President Reagan

I was reading Horowitz, "Left Illusions," and I had the feeling that I could substitute "Islam" for "Lefitist" or "Communist " in almost every instance.

Reagan was correct. He was seen as "intolerant and racist" by many at the time. However, America has become more radical and politically correct that it was in his day, and moral relativism also was not in full swing. Were he President today, I am sure he would make appropriate decisions. He had vision.

Few grasped the urgency of the moral imperative to rescue the oppressed and defend the threatened, and few do now.

Yes, The Innocent people of Nicaragua were oppressed and needed to be killed and liberated by Contra rebels.

only later did I realize that we campus radicals, with all our thirst for justice, were just tools of the totalitarians.

Well that's you problem, You see...You are Always a Tool of the totalitarians. Jumping off the wall from both sides of it is the same. Before you were a 'tool' as a campus radical, now you are a tool of corrupted anglo-saxon corporate model to promote their world dominance.

Well said, Robert. I was no radical during my university years, thanks to my reading of The Gulag Archipelago the summer before my senior year of high school. But I was enough of a young skull full of mush to have voted against him in 1980 and in 1984. Thank goodness he won anyway.

I'm sure we'll hear a lot from people who never outgrew their adolescent rage at Reagan, the ultimate grown-up. All the birkenstock revolutionaries, who visited workers' utopias abroad with return air tickets. Maybe a few more will finally learn something this week.

I was living in Paris when Ron was elected and i remember thinking " How can a second rate holywood actor become the President of the USA ? "
How wrong was I, and all the other french courtier buffoons who rationalised that only "academics or intellectuals" should be leaders of their nations !
Here is a man who predicted and brought about the fall of marxist socialism whilst all the world's inteligentsia were aghast in amazement when the wall came down.
here is a man who mourned the seperation of the europeans from the americans and rightly suggested that if such chasms had not existed , two world wars might have been avoided.
How true is that TODAY?
Here is a man whose simplicity allowed him to view clearly the evils of Communism and who was thanked by millions of Russians for bringing it down.
Here is a man who toay would have seen clearly the evils of Islamization of Europe and dealt with it.
Here is a man from whom Bush can learn so much.
Such honesty is rare in any man let alone a Politician.

"For America there will always be a bright dawn ahead." Ronald Reagan

Mahmoud, take a flying leap off your nearest minaret. With any luck, you'll be like your big hero Mohammed and zoom around in the air for a couple of laps around the old planet before ascending into your final orbit. Wherever that may be, Mahmoud; it could be one of the fierier spots in the universe.

"Corrupted Anglo Saxon corporate model?" Hmmm! somebody's been reading his "Islamic Standard Slogans For All Occasions" handbook.

Yo! Knucklehead! Do you know what "useful idiot" means? Or that you ARE one?

Ronald Reagan was the President of my youth. I couldn't understand why everything had gone wrong for Carter, and President Reagan helped me see the world clearer than I had before. It pains me to know that he is no longer with us, but he has gone on to his reward.
I remember a political cartoon soon after a political opponent, and friend, Tip O`Neil died.
I believe it showed the Pearly Gates opened, and the presumed voice of God saying, Hurry in, the Devil doesn't know you're dead yet."
That is derived from an old Irish saying, "May you be dead a half hopur before the Devil finds out."
I would like to see one showing the Gates opened,
and Reagan standing there and God saying, "Well done, my good and faithful servant, you are just in time to give the keynote address before the sixtieth D-Day gathering."

Robert, you said it succinctly well. Of all the commentary I have heard since President Reagan passed away yesterday, one thing stands out that I believe President G.W. Bush and administration should use as a guideline. I do believe they have done it in many cases already, but it needs doing on every important decision. It is said of President Reagan, that he had princples and no matter what the cricism and obstacles, he stuck to the principles. It was the principles, and his vision that saw us through the Cold War, when he was one of few who could see through to the end of communism as a world threat.

Here's one for the Gipper: I was a social science major with English Literature minor, graduating in 1970. Mr. Reagan's signature is on my B.A. diploma, as Governor of California. With another soc.sci. major, I was standing in line with my cap and gown, ready for the signal to walk into the outdoor amphitheater for the ceremonies. Behind me was a gal from one of my government classes. She was a political science major. She said very loudly, laughing, not realizing that right in front of her was a Social Science major. "What can a social science major do for anyone? It's such a 'no-nothing' major!" Can you imagine what how this comment landed on one's long-last graduation day?! My major didn't include only government classes, but American history and the major concentration was sociology. I intended becoming a teacher, and ended up becoming a U.S. Air Force officer's wife, with a beautiful family of three. Didn't make me any money, for sure!

