Eisenhower and Reagan Quotes Are Still Pertinent Today

I posted the following two posts on Facebook recently:

“President Eisenhower supported trade unions, Social Security, and progressive taxation. Ike said that opponents of trade unions were “fools.” He called opponents of Social Security “stupid.” And he said that the way to balance the budget was to “tax the rich.””

 

“Where free unions and collective bargaining are forbidden, freedom is lost.” ~Ronald Reagan”

I received a comment that basically implied that a past quote does not make it pertinent in today’s context. I think there is a lot of relevancy in those quotes today.  I think you would have a hard time finding a quote from FDR, Truman, Kennedy, Johnson, Carter or Clinton that so contradicts the current Democratic agenda of national healthcare, the rights of worker, the importance of a strong public education system, the need to eliminate poverty or a fair taxation system.  Those are all major tenets today of Democratic policy, as they have been for decades.  And while the Democratic Party has moved to the right during that time, the Republican Party has moved rapidly and unsustainably far to the right recently.  The quotes from the above Republican standard bearers reflect that that move to the right. 

The Party is becoming so dogmatic that icons of the party would probably be excluded today.  Recent attitudes have seen moderate Republican after moderate Republican drummed out of the party.  Arlen Specter, Lincoln Chafee, Lisa Murkowski, the Override Six… Jim Ramstad, a good Congressman, probably would have had GOP opposition in the last couple elections if he had stayed, and Arne Carlson is a pariah. 

I think there will be a return to moderation at some point.  I think Republicans who are more willing to follow Reagan’s ideals rather than using his name as some sort of conservative badge to prove their worthiness, will begin taking back the party. There are Independents today who are true Republicans, but have left the party officially because of Tom Delay, Karl Rove, Dick Cheney, Sarah Palin, Michelle Bachmann, John Boehner and even celebrities like Glenn Beck.  These people are not mainstream Republicans like Reagan was who appealed to so many independents.  They are not the future of the Party.  They are temporary attention seeking zealots in the mode of Joe McCarthy. 

They place Reagan on a pedestal, but only seem to remember the things that pertain to today’s agenda.  They ignore the deficit growth, tax increases, his hatred of nuclear weapons and his desire to avoid conflict.  One of the stupidest things I heard around the recent election was a series of interviews with Republican candidates who were asked living or dead who they would like to have dinner with.  A few conservatives said a family member or Jesus, but the majority said Ronald Reagan.  It seemed very contrived to me.  These no compromise, no middle ground Republicans don’t belong in Reagan’s company.  Reagan said if 80% of what he wanted passed, it was a success.  80% is a loss in the mind of so many Republicans in power, Walker, the Fitzgerald brothers, Boehner, Pawlenty…  The only correlation between Reagan and some of these extremists is the little “(R)” after their name.  It certainly isn’t intelligence or an understanding of political success.

Jottings and Questions

Am I the only one worried that the Senate will water down the American Clean Energy and Security Act?  So many people and news stories seem hyped about the climate change bill as it has been dubbed.  I’m just not sure it will end up being that great.  Admittedly, I don’t know much about it right now.

What happened to Joe Repya’s blog?  I know he left the republican party, but I liked going to his blog, even before he started attacking the party leadership.

A Christian friend of mine went to the Pride Parade to support her friends.  Why do so many people who call themselves Christians believe it is their job to judge and condemn people they feel are living immorally, and even judge and condemn the people who support them?

Is Jim Ramstad a candidate who can get the republican endorsement?  So many people have this image that he is a centrist republican.  I’m not saying he is — I mean just because he voted for stem-cell research and against drilling in ANWAR does not make him a centrist in my book.  But with that “centrist” image, will the core republicans ignore him in favor of the far-right candidates the base seems to think is needed to take back the party?

I heard a James Dobson radio program recently where Dr. Dobson called George W. Bush absolutely the best president in history for pro-life issues, and Barack Obama the absolutely worst president in history for pro-life issues.  What did George Bush do to end abortion when he had a republican house and senate for three-quarters of his term?  And what exactly has Barack Obama already done to be the worst president ever?  I know Focus on the Family is desperate for money, but scare tactics?

In 2007 the number of children without health insurance was 8.1 million.  I am guessing that number is higher in 2009.  In 2007 nearly 18 percent of the U.S. population was without health insurance.  I am guessing that is also higher in 2009.  With 1 in 5 people without health insurance, why do so many people think there is no healthcare crisis?

Meditation: Living Compassion, Love without Condition

Is John Kline Afraid of Little Old Ladies?

I received an email that Jim Ramstad is holding three town hall style meetings next week. It made me think how unavailable John Kline always seems to be.

I decided to look at some of our other state’s congressional representatives. Jim Oberstar is holding two meetings next week. Tim Walz is holding three meetings. Keith Ellison is holding four meetings this weekend. Collin Peterson was in Crookston for a couple meetings this last weekend.

I know John Kline comes back to the state. I’ve seen pictures. I talked to a staffer last election, Kline doesn’t like to hold meetings because “they are too partisan.” Maybe if he represented his district rather than only the Republicans of the district that voted for him, he would feel a little more welcome.

Those other congressmen aren’t afraid to meet their constituents. You would think a marine corps veteran could withstand the occasional verbal attack from a little old lady who is against the war. If he can’t, maybe he needs to think about retiring.

I suspect John Kline lacks empathy, and finds it hard to understand why people might disagree with his party- I mean with him. He probably also has a hard time relating to Minnesotans. After all, he is a carpetbagger, he has not spent much time here. Minnesotan’s have different view points and different values from Texans.

Steve Sarvi ’s parents moved a lot, but they settled in Minnesota and he grew up here going to school and college in Minnesota. Steve Sarvi has Minnesota values, Minnesota common-sense and Minnesota roots.