at 12:19
These are true facts.
But one must put them in perspective.
And what about income inequality?
BFD
People earm what they are worth, no more, no less (except if you work for the government).
Reagan also attempted to close the federal Department of Education, but was prevented by a DEMOCRAT controlled congress. Why wasn’t THAT little fact lentioned?
Oh, that’s right. It doesn’t show Reagan in a bad light.
Ron Christenson March 18th, 2015 at 13:06
Alan Colmes? lol…go figure. No need to ask “Why you bitter?” than!
PJones March 19th, 2015 at 02:59
“Think Progress has compiled a list of facts.”
That’s the funniest thing I’ve read this year!
Cliff March 20th, 2015 at 21:15
Welcome to liberaland. up is down, right is wrong. The worst amusement park ever.
Eric Domejean March 20th, 2015 at 23:46
Of course you present no counter argument in support of the greatest con man.
Cliff March 21st, 2015 at 08:31
It is called the 80’s. I defend nothing. Alan Colmes can not keep up with an empty suit like sean hannitty. Nice Alan landed on his feet on his own blog. This list is so fucking old. I am surprised that it did not add he signed abortion legislation.
Eric Domejean March 21st, 2015 at 12:27
Con Man Reagan was president in the 80s.
Thinkbeforeyoustink March 21st, 2015 at 05:48
Holy Shit Batman !!!!! What a crock of crap…..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QK3Eo9cScEQ