Here's why it's for the Gipper: President Reagan was a social science major, folks! I dare say that we may be better off with government workers who have a well rounded education, including humanities of various topics! Broad-minded people can achieve much in their chosen fields, and with the talents and gift of vision that Ronald Reagan had, he accomplished something important for America and the world.

The world will miss Mr. Reagan. For others out there studying social scienceS: You have a great future ahead, where you can have a feel for multi-dimensional conditions you must deal with in decision making! Cheers for the Gipper and what he brought into my life, too. I was always inspired by him as an actor, a statesman (not a poly-tician), and a human being.

Many blessings to all the Reagan family, and to President Reagan who looks down from above now....

So tell me "Future-boy" who's the
President of the United States in 1985?
Ronald..Reagan!

RONALD REAGAN.....The ACTOR ?
So who's the First lady,Jane Wyman?
and I guess Jerry Lewis is the Secretary of
the State.

What people are forgetting is that the " containment theory " of dealing with Russia and communism was predicated on it only being a matter of time before the so-called communist states collapsed on themselves. This policy was formulated in the 1950's and adhered to by every American President since the inception of that policy. Ronald Reagan did not invent that. It would have happened anyway if Regan had not been elected.

Ronald Reagan in regards to the jihadist movement fully backed and supported it. He used it as an attack dog to attack Russian interest in Afghanistan , who at the time were battling the same jihad that we are now fighting. He also wheeled and dealed with the Iranians in violation of United States law forbidding dealings with the terrorist regiem in Theran.

As the United States it's self stood after his administration, we had run up a greater national debt during his terms than we had in our entire history as a nation. His " fisical conservatism " was a sheer fraud. A fraud emulated by the two Bush's who have added to that debt to an even greater degree. The end result of such frauds could lead to the economic collapse of the United States it's self. Similar as happened to the old Soviet Union.

Let us be clear about the old Communist regiems. The relation of capital to the worker was the same there as it is here in the West. The state functioned as the employer but the dynamics to the worker was the same as here and also the funtion was the same also. Surplus value and the generation of more capital was that function. The " communist " regiems were capital accumilatin enterprises. They just had a more centralised and less flexible way of going about it. It stagnated and collapsed. As predicted it would back in the 1950's. Ronald Reagan had nothing to do with all of this. These were objective realities that superceded any one individual.

Islam was formulated in pre-capitalist times. So it is at odds with globalization, the modern world. For that reason it will be crushed or forced to conform to world realities. Just as the Catholic Church was formed in feudal times and was at odds with banking and capitalism in Europe and was forced to conform to new economic realities. These realities gave rise to the Lutherans, Calvinist, Methodist to now in America where over 1,000 religious disiplines are practiced.

Wesley

Of Reagan, Margaret Thatcher once said, “Poor dear, there’s nothing between his ears,” while former Defense Secretary Clark Gifford described him as “an amiable dunce.”

Not that that's the sum total of the man Reagan. It’s a caveat, however, for being careful what you worship, or at least being honest about it for the sake of your own integrity.

People tend to endow their chosen idol with the qualities they most admire. I watched it happen with John F. Kennedy, and twenty years later with Ronald Reagan. Both were elevated to the status of near divinity by an adoring public.

This is not a reassuring picture of the human race as rational beings. God knows this world needs rational beings.

I remember back in the 80's I was working two jobs paying for college, hated those people in big houses. Blamed them for me having to pay for college, my sister go a free ride under Carter, now she sits at home and "can't work" because of stress and has to watch every dollar. I am looking at buying a 400K home. To top that, I pay her for my son's afterschool to help her out.
Liberalism is all about blaming others for self inflicted problems, conservatism is realizing you decide where you shit and where you eat. To those who continue to hate Reagan, he didn't screw you, you screwed yourselves and until you realize it, you will continue to do so and the "evil rich" wil; continue to support your sorry asses, suck it up and get a damn job, I flipped burgers.
I loaded boxes at UPS, I decicided to take jobs that paid more and succeeded, anyone that fails is not the evil rich, it is your own shortsidedness. Period.
I came from a tobacco farm to well to do. Before you curse me, perhaps you would do well to ask me how I moved up before you curse me, but if you c curse me, be damn well prepared to explain your own self inflicted failures.Unless you take a failure as a lesson to improve, you set your own future. My futureis good, if yours is not, then ask yourself where did you screw up? it ain;t the fault of some evil rich guy, it is your own fault. UNtil you eat that, well then, I hope you enjoy your doublewide and above ground pool.
ANd when you ride by my house, before you proclaim an expletive, perhaps you should learn the lessons I did.

