Comments on: A pitiful attempt at downplaying Reagan http://notable.wordpress.com/2007/03/19/a-pitiful-attempt-at-downplaying-reagan/ Field notes from my search for knowledge. Wed, 31 Dec 2008 00:06:11 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Marcus http://notable.wordpress.com/2007/03/19/a-pitiful-attempt-at-downplaying-reagan/#comment-94 Marcus Mon, 19 Mar 2007 13:03:42 +0000 http://notable.wordpress.com/2007/03/19/a-pitiful-attempt-at-downplaying-reagan/#comment-94 Kaz, If you're anti-capitalist I'd first suggest reading <a href="http://notable.wordpress.com/2007/03/15/capitalism-a-system-that-works-because-its-based-on-the-truth-about-peoples-selfishness/" rel="nofollow">this article</a>. There's really not much else I can say, I can however comment on your generalizations that anti-capitalists seem so prone to make. <blockquote>businesses ... the unethical insatiable monsters they are</blockquote> The proportion of ethical to unethical businesses in America is a testament to the efficiency of capitalism. The economy is strong. The poorest Americans are among the richest in the world. <blockquote>abolished the truth in media</blockquote> I'm not sure how you'd begin to back this up. I suppose you could point to some other more enlightened socialist country with a freer press? <blockquote>There is no accountability anymore.</blockquote> Is that why there's a scandal a month and someone gets fired every month in the Republican administration? I'd say that was accountability. Obviously it's not the Republicans firing their own but it shows that the system works. This is, incidentally, another example of the difference between the Bush/Reagan administrations as well. <blockquote>I blame Reagan for this culture of "every man for himself” and “screw the little guy"</blockquote> I suppose you'd like to force your ethics on everyone in America and decide just how much everyone 'deserves.' How much money should the government give me every month if I decide not to work? How much life insurance do I deserve? How much is it my social responsibility to 'donate' to the poor? How can we force the rich to be 'generous.' I'm sure that's what the Republicans and Reagan thought when they wake up in the morning--'How can I screw the little guy today?' As far as Tehran, doing business with Facists in WWII, Project for a New American Century etc. That's fine. Think what you want, half of it has nothing to do with with the argument about Reagan (which you've mostly skirted anyway) and is just your beef with the Republican party as a whole. There are more than enough examples to draw from showing the same type of behavior from the Democrat party. Then your final generalization: <blockquote>They have attracted very questionable types to their party. KKK, Neo-nazi’s, fundamentalists, etc.</blockquote> Um. Which party has a former KKK member in the senate? Oh yeah, the Democrats. Kaz,
If you’re anti-capitalist I’d first suggest reading this article. There’s really not much else I can say, I can however comment on your generalizations that anti-capitalists seem so prone to make.

businesses … the unethical insatiable monsters they are

The proportion of ethical to unethical businesses in America is a testament to the efficiency of capitalism. The economy is strong. The poorest Americans are among the richest in the world.

abolished the truth in media

I’m not sure how you’d begin to back this up. I suppose you could point to some other more enlightened socialist country with a freer press?

There is no accountability anymore.

Is that why there’s a scandal a month and someone gets fired every month in the Republican administration? I’d say that was accountability. Obviously it’s not the Republicans firing their own but it shows that the system works. This is, incidentally, another example of the difference between the Bush/Reagan administrations as well.

I blame Reagan for this culture of “every man for himself” and “screw the little guy”

I suppose you’d like to force your ethics on everyone in America and decide just how much everyone ‘deserves.’ How much money should the government give me every month if I decide not to work? How much life insurance do I deserve? How much is it my social responsibility to ‘donate’ to the poor? How can we force the rich to be ‘generous.’ I’m sure that’s what the Republicans and Reagan thought when they wake up in the morning–’How can I screw the little guy today?’

As far as Tehran, doing business with Facists in WWII, Project for a New American Century etc. That’s fine. Think what you want, half of it has nothing to do with with the argument about Reagan (which you’ve mostly skirted anyway) and is just your beef with the Republican party as a whole. There are more than enough examples to draw from showing the same type of behavior from the Democrat party.

Then your final generalization:

They have attracted very questionable types to their party. KKK, Neo-nazi’s, fundamentalists, etc.

Um. Which party has a former KKK member in the senate? Oh yeah, the Democrats.

]]> By: Kaz http://notable.wordpress.com/2007/03/19/a-pitiful-attempt-at-downplaying-reagan/#comment-92 Kaz Mon, 19 Mar 2007 05:33:07 +0000 http://notable.wordpress.com/2007/03/19/a-pitiful-attempt-at-downplaying-reagan/#comment-92 I would have to strongly agree with Paul Krugman. Reagan and his economics has given birth to this administration - he's the reason the republicans are what they are. He deregulated businesses so that they have become the unethical insatiable monsters they are, feeding off the inequality that capitalism spawns. He abolished the truth in media where you can have propaganda posing as 'news', where smearing and lying is allowed, where it's not against the law for the a newspaper or network to tell lies, mislead, etc. There is no accountability anymore. I blame the republicans and I blame Reagan for this culture of "every man for himself" and "screw the little guy". And let's not forget Reagan breaking the law when he sold arms for hostages. Oliver North took the fall but we all know Reagan went behind Carter's back to negotiate with Tehran. Reagan's legacy is delusional - it's a fabrication that the right needs to promote because they have done nothing to enhance democracy, to better people's lives so that we can all be part of the American dream. They do not foster competition, they want to eliminate it entirely by eating up all the smaller businesses and creating these mega corporations. They even have the infamous reputation of wanting to do business with fascists during WWII because it appealed to their sensibilities on how to run a country. And Project for the New American Century is an offshoot of that camaraderie with fascism. The Republicans have always been a scary group of people. They're the scourge of this nation and they have managed to convince working class people that they care about them when history bears out nothing of the sort. They have attracted very questionable types to their party. KKK, Neo-nazi's, fundamentalists, etc. Cry for Reagan? Not in my lifetime. I would have to strongly agree with Paul Krugman. Reagan and his economics has given birth to this administration – he’s the reason the republicans are what they are. He deregulated businesses so that they have become the unethical insatiable monsters they are, feeding off the inequality that capitalism spawns. He abolished the truth in media where you can have propaganda posing as ‘news’, where smearing and lying is allowed, where it’s not against the law for the a newspaper or network to tell lies, mislead, etc. There is no accountability anymore. I blame the republicans and I blame Reagan for this culture of “every man for himself” and “screw the little guy”. And let’s not forget Reagan breaking the law when he sold arms for hostages. Oliver North took the fall but we all know Reagan went behind Carter’s back to negotiate with Tehran. Reagan’s legacy is delusional – it’s a fabrication that the right needs to promote because they have done nothing to enhance democracy, to better people’s lives so that we can all be part of the American dream. They do not foster competition, they want to eliminate it entirely by eating up all the smaller businesses and creating these mega corporations. They even have the infamous reputation of wanting to do business with fascists during WWII because it appealed to their sensibilities on how to run a country. And Project for the New American Century is an offshoot of that camaraderie with fascism. The Republicans have always been a scary group of people. They’re the scourge of this nation and they have managed to convince working class people that they care about them when history bears out nothing of the sort. They have attracted very questionable types to their party. KKK, Neo-nazi’s, fundamentalists, etc. Cry for Reagan? Not in my lifetime.

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