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Saturday, June 5, 2004 - 9:10pmSanction this postReply
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Ronal Reagan will be missed. He was a personal inspiration, and this is a sad day for all of those who have loved him. May he be remembered for his love for our country, our people, and freedom. Bless

Dustin Hawkins
www.dustinmhawkins.com




Post 1

Saturday, June 5, 2004 - 9:23pmSanction this postReply
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A titan has fallen.

By my estimation Ronald Reagan ranks either first or second among the most freedom-loving of 20th-century American Presidents. (Calvin Coolidge is the other contender.) Despite his advanced age, I had always viewed Reagan as a symbol of a dynamic and revitalized American spirit; were it not for him, the hippie muck of the 1960s might have conclusively enacted its consequences upon American culture. Reagan orchestrated a massive reaction, and has bought the allies of Reason time to gain considerable ground. This battle is by no means lost yet!  

By this consideration, Reagan is ageless; perhaps he did not get the chance to live to see some of the greatest triumfs of his principles to come. I am, of course, greatly saddened by his death. Even a few days ago, when I had no expectation of this sudden turn of events, I recalled a famous frase uttered by John Adams on his deathbed: "Jefferson still lives!" I possessed a similar comfort knowing that Reagan still lived; by his integrity, he deserved every one of those 93 years and much, much more!

I am
G. Stolyarov II
Atlas Count 12Atlas Count 12Atlas Count 12Atlas Count 12

(Edited by G. Stolyarov II on 6/05, 9:25pm)




Post 2

Sunday, June 6, 2004 - 7:04amSanction this postReply
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Good morning, Mr. Stolyarov.
 
>>Despite his advanced age, I had always viewed Reagan as a symbol of a dynamic and revitalized American spirit; were it not for him, the hippie muck of the 1960s might have conclusively enacted its consequences upon American culture. Reagan orchestrated a massive reaction, and has bought the allies of Reason time to gain considerable ground.<<
 
Quite true.  Growing up in the Midwest "Rustbelt" when Reagan came along, I can tell you that there was a political sea change when he gave voice to all the ordinary middle class working stiffs who were fed up with the "hippie" attitudes that were becoming institutionalized in government and the culture.  He galvanized a new political coalition that slayed both communism and inflation.
 
I think most of us appreciate his role in defeating the former.  Vanquishing the latter was no small thing either, as it ignited a boom that is still going twenty years later.  Reagan led a change in attitude from the statism of the Great Society toward the liberation of the free market.  We now have a generation of entrepreneurs and a society of owners.  I know this may not seem like enough to some libertarians, but it is important.  It marks a fundamental change.  It is a remarkable fact that the capitalist ideal is now the conventional wisdom when I can so clearly recall as a kid how some god-awful "third way" between capitalism and communism was thought to be the smart thing.
 
Whatever gripes libertarian purists may have with Reagan, he changed the tide, which was the first -- and the hardest -- task in getting us to the free society we all here desire.
 
Regards,
Bill




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Saturday, July 30, 2005 - 4:33amSanction this postReply
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Thank you for posting this. And in case there are some who are not aware, I'd like to point out that this wasnt a parroting of speechwriters. Reagan wrote this speech himself. He is a true hero and will always be missed.



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Post 4

Saturday, July 30, 2005 - 12:23pmSanction this postReply
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1964!

What a difference 40 years makes. What Reagan saw in 1964 was a world marching toward collectivism; America's distinction was that it was marching toward collectivism in smaller steps than the rest of the globe. Reagan saw to removal of the yoke of political control from communication and transportation industries. He made sure that this yoke was never imposed on the nascent computer industry. America finally turned to our own true direction. And within a few years the rest of the world began to turn also.

Reagan is rightly given credit for standing up to the Communist empire with American ideas and strength, but it was really Reagan's de-control of America's communication industry, his de-fanging of the FCC and the freeing of America's own culture, that undermined, worldwide, the false moralities of altruism and collectivism on which Communism was built, and without which it could not grow or even exist. We see the results today, with country after country around the globe becoming freer and more prosperous, having been turned around not merely by the manifest failures of altruism and collectivism, but particularly by the great global flourishing of newly free, American individualist culture in the 70s and 80s.

Today, unfortunately, it is America that failed to turn toward individualism and freedom. In our confrontation against governments and terrorists driven to totalitarianism by faith, America's silent allies of the theocratic wave have revived FCC censorship, and removed from American media everything that might undermine the foundations on which our new enemies are standing. When shall we again have a President who understands the dynamics of history?



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Saturday, July 30, 2005 - 6:22pmSanction this postReply
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Excellent commentary Adam.



Post 6

Saturday, July 30, 2005 - 7:15pmSanction this postReply
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God its refreshing to hear words like that again. Thanks Ronnie.



Post 7

Sunday, July 31, 2005 - 10:40pmSanction this postReply
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    Though I didn't agree with Reagan on many issues he still commanded my respect.  Men of integrity are rare.  He acted in accordance with his convictions and values and I wonder what he might have accomplished had the House and Senate been in Republican hands. 
    By contrast I feel regret and embarrassment when I measure the performance of our current President against Reagan's.  A squandered opportunity for a party and President that command two branches of the government.  I don't share many of their values, but they have demonstrated a lack of courage to even act on the beliefs they claim to hold most strongly.  There will be consequences in the next elections.   Shame on them.  -Steve    




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