For the nay-sayers: There is enough commentary on public television by so many varied individuals these past few days about Ronald Reagan, that would put away the kinds of things you have presented here. I had a few complaints about him at the time, too, folks, however in the big picture, he is a man who did make a positive difference in the world.

I heard Oliver North's testimony in the Iran-Contra scandal, and I know exactly what he testified of the Reagan Administration and President Reagan. It is NOT what has been stated here! There were problems with some people, and there were mess-ups as there are in every administration. However, I think it bespeaks the truth, too, that there was not even a hint about any Impeachment for anything by President Reagan.

It's always interesting, too, how some people think the way to justify a position is by simply insulting or putting down the other person--transparent as can be. It is sad, though, to be so negative about our President Reagan, who deserves the dignity of being considered a hero at this time, and in this place. No matter how one wants to slice it, Reagan had integrity and is indeed the man who accomplished what no other had thought could be done proactively, by taking steps and sticking to principles greater than self--history does not wait for action in the desired direction. Sit and "wait" for communism to implode? Duh? What kind of tax dollars were spent on that kind of work? Action must be made, and Reagan knew the time for the world had arrived, and it is clear he was not willing to take no for an answer.

As for taxes and deficits, better listen to the television commentators and history writers on that one. We all know when and where the deficits and taxes are applied.

Reagan Akhbar!!!!!!

If nothing else, he gave us back our pride. I will always remember him with fondness because of that very reason. I joined the best damn Air Force in the world during his tenure and to this day, reflect back with much respect to the "Reagan" years. No president is perfect. They are just men after all, with all man's failings and arrogance. But, Mr. Reagan did have integrity and guts. So does Mr. Bush. We will prevail over islamonazism just as we prevailed over communism. God Bless America, our troops, and Mr. Bush.

If nothing else, he gave us back our pride. I will always remember him with fondness because of that very reason. I joined the best damn Air Force in the world during his tenure and to this day, reflect back with much respect to the "Reagan" years. No president is perfect. They are just men after all, with all man's failings and arrogance. But, Mr. Reagan did have integrity and guts. So does Mr. Bush. We will prevail over islamonazism just as we prevailed over communism. God Bless America, our troops, and Mr. Bush.

Oops, didn't mean to post that twice.

Reagan allied USA with Taliban and bin Laden in Afghanistan and we see the result of his policy today. George W Bush allied USA with Shiites and Sadr in Iraq and we needed not to wait to see the result. Religion (Islam in particular)is a very dangerous and unreliable ally and I hope the USA learns from the past mistakes and not to take any religion (Islam in particular) as an ally. My impression is that USA is doing a rather good job fighting against Islamic terrorism in the USA. The problem is Europe (London as the capital of Islamic fudamentalists and the BBC acting as "Radio Islam") that has not woken up yet. What amazes me is the alliance of Islam ( a danger for humanism) with Communists, Socialists and the Greens.

B.A.-Iran

little men try to belittle giants - it makes them feel less insignificant.

Mahmoud, are you a student at Berkley? Have you been listening to Noam Chomsky...it sounds like it Mahmoud.

"who was the only politician of his age with the courage and vision to call evil evil, and deal with it accordingly."

And let's not forget that he also had the courage to call the proto-Taliban and proto-binLadens "freedom fighters".

Bobby wrote: I would like to see one showing the Gates opened,
and Reagan standing there and God saying, "Well done, my good and faithful servant, you are just in time to give the keynote address before the sixtieth D-Day gathering."

Just beautiful.

President Bush is so very much like Reagan - the same strength and courage, the ability to recognize and look straight on into the face of Evil, and the same faithful steadfastness as well as kindness, charity and giving of brotherly love.

JT your post is probably the best I have ever read. You stated axactly what I feel in the perfect way. People should learn to work instead of complaining why things aren't perfect. That is one reason why I hate the democratic party so much. They do not empower the people the way conservatism does.

Reagan was the epitome of the Republican Party.

