Post a thought or remembrance for Ronald Reagan
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a good president, but highly overrated.
Jai
Some of Reagan's policies may have been unpopular, but he DID remind us of the virtues of hard work, rather than merely expecting government handouts (ie welfare). And thank you Mr. Reagan for beating the unions back into submission.
MarkT, Foxboro
Terrible president, unless you think illegally selling arms to your enemy and lying about to congress is a good thing. How quickly we forget.
Dave, Norfolk
I remember graduating high school the spring after Reagan took office and finding out that the summer job I lined up the month before fell victim to government budget cuts. I remember expecting there would be some benefit from all of those tax cuts. I remember reading about all the indictments of cabinet officials and Reagan advisors. I remember learning, after the fact, like the nation, about the back-channel bargaining with terrorists when we claimed we would never, ever do that. I remember reading about US support for right-wing death squads in Nicaragua and Guatamala, funded through the CIA and approved by the White House. I remember Reagan cutting taxes for the richest 10 percent of the nation and cutting school lunches by declaring ketchup was a vegetable. I remember feeling relieved when his eight years was up, and when, one by one, his administration members either came clean about their misdeeds or pleaded no contest. No candle burns in my window.
mike, westford
While it is sad that Ronald Reagan has passed away, we should be careful (especially the media) not to re-write history. While President Reagan was a great communicator, he did provide arms to Iran (who the current President has labeled part of the Axis of Evil), and fought an illegal war against a democratically elected government. So while we pay tribute to him and pay our respects, let's not forget the ugly and dark moments of his administration.
Z, Washington, DC
The fact that former Soviet President Gorbachov said upon President Reagan's passing "I deem him a great President" says it all. Thank you President Reason and rest in peace...
Paul, NH
My heart goes out to Nancy. Losing the love of your life must be very hard. I lost my mom to Alzheimers and I know the hell she must have gone through these last couple of years. She must be @ peace knowing that her beloved husband is finally @ rest. God Bless you Reagans in this time of true sorrow.
Mary Ellyn, Nashua, NH
Reagan and his administration made decisions that made the rich richer, the poor poorer, invaded nations for questionable reasons, ignored monumental problems such as AIDS and apartheid, disregarded human rights struggles worldwide in places like the North of Ireland and China and so crippled the higher education financial aid system in this country that those of us who were children during his administration will be paying for those policies for years to come and those who follow us will likely pay even more. The sound bytes that are being broadcast worldwide for this man are laughable. I'm sure he was a fine husband and no one deserves to suffer the way he and his wife have during his illness. But he was not the greatest president since FDR, he helped to disassemble many of the policies and accomplishments that distinguished FDR as a role model for those who occupy the Oval Office, and Ronald Reagan certainly does not deserve to be immortalized on currency, a mountain, or a national monument.
Elizabeth, Brighton, MA
The fawning admiration throughout the news media is making me sick. Doesn't anybody remember how he made us all think we were going to die in a nuclear arms race, then joked "we begin bombing in 5 minutes?" How many innocents died in his misbegotten wars in Central America? Trading arms for hostages and lying about it? Driving up the deficit on the backs of the middle class and poor and feeding the permanent war economy? Dismantling social services? De-regulating air traffic controllers? THAT'S the Reagan I remember. Only stupider.
David, Melrose
Accept the good and the bad about the man. He presided over the creation of 19 million jobs; Presided over the end of the cold war; Gave the country a sense of optimism; Stood for a strong America. But he also: Presided during a period of time when our national debt tripled; Opposed The Voting Rights Act; Opposed the Equal Rights Amendment; Opposed the Civil Rights Act; Supported the Apartheid; Delayed a national response to AIDS. At his best, he was the best. At his weakest, he demonstrated the unfulfilled promise of America and Freedom.
Dan, Weston
