Eisenhower Had It Right, Reagan Had It Wrong

"President Dwight David Eisenhower, perhaps the last real Republican, had a 90 percent tax rate for the super rich during his administration.

"Eisenhower explained it this way: The super rich could avoid the high taxes by investing their money in things that make America stronger. If they wanted to avoid high taxes, he said they could invest in business expansions and higher employee wages. They could give a million or two to tax-exempt non-profits that feed, house, and clothe poor people of America, among other things.

"They did some of that, but the Eisenhower years generated enough taxes to launch and complete the labyrinth of interstate highways, the largest road project America had ever seen, and is needed again.

"President Trump said that the recent tax cuts would cause big business to generate more jobs. Federal sources said this week that the tax cuts didn’t bring about more employment. Businesses took the tax break money and squirreled it away or bought back their company’s stock. Greed won. America lost.

"It’s time Congress took control of this country’s economy and do what must be done to take the power away from the greedy rich guys who will never let middle class America bloom the way it did before Ronald Reagan handed the economy to the millionaires and billionaires."

(link, from 2019)

Russia Owns The USA (Mic Drop)

History repeats itself, it doesn't just rhyme. The Republican Party, at least since the 1930s, has had to battle fascist extremists. Until now, it has been able to attenuate and keep them under control. Enter Donald J. Trump, a con man/huckster/racist narcissist who, while portraying himself as a real estate tycoon, went bankrupt several times. In recent decades, his reputation became so toxic that only one bank in the world would lend him money, Deutsche Bank. Yes, the favorite bank of Russian Oligarchs, who used it to launder money. (link)

Connect the dots.

Click here for an excellent summation of the reality of the present USA being a puppet of Russia.

Click here for a reality check from my favorite American historian on how bad things are now in the USA.

There is a base upon which he did it.

Ronald Reagan: The Creator Of What The USA Is Politically Today

“The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the Government, and I'm here to help.” ~ Ronald Reagan 

THE lie that is perpetually embedded in conservatism, with its associated isolationism and individualism.

"Today, we take a look at the life and legacy of President Ronald Reagan, the last transformational U.S. president whose regime we are still living in. Between his neoliberal economics, anti-government ideology, and white supremacist appeal to authoritarians, he did more to shape the last 40 years of the politics of the country and conservative movement than anyone else."

Click on the link below for a better understanding of the present US Republican Party:

Ronald Reagan, It Turns Out, Was Bad

Ronald Reagan: He Exploded The Kindling Fire

"Today, we take a look at the life and legacy of President Ronald Reagan, the last transformational U.S. president who's regime we are still living in. Between his neoliberal economics, anti-government ideology and white supremacist appeal to authoritarians, he did more to shape the last 40 years of the politics of the country and conservative movement than anyone else."

Click on the link below for a history of the Republican party centered around Ronald Reagan's influence:

Ronald Reagan, It Turns Out, Was Bad

The History Of Republican Poison

 The poisonous seed was planted by Goldwater, it was watered and nurtured by Nixon, it bloomed under Reagan, and Trump lighted it on fire and spread it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vx94yMKBlFk&t=1s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVhwQ5Nwt30
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Eisenhower was the last decent Republican POTUS. Although he called himself conservative and said some negative things about organized science and technology, today, he would be a liberal:

"Now it is true that I believe this country is following a dangerous trend when it permits too great a degree of centralization of governmental functions. I oppose this–in some instances the fight is a rather desperate one. But to attain any success it is quite clear that the Federal government cannot avoid or escape responsibilities which the mass of the people firmly believe should be undertaken by it. The political processes of our country are such that if a rule of reason is not applied in this effort, we will lose everything–even to a possible and drastic change in the Constitution. This is what I mean by my constant insistence upon “moderation” in government. Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes you can do these things. Among them are H. L. Hunt (you possibly know his background), a few other Texas oil millionaires, and an occasional politician or business man from other areas.4 Their number is negligible and they are stupid."

https://teachingamericanhistory.org/.../letter-to-edgar.../

" - - - we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military–industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists, and will persist."

https://en.wikipedia.org/.../Eisenhower%27s_farewell_address

"A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both."

"The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army, or in an office."

"Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed"

"This world of ours... must avoid becoming a community of dreadful fear and hate, and be, instead, a proud confederation of mutual trust and respect."

"Here in America, we are descended in blood and in spirit from revolutionists and rebels - men and women who dare to dissent from accepted doctrine. As their heirs, may we never confuse honest dissent with disloyal subversion."

"Politics ought to be the part-time profession of every citizen who would protect the rights and privileges of free people and who would preserve what is good and fruitful in our national heritage."

"Don't join the book burners. Do not think you are going to conceal thoughts by concealing evidence that they ever existed."

and, finally, "Only Americans can hurt America."

https://www.brainyquote.com/.../dwight-d-eisenhower-quotes
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Ironically, Goldwater hit it out of the park with THIS quote:

“Mark my word, if and when these preachers get control of the [Republican] party, and they're sure trying to do so, it's going to be a terrible damn problem. Frankly, these people frighten me. Politics and governing demand compromise. But these Christians believe they are acting in the name of God, so they can't and won't compromise. I know, I've tried to deal with them.”

https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/777519-mark-my-word-if-and-when-these-preachers-get-control

Ronald Reagan: The Truth Instead Of The Myth

Conservatives love to tout Ronald Reagan as a great president.  This article looks at what the man actually did.

10 reasons why Ronald Reagan was the worst president of our lifetime.