Whew!! I am so glad to wake up this morning and read more posts about President Reagan that carry a realistic ring to them, as I remember Reagan the man, the president, the American.

There is a universal principle that has been touched on about Reagan and Bush, and today's conservatives in mass general. First, a note that it has been pointed out that in the Reagan years, "he" is given credit for moving the Republican Party "center" to the far right. That is so very true!

The universal principle on economics and achievement in one's life, referring to all Americans in general, "give a person a meal and when the meal you gave is done it is gone; teach a person how to make his own meal, and he will feed himself for life." A person with vision can see passed the one meal to making many for himself and his loved ones, and he what his children see him do, they will learn from, as well.

Way to go JT!

I at first was angry at Reagan because he cut research funding. Now I work part time in a university...and I wish someone would cut research funding for some of these charlatans.

Life is hard, the sooner we accept that, the better our lives are.

I don't think there will be another president like him, at least until the country falls apart and rebuilds itself again. He was one of the only chief executives who had this clear vision and stated "this is right, that is wrong". He had his faults, namely buying off the hostages in Iran with weapons, but he was the most consistent leader we had had in decades. He cut government entitlement, called out Communism for what it was, responded to Libya's terrorism appropriately, and still enacted legislation for "liberal" social policies like measures maintaining the right of abortion(in fact these policy's were in essence government-limiting measures). At a time when the intelligentsia and the profesoriate were pushing multiculturalism, pluralism, existentialism, and self-negation (which is stronger today, and WILL result society's collapse) , Reagan in his own way and with a strong voice said, "Bullshit". I will miss him, and this country will find in short order how much it misses such strength of character.

Wesley - I have to respond to your comments. Firstly, your posit that that the "containment theory" had been implemented by the US since the 1950's is correct, however you are underestimating what Reagan did on a MORAL scale. Have you forgotten he was one of the only ones decrying Communism for what it was? This was huge, and you're avoiding the elephant in the room here. Also, I love your quote:

"The " communist " regiems were capital accumilatin enterprises. They just had a more centralised and less flexible way of going about it."

Understatment of the year, and the only note I would make would be that the people accumulating the capital were not those who earned it, and that by "less flexible way" you should substitute "they will have you killed if you keep what you earn".

CHAN'AD

Time and context, time and context...Remember Iran?

To the trolls:

Ronald Reagan will be remembered by history as the greatest President of the 20th Century, while you all are just dog turds on the shoe of life.

Mahmoud:

Your continual and predictable attacks of what you fear the most in life support my choices in life.

actually i think greatest pres of 20th century award goes to FDR... you know great depression... WW2

I also want to mention that America did not support the Taliban. My goodness, where do you people get your information.

In fact, we supported what became the Northern Alliance. The Taliban and Bin Laden were supported by Islamic dollars. Please please get the facts right. Read this excerpt from OpinionJournal.com
------
Some years afterwards, in fact, U.S. arms negotiators, reminiscing over the bad old days with their now-no-longer Soviet counterparts at a happy dinner, were interrupted by a fist slamming down upon the table. "You know what caused the downfall of the Soviet Union? You know what did it?" demanded a senior general, a little flush with vodka.

Some racked their brains with thoughts of missile defense, perpetual shortages of everything from soap to vodka, the U.S. military buildup. The general banged his fist again. "That damn speech about the evil empire! That's what did it!" The general was standing now, and to the questioning eyes of one American he added: "It was an evil empire. It was."
----
So please do not tell us Reagan had nothing to do with the collapse, he had everything to do with it. The Russians were so afraid of pissing Reagan off, they put the Former Minister of Agriculture in charge of the Soviet Union, haha.

Great little obit. Didn't know you shared my background and we had similar migrations. Interesting.

To all the idiots who keep bringing up "PAST" support of the Taliban and Aphganistan, its obvious you can not figure out the saying, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend". I guess it is hard to figure out something that requires a tiny bit of intelligence. I guess islamist don't ditinquish between degrees of black and white. If you are not muslim, kill them. Not a whole lot to debate there. Oh forgive me, I meant no dis-respect to the religion of peace.

Slight difference in the 2 Aphganistan wars. USSR went in to control the goverment. To maintain a soviet sponsered puppet. Reagen opposed that, the only way we could, with aid to WHOEVER was fighting back. SInce he was supposed to have the gift of future vision (like Bush also), he was wrong to it. Even though it was very successful. The Aphgan war was prolonged, costing USSR millions of rubles and the de-moralization of their armed forces. If they couldn't beat these guys, how could they expect to even stay on the battle field with NATO.

