7 reasons why Ronald Reagan was the worst President of our lifetime

[BigLouie]

1. Reagan cut taxes for the Rich, increased taxes on the Middle Class -
Ronald Reagan is loved by conservatives and was loved by big business throughout his presidency and there's a reason for it. When Reagan came into office in January of 1981, the top tax rate was 70%, but when he left office in 1989 the top tax rate was down to only 28%. As Reagan gave the breaks to all his rich friends, there was a lack of revenue coming into the federal government. In order to bring money back into the government, Reagan was forced to raise taxes eleven times throughout his time in office. One example was when he signed into law the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982. Reagan raised taxes seven of the eight years he was in office and the tax increases were felt hardest by the lower and middle class.

2. Tripling the National Debt -

As Reagan cut taxes for the wealthy, the government was left with less money to spend. When Reagan came into office the national debt was $900 billion, by the time he left the national debt had tripled to $2.8 trillion.

3. Iran/Contra -

In 1986, a group of Americans were being held hostage by a terrorist group with ties to Iran. In an attempt to free the hostages, Ronald Reagan secretly sold arms and money to Iran. Much of the money that was received from the trade went to fund the Nicaragua Contra rebels who were in a war with the Sandinista government of Nicaragua. When the scandal broke in the Untied States it became the biggest story in the country, Reagan tried to down play what happened, but never fully recovered.

4. Reagan funded Terrorists -

The attacks on 9/11 by al-Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden brought new attention to international terrorism. All of a sudden, Americans coast to coast wore their American flag pins, ate their freedom fries and couldn't wait to go to war with anyone who looked like a Muslim. What Americans didn't realize was that the same group that attacked the United States on 9/11 was funded by Ronald Reagan in the 1980s. Prepping for a possible war with the Soviet Union, Ronald Reagan spent billions of dollars funding the Islamist mujahidin Freedom Fighters in Afghanistan. With billions of American dollars, weapons and training coming their way, the Taliban and Osama Bin Laden took everything they were given and gave it back to the United States over a decade later in the worst possible way imaginable.

5. Unemployment issues -
When Ronald Reagan came into office 1981, unemployment was at 7.5%. After Reagan cut taxes for the wealthy, he began raising taxes on the middle and lower class. Corporations started to ship more jobs out of the United States while hiring cheap foreign labor in order to make a bigger profit. While corporations made billions, Americans across the country lost their jobs. As 1982 came to a close, unemployment was nearly 11%. Unemployment began to drop as the years went on, but the jobs that were created were low paying and barely helped people make ends meet. The middle and lower class had their wages nearly frozen as the top earners saw dramatic increases in salary.

6. Ignoring AIDS-
By the time the 1980s came around, AIDS had become one of the most frightening things to happen to the country in recent memory. No one understood what AIDS and HIV really was and when people don't understand something, they become scared of it. The fear of the unknown was sweeping across the country and Americans needed a leader to speak out about this horrible virus, that leader never came. Instead of grabbing the bull by the horns and taking charge, Reagan kept quiet. Reagan couldn't say the words AIDS or HIV until seven years into his presidency, a leader not so much.

7. His attack on Unions and the Middle Class - The Republican war on unions and the middle class has been heating up in states like Wisconsin and Ohio, but it has been going on for a long time. Unions are formed to give a united voice to the workers in an attempt to create fairness between the corporations and their employees. On August 3rd, 1981, PATCO (Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization) went on strike in an effort to get better pay and safer working conditions. Two days later, taking the side of business, Ronald Reagan fired 11,345 workers for not returning to work.

[joe bloe]

Originally Posted by BigLouie

1. Reagan cut taxes for the Rich, increased taxes on the Middle Class -
Ronald Reagan is loved by conservatives and was loved by big business throughout his presidency and there's a reason for it. When Reagan came into office in January of 1981, the top tax rate was 70%, but when he left office in 1989 the top tax rate was down to only 28%. As Reagan gave the breaks to all his rich friends, there was a lack of revenue coming into the federal government. In order to bring money back into the government, Reagan was forced to raise taxes eleven times throughout his time in office. One example was when he signed into law the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982. Reagan raised taxes seven of the eight years he was in office and the tax increases were felt hardest by the lower and middle class.

