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But one can separate the person from his influence on his society.
Ronald Reagan, as President of the U.S., set the pattern of 'greed takes it all'. Lest we forget, the savings and loan and junk bond debacles occurred during his term in office -- the pattern of corruption that prevails in even larger measure under Bush. Cut taxes of the wealthy and corporations, allow huge barely taxed compensation for not particularly efficient or productive and often criminal leadership of business enterprises -- while simultaneously slashing support systems for those most in need of them -- the under-educated, unemployed, the underpaid, the severely ill and disabled, our children.
I recall Lou Henkin (University Professor Emeritus and Special Service Professor Chairman of the Directorate, Center for the Study of Human Rights, Columbia) noting during Reagan's reign that the only human public support bills that could be passed were those that benefited a majority -- not those most in need of public support.
And so things have been going. Reagan well nigh bankrupted this country with his huge budget gaps, thanks to reduced taxes for the rich combined with massive excessive military outlays -- the Star Wars nonsense that mounted his massive $4.5 trillion deficit.
Nations that put all their efforts into military expenditures and stint on the basics such as education of their children do not compete well with others or prosper over the long run. Reagan launched us on this unholy road to self-destruction, undermined any sense of shared community and destiny, divided us between rich and poor, and initiated a program of greed of the majority.
I can not join this week's adulation. This man may turn out to have been the most destructive of all our presidents. -- "A war is just if there is no alternative, and the resort to arms is legitimate if they represent your last hope." (Livy) -- Ed Kent 718-951-5324 (voice mail only) [blind copies] http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CollegeConversation http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PeaceEfforts http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EndingPoverty
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