The USA went into Aphgan to destroy and eliminate a goverment that supported terrorism. JOB DONE. Can you see the difference. Thats it, remove your hate-Bush glasses and read the plain truth.
Aphgan represents 2 successes for the good old USA, Helped to bring down communism and a terrorist goverment. Yes, America did it right. Under republican leadership.

The contra controversy, deals along the same lines. Russia and Cuba (which was Russian money anyway) was supporting the Sandinistas (sp?). Supporting the anti-communist drained the Russian aid and available money AGAIN. Can you see the plan here. Remove your turban, ahhh, the beauty of the truth hits your eyes. There was a entire plan revolving around making the Russian spend and spend money on their military aims.

To the guy who said this was the USA plan all along. Not to be blunt but I am debating whether to de-bunk that or just realize you are an idiot. Have you read about the opposition to SDI from the democrats. The huge anti-missle weapons deployment protests in Europe. These protests, were they denounced by the democrats??????
Nahh, you are not worth it, believe what you want, the truth is not an inconvience to you.

Danjo
Islamist are the new enemy. Worse they have the active support of democrats in this country

I suspect that many bloggers have made the migration to reality due to the actions of Ronald Reagan.

The liberation of Grenada was my personal tipping point...for which I am eternally grateful to Ronald Reagan.

I remember watching the disconnect between what was reported and what I knew to be true and it proved to be too much for my calcified leftism to long survive.

It was then that I began the long process of growing up and thinking for myself.

Long live his legacy!

actually i think greatest pres of 20th century award goes to FDR... you know great depression... WW2

Great choice, Joseph.. Not!

FDR's shortsighted "New Deal" programs deepened the Great Depression, bloated the government, and slowed economic recovery.

He increased the risk and cost of employing people, keeping the unemployment rate exceedingly high. He doubled taxes during the most dire economic times of the last century.

World War II made FDR. His wartime presence saves him from being remembered for what he also was, the most incompetent domestic policy President of the 20th Century.

Whne you balance out his great wartime leadership with his pathetic peacetime activities, you could possibly say he was a moderately above average president, but far from our greatest.

Mahmoud, I love how people bring up the US support for the Contras in Nicaragua. Here's a little background: the US originally supported the dictator Somoza. It seemed to us at the time that if the choice was a Fidel-style dictator or a Somoza-style dictator, we'd take the latter. That isn't an admirable decision, but the choices were limited. The US was blamed for supporting a dictator, with some justice.

The US cut off military aid to Somoza, and the Sandinistas took over. They immediately installed a Marxist dictatorship, which was only an improvement if you're a Marxist. The Reagan administration gave the Contras (counter-revolutionaries) enough supplies to make matters uncomfortable for the Ortega dictatorship, and forced the government into negotiations.

Let's review the bidding: At this point, please recall that we had been blamed for supporting a dictatorship. Next, we were blamed for failing to support a dictatorship in the same country -- in fact, working actively to overthrow it. I have to ask: if we are wrong when we do one thing, and wrong when we do the exact opposite in similar circumstances, are we dealing with a fair judgment of right and wrong? I don't think so.

The result of Reagan's "interference in the internal affairs" of a local dictator was free and democratic elections under international supervision. As a result, the Sandinistas were sent packing. That is to say, they packed up all the loose valuables they could lay their hands on, de-nationalized some prime real estate and sold it to themselves at bargain prices, and generally behaved like the traditional kleptocracy that had previously infested the country. Nevertheless, part of the agreement was that their safety was guaranteed, and we kept it.

So. Overthrowing a dictatorship is bad IF YOU LIKE THE DICTATOR. Holding free elections is bad IF YOUR GUY LOSES. Am I finally getting it? Do we see any parallels with current events?

Mahmoud, fellow creature of God the Compassionate and Merciful and fellow-descendant of Adam and Noah, we Americans saw Nicaragua the way a lot of you Muslims saw Afghanistan at the time. When you saw a Soviet thrust towards the heart of the Islamic World and cast about for allies, we were dealing with a Soviet toehold on the American continent and a row of dominoes pointing towards our own southern border. As for Iran-Contra, Reagan, the Cold Warrior, did not anticipate the now-looming civilizational war, and figured that now that Iran had changed, we had to mend fences with her somehow.