2. Tripling the National Debt -

As Reagan cut taxes for the wealthy, the government was left with less money to spend. When Reagan came into office the national debt was $900 billion, by the time he left the national debt had tripled to $2.8 trillion.

3. Iran/Contra -

In 1986, a group of Americans were being held hostage by a terrorist group with ties to Iran. In an attempt to free the hostages, Ronald Reagan secretly sold arms and money to Iran. Much of the money that was received from the trade went to fund the Nicaragua Contra rebels who were in a war with the Sandinista government of Nicaragua. When the scandal broke in the Untied States it became the biggest story in the country, Reagan tried to down play what happened, but never fully recovered.

4. Reagan funded Terrorists -

The attacks on 9/11 by al-Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden brought new attention to international terrorism. All of a sudden, Americans coast to coast wore their American flag pins, ate their freedom fries and couldn't wait to go to war with anyone who looked like a Muslim. What Americans didn't realize was that the same group that attacked the United States on 9/11 was funded by Ronald Reagan in the 1980s. Prepping for a possible war with the Soviet Union, Ronald Reagan spent billions of dollars funding the Islamist mujahidin Freedom Fighters in Afghanistan. With billions of American dollars, weapons and training coming their way, the Taliban and Osama Bin Laden took everything they were given and gave it back to the United States over a decade later in the worst possible way imaginable.

5. Unemployment issues -
When Ronald Reagan came into office 1981, unemployment was at 7.5%. After Reagan cut taxes for the wealthy, he began raising taxes on the middle and lower class. Corporations started to ship more jobs out of the United States while hiring cheap foreign labor in order to make a bigger profit. While corporations made billions, Americans across the country lost their jobs. As 1982 came to a close, unemployment was nearly 11%. Unemployment began to drop as the years went on, but the jobs that were created were low paying and barely helped people make ends meet. The middle and lower class had their wages nearly frozen as the top earners saw dramatic increases in salary.

6. Ignoring AIDS-
By the time the 1980s came around, AIDS had become one of the most frightening things to happen to the country in recent memory. No one understood what AIDS and HIV really was and when people don't understand something, they become scared of it. The fear of the unknown was sweeping across the country and Americans needed a leader to speak out about this horrible virus, that leader never came. Instead of grabbing the bull by the horns and taking charge, Reagan kept quiet. Reagan couldn't say the words AIDS or HIV until seven years into his presidency, a leader not so much.

7. His attack on Unions and the Middle Class - The Republican war on unions and the middle class has been heating up in states like Wisconsin and Ohio, but it has been going on for a long time. Unions are formed to give a united voice to the workers in an attempt to create fairness between the corporations and their employees. On August 3rd, 1981, PATCO (Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization) went on strike in an effort to get better pay and safer working conditions. Two days later, taking the side of business, Ronald Reagan fired 11,345 workers for not returning to work.

Reagan lowered income tax rates and at the same time closed loopholes. This did not leave us with "less money to spend". Revenue to the federal government DOUBLED under Reagan; we had more money to spend.

So called supply side economics worked for Reagan. It also worked for John Kennedy when he lowered tax rates. Raising tax rates does not always increase revenue; lowering tax rates does not always decrease revenue. Its not a zero sum game. There is an optimal rate to produce revenue. It's not one percent and it's not ninety nine percent; it's somewhere in between.

[I B Hankering]

Originally Posted by BigLouie

1. Reagan cut taxes for the Rich, increased taxes on the Middle Class – Ronald Reagan is loved by conservatives and was loved by big business throughout his presidency and there's a reason for it. When Reagan came into office in January of 1981, the top tax rate was 70%, but when he left office in 1989 the top tax rate was down to only 28%. As Reagan gave the breaks to all his rich friends, there was a lack of revenue coming into the federal government. In order to bring money back into the government, Reagan was forced to raise taxes eleven times throughout his time in office. One example was when he signed into law the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982. Reagan raised taxes seven of the eight years he was in office and the tax increases were felt hardest by the lower and middle class.

Hell, Obama just gives his friends, Solyndra, Solazyme, etc., public money! Reckon that's the "transparency" he promised.

