June 09, 2004
Quote of the Day
Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.
Ronald Reagan
Posted by Russell Whitaker at June 9, 2004 04:57 PM | TrackBackThanks Russell.
Posted by: Michael Reed on June 9, 2004 07:04 PMThis quote is ironic given that it's coming from the president responsible for escalating the War On Drugs, the most freedom-crushing government program we've had (that is, until Homeland Security).
I'm not into Reagan-bashing, but his speeches sometimes bore no resemblance at all to his policies.
Posted by: Bob Tipton on June 9, 2004 08:58 PMBob, I couldn't agree with you more.
Posted by: Russell Whitaker on June 9, 2004 09:48 PMBob is right, alas. The WOD was not Reagan's invention of course, but one would have hoped he would have least not aided and abetted it so much.
What was his record like on the Second Amendment? I haven't seen anything on this. Might be worth an item, Russell.
Posted by: Tom on June 10, 2004 12:51 AMUntil someone pounds a stake through Reagan's heart, I wouldn't dismiss the thought that we haven't seen the last of him.
Posted by: Vaughn1111 on June 10, 2004 08:51 PMYes, Bob. I couldn't agree more. Taken just from his speeches, one would think that America had elected Alexander Hope to be President.
Tom, his 2nd amendment record stinks almost as bad as with drugs. For example, 1986 saw the completion of the 1934 NFA, making it illegal to manufacture any more Class 3 weapons for private purchase. As they wear out, they're gone. It doesn't take an Austrian Economist to point out that the sale price of such things went straight through the roof once that happened, too.
Of course, the thugs and cops get all the machine guns they want.
No major government program or department, no matter how unconstitutional, was dismantled during his tenure. Reagan's complete disconnect between mouth and pen may have been the source of El Neil's insight that Republicans talk like Libertarians when they want to get (re-)elected, and then turn around and vote along with the other half of the Party of State Power once in office.
Don't blame me, I was too young to vote against him the first time, and voted Lib ever since.
Curt-
Posted by: Curt Howland on June 11, 2004 07:53 AM