The liberal media, which was so silent about Kennedy's interferences here and there around the world, or praised them, could not accept the landslide victories the American people gave to Reagan--even though, as Scotty Reston of the NYTimes said, the media had done their utmost to defeat him. They and their politician allies, by pressing the Iran-Contra issue, decided to continue their practice of turning our Western tradition of the rule of law into a damned suicide pact.

However, by branding Reagan as a hopeless dunce, the liberal intelligentsia probably freed the former president to forget about his image and get to work to undo the Communist empire. May I point out, the intellectuals of Iran's Tudeh (Communist) Party similarly dismissed Ruhollah Khomeini. Fortunately for America's Leftists, Reagan was more of a self-conscious heir of the rule of law tradition than themselves.

I remember the hapless puppy Jimmy Grinning Gargoyle Carter and his acceleration of American defeat accompanied by stagflation at home. Raised a liberal Democrat, I reluctantly voted for Reagan in 1980. In 1984, I made it a point to cast an absentee ballot for him (I was living abroad)--and, thank you, felt part of a flag-waving, drum-pounding parade as I sealed the ballot and mailed it. Had Scotty Reston been in the room at the time, God forgive me, I'd have flipped the bird right in his face.

And, need I point out, Dame Thatcher ultimately changed her tune about Reagan, as did a horde of others. The man was dumb and crazy like a fox.

BTW, were it not for Ronald Reagan's presidency, the Arabian Peninsula itself would now be raising a large crop of blonde, blue-eyed, high-cheekboned children, and the Muslim 'Ulema would be agonizing over how God could allow the Ka'aba itself to get covered with Cyrillic graffiti, pork fat, and vomited-up vodka without bringing the Day of Judgment.

You say God in his providence protects? I say a hearty "Amen". But my religion lets me have the grace to admit who it was who served as God's providential instrument for the freedom a lot of ingrates now enjoy.

RIP, Mr. Ex-president.

BRAVO! JT - I have been trying to find a way to reconcile how I felt in the '80's with the way I feel now. You have put it into words exactly. They say "if you aren't a liberal in your '20's you have no heart and if you're not a conservative in your '40's you have no brain." Rock on!

I've never quite understood this "Reagan is a dunce" canard. Was it a way of ducking the hard task of actually engaging Reagan's ideas? Or was it a convenient way for the fence-sitters and ankle-biters to distract prying eyes from their own spinning moral compass, lack of resolve and intellectual incoherence in the face of great evil?

B

I remember what Reagan have said..Oh, I did not approve of the trade (The Iran-Contra) However, in his own memoir, he knew about it. Reagan is a good actor. Lying in front of your face and you do not even know about it. He acts like a grandfather figure that you people need to guide you in life. He did more damage than good while he was in office. Now our children will be born with a debt (approx. 60k each) on top of the negative balance in the social security fund.

Reagan is against abortion. He's such a religious fanatic that he even ask Koop to do a study on the negative effects of the abortion on women who are having it. However, Koop did not find any negative effects so Reagan suppresses the report.

He poorly funded the AIDS program. Now Nancy is whining over the stem cell research. If it's good for them, they'll do it if not, screw everyone elses.

Talking about remembering Reagan by putting him on paper money or on Mount Rushmore, I think we oughta name the National Deficit after him, The Ronald Reagan's National Deficit.

Don't forget over 100 of his appointees are crooked...charges with crimes including Reese. Guess who liberate them afterward, none other than another crook, Bush SR.

I do not remember any terrorists from Iraq, do you? Most of them are Saudis. So why are we in Iraq mess right now? Use your head people...no not that one.

And do not forget writing off those taxes rich people. It's sad to see the guy who has worked so hard and has climbed up the economic ladder poorly attack the poor. I am not poor personally but I do have empathy for the poor. I've worked my way up the ladder and continue to do so. Without the poor, who will empty your trash, who will wash your nice car, who will flip those greasy burgers that Rush Limbaugh has been munching on. Yeah, the minimum wage has not been raised acter the Clinton administration.

Next time you are in the hospital, guess who'll be transcribing your record...someone from India. And do not cry if your identity has been stolen or try to sue the companies who are exporting jobs over sea. You agree and support it so suck it up and stop whining when something go wrong like the rest of us.

I loved what you wrote. I linked it to my website. http://urbanpimp.blogspot.com/2004/06/heres-to-you-gipper.html