Originally Posted by BigLouie

2. Tripling the National Debt - As Reagan cut taxes for the wealthy, the government was left with less money to spend. When Reagan came into office the national debt was $900 billion, by the time he left the national debt had tripled to $2.8 trillion.

Small potatoes! It takes a “pro” like the Obaminable One to get it to $15 trillion – that’s a $6 trillion increase in three years – twice the amount you are blaming Reagan for and in less than half the time! http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57326268-503544/national-debt-crosses-$15-trillion-mark/

Originally Posted by BigLouie

3. Iran/Contra - In 1986, a group of Americans were being held hostage by a terrorist group with ties to Iran. In an attempt to free the hostages, Ronald Reagan secretly sold arms and money to Iran. Much of the money that was received from the trade went to fund the Nicaragua Contra rebels who were in a war with the Sandinista government of Nicaragua. When the scandal broke in the Untied States it became the biggest story in the country, Reagan tried to down play what happened, but never fully recovered.

Sounds like Obama’s “Fast and Furious Operation”, except under Obama, Americans are being killed; not saved.

Originally Posted by BigLouie

4. Reagan funded Terrorists - The attacks on 9/11 by al-Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden brought new attention to international terrorism. All of a sudden, Americans coast to coast wore their American flag pins, ate their freedom fries and couldn't wait to go to war with anyone who looked like a Muslim. What Americans didn't realize was that the same group that attacked the United States on 9/11 was funded by Ronald Reagan in the 1980s. Prepping for a possible war with the Soviet Union, Ronald Reagan spent billions of dollars funding the Islamist mujahidin Freedom Fighters in Afghanistan. With billions of American dollars, weapons and training coming their way, the Taliban and Osama Bin Laden took everything they were given and gave it back to the United States over a decade later in the worst possible way imaginable.

Holy shit Sherlock! If FDR hadn’t given Uncle Joe all of those guns, tanks, planes, trucks, etc., during WWII, Reagan wouldn’t have had to fight a damnable proxy war in Afghanistan.

Originally Posted by BigLouie

5. Unemployment issues - When Ronald Reagan came into office 1981, unemployment was at 7.5%. After Reagan cut taxes for the wealthy, he began raising taxes on the middle and lower class. Corporations started to ship more jobs out of the United States while hiring cheap foreign labor in order to make a bigger profit. While corporations made billions, Americans across the country lost their jobs. As 1982 came to a close, unemployment was nearly 11%. Unemployment began to drop as the years went on, but the jobs that were created were low paying and barely helped people make ends meet. The middle and lower class had their wages nearly frozen as the top earners saw dramatic increases in salary.

Obama is "fudging the numbers" using the same method instituted by the Clinton administration 17 years ago.

In 1994 the BLS, Bureau of Labor Statistics, changed the way unemployment was calculated. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unemplo...bor_Statistics

The real unemployment rate is closer to 11% and not the 8.6% the BLS is reporting.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...tPpO_blog.html

And Obama’s real un- and under employment is closer to 20%.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...tPpO_blog.html

Originally Posted by BigLouie

6. Ignoring AIDS- By the time the 1980s came around, AIDS had become one of the most frightening things to happen to the country in recent memory. No one understood what AIDS and HIV really was and when people don't understand something, they become scared of it. The fear of the unknown was sweeping across the country and Americans needed a leader to speak out about this horrible virus, that leader never came. Instead of grabbing the bull by the horns and taking charge, Reagan kept quiet. Reagan couldn't say the words AIDS or HIV until seven years into his presidency, a leader not so much.

You are crying for government intervention in BCD matters? This from the crowd that is so scared the Right is trying to govern their bedroom behavior? Known fact then and now – risk taking behavior (unprotected sex: especially anal sex and certain types of drug use) is the principal means for spreading this disease.

Originally Posted by BigLouie

7. His attack on Unions and the Middle Class - The Republican war on unions and the middle class has been heating up in states like Wisconsin and Ohio, but it has been going on for a long time. Unions are formed to give a united voice to the workers in an attempt to create fairness between the corporations and their employees. On August 3rd, 1981, PATCO (Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization) went on strike in an effort to get better pay and safer working conditions. Two days later, taking the side of business, Ronald Reagan fired 11,345 workers for not returning to work.

