Friday, January 2, 2009
Politics / History Inaugural Address of the Day
Posted by Eli Sanders on Fri, Jan 2, 2009 at 8:30 AM
A difficult economic time. A charismatic new president. A debate about how big a role the federal government should take in fixing the country's financial troubles. Sound familiar?
The year is 1981, and the inaugural proposals from this new president, Ronald Reagan, are, in essence, the exact opposite of those we're likely to hear from Barack Obama on January 20. Interestingly, Reagan begins with words that could just as easily have been spoken by Obama:
The economic ills we suffer have come upon us over several decades. They will not go away in days, weeks, or months, but they will go away. They will go away because we, as Americans, have the capacity now, as we have had in the past, to do whatever needs to be done to preserve this last and greatest bastion of freedom.
However, in the next sentence we see, starkly and succinctly, the difference between Reagan conservatism and Obama liberalism. From the idea that Americans can do whatever needs to be done to get out of tough economic times, Reagan arrives at the idea that they can, for the most part, do whatever needs to be done by themselves:
In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem. Government is the problem.
Here's the whole speech. (And here it is on YouTube.)
Share via
2
Reagan engineered the first great financial institution collapse by deregulating the Savings and Loans. When he signed it into law in the rose garden he said "I think we hit the jackpot". Well, his thieving freinds did! He also left the first truly massive deficits. Bad President.
3
If we had Ronald Reagan now, we'd have a chance of kick starting this economy into prosperity - with Obama, however, we're doomed. It's really sad.
5
I prefer to remember:
''In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes.''
And that came from the mouth of the last general to serve as president.
''In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes.''
And that came from the mouth of the last general to serve as president.
6
Government intervention did not end the 1930's depression and it will not solve the current crisis.
WW3 anyone?
WW3 anyone?
7
@6 - In the 1930's, the first government reaction was protectionist trade tariffs, which backfired and made the problem worse. I doubt we'll see anything like that now.
And, what about the three surviving institutions from the New Deal: Federal Reserve, Social Security, and the SEC? I would hate to be without any of those in this economic environment. In fact, I think you can place the blame for the current crisis squarely on the ineffectiveness of the SEC, which was neutered throughout the 70's and 80's. Greed is part of human nature and, for that reason, deregulation does not work.
And, what about the three surviving institutions from the New Deal: Federal Reserve, Social Security, and the SEC? I would hate to be without any of those in this economic environment. In fact, I think you can place the blame for the current crisis squarely on the ineffectiveness of the SEC, which was neutered throughout the 70's and 80's. Greed is part of human nature and, for that reason, deregulation does not work.
8
You all realize we are living with the results of Reaganomics right? Trickle down is based on tax cuts for the rich not the middle or lower classes and the dismemberment all regulation. Reagan pushed it as did Clinton and both of the Bush's.
9
Yep, Reagan may have accomplished a short-term recovery in the '80s, but his policies ultimately planted the seeds (de-progressive taxation, de-regulation, bloated deficits, an entitled military-industrial complex and macho warmongering culture) of our present situation. Never trust cowboys running for office. Never trust cowboys.
10
The only problem is America-hating Socialist Republicans like Reagan and the Bush Wonder Twins.
And their hatred for our form of government and Rule of Law.
And their hatred for our form of government and Rule of Law.
12
Barack Hussein Obama, our Marxist Muslim president-elect (one who should be disqualified because of his lack of proof of American citizenship) will do enough damage to the American way of life with his big government programs that will make the Depression look like a baseball game.
The military already hates him (big protests by military families outside of Hussein's 9 million dollar retreat yesterday), tin pot dictactors don't respect him. Unless some tax cutting conservatives are elected in 2010, I fear that the great country I fought for will descend into armed insurrection.
The military already hates him (big protests by military families outside of Hussein's 9 million dollar retreat yesterday), tin pot dictactors don't respect him. Unless some tax cutting conservatives are elected in 2010, I fear that the great country I fought for will descend into armed insurrection.
13
All Reaganomics proved is that if you start buying things on credit, you can have a really nice party before the bill arrives.
14
OK. This is officially the funniest thing Lord Basil has ever written.
The military already hates him (big protests by military families outside of Hussein's 9 million dollar retreat yesterday)
OK. This is officially the funniest thing Lord Basil has ever written.
16
The election of Reagan proved, once and for all, that we are a nation of idiots. It showed how we had tipped the balance from a (slim) majority intelligent to (slim) majority retarded. But that margin has only grown, as we saw with the election of GWB.
I guess I should be grateful to Reagan though: He gives me hope that there is indeed a God, so that Reagan may actually be burning in hell for all eternity.
I guess I should be grateful to Reagan though: He gives me hope that there is indeed a God, so that Reagan may actually be burning in hell for all eternity.
17
You Obamaites are delusional in the extreme. Not only is Obama not your Mommy, he doesn't even know you exist. Men lose their minds together in groups and recover their sanity one by one. Freedomainradio.com has a far more comprehensive program that you can control and put into action right now - you don't have to wait until Jan 20th for the great change to happen.
Most Commented on Slog
-
Life and Death in a Recliner in South Carolina by Dan Savage
-
Pit Bulls! by Dan Savage
-
Becoming a Man by Dan Savage
-
SL Letter of the Day: Hot & Drunk by Dan Savage
-
Your Wife Died Alone... by Dan Savage
-
Meanwhile in Vancouver by Dan Savage
-
Precious: Brutal New Classic or African-American Bruno? by David Schmader
-
The Democrats Have 60 Votes in the Senate for Health Care Reform by Jonathan Golob
-
Real Salt Lake vs. Galaxy Open Thread by Christopher Frizzelle
-
Health at Every Size by Dan Savage
RSS
Facebook
Twitter
Comments (18) RSS