Ronnie Not As Great as So Many Want to Believe

The other day, one of my conservative friends posted a picture of Ronald Reagan with the following quote...

"It's time we reduced the federal budget and left the family budget alone."

And of course the person added some typical commentary about Regan being a great president and such.

Now, one could certainly argue over whether government spending (federal budget) should be reduced and/or if any changes need to be made to the tax code (family budget) should be made and how. Sure.

But, I think it absurd is holding up Ronald Regan as some sort of paragon of virtue or riotousness. I am constantly amazed that people still think he was a good president. And I KNOW today's conservatives would tar and feather the man as far, far to liberal for their Republican Party.

But anyway, set aside that Regan was AN ACTOR playing the role of president and that his actions while in office actually created many of our current day problems. If you want to boil Regan down to a quote, don't forget the following things he said...

"Facts are stupid things."

"I am not worried about the deficit. It is big enough to take care of itself."

"Trees cause more pollution than automobiles."


"All the waste in a year from a nuclear power plant can be stored under a desk."

"Approximately 80 percent of our air pollution stems from hydrocarbons released by vegetation, so let's not go overboard in setting and enforcing tough emission standards from man-made sources."


"I can't remember" (repeatedly when asked about his knowledge of the Arms for Hostage scandal).
"What we have found in this country, and maybe we're more aware of it now, is one problem that we've had, even in the best of times, and that is the people who are sleeping on the grates, the homeless who are homeless, you might say, by choice."


"A tree's a tree. How many more do you need to look at?"




And no, these aren't things Ronnie said while trying to elicit a laugh or come across as a good guy. These were hard boiled comments that give you insight into just how little this guy had going on upstairs.
Oh, and here's another one for you: Reagan didn't even utter the word (or acronym) A.I.D.S until the last year of his second term.