“Unions are formed to give a united voice to the workers in an attempt to create fairness between the corporations and their employees.” Fairness? Fairness like what goes on in the teacher’s unions in Wisconsin, and these assholes –

in Manhattan:
http://www.fbi.gov/newyork/press-rel...mpering-crimes

in Michigan:
http://www.justice.gov/usao/mie/news..._ddouglas.html

[waverunner234]

In trading I have learned long time ago:

ALL YOUR ACTIONS NEED TO BE IN YOU OWN BEST INTEREST, WHETHER IT IS TAKING A LOSS OR A PROFIT

I wonder when Americans start voting in their own best interest.

Probably never, we're stuck with a government that is not working yet next time people will vote for their same congressman or senator who has proven to be shit. And then Americans complain that congress has an approval rate lower than 10%.

Every democratic country gets the Government it deserves. People - Voters need to change first, maybe then a better Government will follow.

[JD Barleycorn]

1. Reagan cut taxes for the Rich, increased taxes on the Middle Class -
Ronald Reagan is loved by conservatives and was loved by big business throughout his presidency and there's a reason for it. When Reagan came into office in January of 1981, the top tax rate was 70%, but when he left office in 1989 the top tax rate was down to only 28%. As Reagan gave the breaks to all his rich friends, there was a lack of revenue coming into the federal government. In order to bring money back into the government, Reagan was forced to raise taxes eleven times throughout his time in office. One example was when he signed into law the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982. Reagan raised taxes seven of the eight years he was in office and the tax increases were felt hardest by the lower and middle class.

Is the purpose of taxes to punish or reward? It should be neither but we know otherwise. Reagan cut taxes which increased revenues to the federal government. That is the purpose of taxes, to fund the government without profit. We know that sometimes taxes are cut in order to stimulate a sector of the economy but the opposite is always the effect of raising taxes. Take the yacht tax of the 1990s. It all but destroyed the boat building industry in this country and that mean jobs for working people.
Reagan did raise taxes but you failed to mention why. Tip O'Neil came to Reagan with a deal. The dems (who controlled the Senate and the House) would agree to budget cuts equalling 3 times what tax increases Reagan would sign off on. Reagan thought it was a good deal and raised some taxes. The dems publicly reneged on their promise and never cut spending. That is why the increased revenue never brought about a balanced budget.

2. Tripling the National Debt -

As Reagan cut taxes for the wealthy, the government was left with less money to spend. When Reagan came into office the national debt was $900 billion, by the time he left the national debt had tripled to $2.8 trillion.

The above answer explains some of that for you. The democrats in the House and Senate spent increasingly more money. Reagan also spent money to build up the US military which had been badly hurt by the excesses of Jimmy Carter. Units could not deploy, ships could not sail, people were untrained, and drug use was rampant before Reagan. That readiness costs money. So if military readiness is what your opposed to... you need to separate who spent what and on what in those years.

3. Iran/Contra -

In 1986, a group of Americans were being held hostage by a terrorist group with ties to Iran. In an attempt to free the hostages, Ronald Reagan secretly sold arms and money to Iran. Much of the money that was received from the trade went to fund the Nicaragua Contra rebels who were in a war with the Sandinista government of Nicaragua. When the scandal broke in the Untied States it became the biggest story in the country, Reagan tried to down play what happened, but never fully recovered.

You almost got this all the way right. Arms were sold to Iran AGAIN. You see those weapons had been purchased by the Shah of Iran earlier and were sitting around gathering dust. The navy kept the four ships built for the Shah but the rest was warehoused. They had no black boxes or secret stuff in them. The Congress had passed the Boland amendment which was a violation of the constitution. Foreign policy is the bailiwick of the executive branch and not the legislature. Problem with challenging unconstitutional legislation is that you had better win or it becomes law. Reagan didn't so he ask Oliver North to find away around it. North did. By selling what the Iranians had already bought he got money to send to Nicaragua. Plus North used the sale as a bargaining chip to get US hostages freed in Lebanon. This was after Marine Colonel Higgins was hung by the terrorists and his body dumped on the street. So you are right but not complete.

4. Reagan funded Terrorists -

The attacks on 9/11 by al-Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden brought new attention to international terrorism. All of a sudden, Americans coast to coast wore their American flag pins, ate their freedom fries and couldn't wait to go to war with anyone who looked like a Muslim. What Americans didn't realize was that the same group that attacked the United States on 9/11 was funded by Ronald Reagan in the 1980s. Prepping for a possible war with the Soviet Union, Ronald Reagan spent billions of dollars funding the Islamist mujahidin Freedom Fighters in Afghanistan. With billions of American dollars, weapons and training coming their way, the Taliban and Osama Bin Laden took everything they were given and gave it back to the United States over a decade later in the worst possible way imaginable.

The Taliban didn't exist when Reagan was in office. Jimmy Carter started supplying the Mujahideen after he messed up royally but not reacting to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. After the Soviets pulled out the new Afghan government fell again and then the Taliban took over. This was in the 90s long after Reagan left office. So you are about 90% wrong.

5. Unemployment issues -
When Ronald Reagan came into office 1981, unemployment was at 7.5%. After Reagan cut taxes for the wealthy, he began raising taxes on the middle and lower class. Corporations started to ship more jobs out of the United States while hiring cheap foreign labor in order to make a bigger profit. While corporations made billions, Americans across the country lost their jobs. As 1982 came to a close, unemployment was nearly 11%. Unemployment began to drop as the years went on, but the jobs that were created were low paying and barely helped people make ends meet. The middle and lower class had their wages nearly frozen as the top earners saw dramatic increases in salary.

Unemployment started to rise from June of 1979 under Jimmy Carter. (5.7%) When Reagan took office in January of 1981 it was still increasing (7.5%). So I can't fathom why you say that Reagan was responsible when it began before he even announced he was running for president. Unemployment rose to 10.8% in December of 1982 and began to drop for the rest of Reagan's two terms. It was 5.4% when Bush 41 took office in January 1989. You can quibble about who got paid what but according to the bureau of statistics income and family wealth increased during Reagan's years.

6. Ignoring AIDS-
By the time the 1980s came around, AIDS had become one of the most frightening things to happen to the country in recent memory. No one understood what AIDS and HIV really was and when people don't understand something, they become scared of it. The fear of the unknown was sweeping across the country and Americans needed a leader to speak out about this horrible virus, that leader never came. Instead of grabbing the bull by the horns and taking charge, Reagan kept quiet. Reagan couldn't say the words AIDS or HIV until seven years into his presidency, a leader not so much.

Reagan was a man from an era when you didn't talk about STDs. He signed off on money for research and let the scientists do their thing. He didn't think it was necessary for a president to involve himself in a personal matter. It is safe to say that he didn't feel your pain or your disease. He kept his hands to himself. After he left office Reagan approached the Glasser fund to make commercials for AIDS research but he was turned down because he was, well because he was Reagan and it was a Hollywood liberal outfit. You have to remember that Reagan was from a different era so take it up with the 1940s.

7. His attack on Unions and the Middle Class - The Republican war on unions and the middle class has been heating up in states like Wisconsin and Ohio, but it has been going on for a long time. Unions are formed to give a united voice to the workers in an attempt to create fairness between the corporations and their employees. On August 3rd, 1981, PATCO (Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization) went on strike in an effort to get better pay and safer working conditions. Two days later, taking the side of business, Ronald Reagan fired 11,345 workers for not returning to work.

I am going to call you out on republicans attacking unions. You are wrong. Harry Truman busted the railroad workers union in 1946 and seized the railroads. The strike was eventually settled on Truman's conditions and he was cheered by both houses of Congress when it was announced. Truman called it "social responsibility" and the unions had to learn it. Truman was a democrat. Reagan warned the air traffic controllers that they would be violating the law if they went on strike. They went on strike and threatened to shutdown air travel in the United States. Reagan did what he had to do. He told the controllers that on August 3, 1981 that they had 48 hours to report for work or be fired. The ones who reported kept their jobs, those who didn't were fired. Funny you didn't mention that. You let it sound like ALL the workers got fired which just isn't true. Reagan followed the law, got air travel going again, and kept unemployment from rising faster (you did mention unemployment didn't you?). Nancy Pelosi also busted a hotel workers union when it demanded concession from her husband's booming Napa Valley restaurant and they run a non-union concession to this day. Pelosi is a democrat.

So you left some things out and were just wrong about a couple of others.

[JD Barleycorn]

I decided to post this separately about Wisconsin. You talk about fairness and I would like to know where the fairness is for the taxpayer? The people setting up the contracts are government workers and elected officials who get their compaign money from the very same unions that they agreed with in contract talks. The people supplying that money for salaries, pensions, and healthcare are the taxpayers who get no representation in the talks. Kind of like two people arguing over the deposition of a herd of cattle headed for slaughter except instead of cattle we have taxpayers. I am sure that the cows would like to interject their own ideas into the discussion. So I ask you again, where is the fairness for the taxpayer? The governor is trying to provide it by first asking for concessions that amounted to less than the average private worker but was refused. So the governor took action and made it into legislation which was passed despite the stalling tactics of the democrats who lost the election. (elections have consequences) So now the unions with a lot of outside money are trying to get Adolf Hitler and Micky Mouse to demand a recall election. Ah yes, democracy in action...

[joe bloe]

Originally Posted by waverunner234

In trading I have learned long time ago:

ALL YOUR ACTIONS NEED TO BE IN YOU OWN BEST INTEREST, WHETHER IT IS TAKING A LOSS OR A PROFIT

I wonder when Americans start voting in their own best interest.

Probably never, we're stuck with a government that is not working yet next time people will vote for their same congressman or senator who has proven to be shit. And then Americans complain that congress has an approval rate lower than 10%.

Every democratic country gets the Government it deserves. People - Voters need to change first, maybe then a better Government will follow.

Everyone thinks their congressman is great but the rest are bums. That's because each congressman tailors his vote and rhetoric to please his constituants; they bring home the bacon. That's why our national policies very often are not in the best interest of the nation as a whole. No one wants to sacrifice for the common good.

[WTF]

Originally Posted by joe bloe

Everyone thinks their congressman is great but the rest are bums. That's because each congressman tailors his vote and rhetoric to please his constituants; they bring home the bacon. That's why our national policies very often are not in the best interest of the nation as a whole. No one wants to sacrifice for the common good.

Here Here Comerade!

Hot damn Joe, that was spoken like a true Socialist!

Ronnie brainwashed more folks than Pol Pot btw. As evident right here on this board!

[CuteOldGuy]

Originally Posted by joe bloe

Everyone thinks their congressman is great but the rest are bums. That's because each congressman tailors his vote and rhetoric to please his constituants; they bring home the bacon. That's why our national policies very often are not in the best interest of the nation as a whole. No one wants to sacrifice for the common good.

I think my congressman is an idiot.

[dilbert firestorm]

Originally Posted by CuteOldGuy

I think my congressman is an idiot.

everyones an idiot!!

[joe bloe]

Originally Posted by WTF

Here Here Comerade!

Hot damn Joe, that was spoken like a true Socialist!

Ronnie brainwashed more folks than Pol Pot btw. As evident right here on this board!

Pursuit of self interest is human nature. People are not altruistic by nature. This is why socialism doesn't work. If left to a popular vote, the majority of the people will vote to loot the treasury.

This is why we have a constitution that limits the actions of the federal government. America is not a democracy; we are a republic.

We are going bankrupt because we are operating outside the boundaries of the constitution. If we closed every federal agency that is not constitutional, we could balance the budget over night.

[WTF]

Originally Posted by joe bloe

Pursuit of self interest is human nature. People are not altruistic by nature. .

Oh but they are if only for their self interest....think about that and get back with me.

There is actually much research to counter your belief.

[wellendowed1911]

I wouldn't consider Reagan a horrible President- but he's not as nearly great as Republicans mke him out to be- you have to consider that he was left a big piece of hit that Carter left and he did what he had to do to get us on the right track- but George W Bush worst President by far!!!!!

[CuteOldGuy]

GWB was second worst, until Obama got elected. Now it is no contest.

[I B Hankering]

Originally Posted by CuteOldGuy

GWB was second worst, until Obama got elected. Now it is no contest.

Buchannan