Reagan raised taxes

[pbrauer]

Reagan raised taxes

Reagan raised taxes

February 03, 2011 11:00 am ET by Simon Maloy

We're approaching Ronald Reagan's 100th birthday, and the conservative movement -- after three years of mocking liberals who supposedly worship "The Obamessiah" -- are readying to prostrate themselves before the altar of the Gipper and offer up rosy, revisionist hosannas to the Alpha and Omega and Republicanism. We have tribute videos from the Heritage Foundation, tribute videos from Fox News, a book from Newt Gingrich, and, of course, fundraising appeals from the Republican National Committee.
Eager to protect the heavily redacted memory of Reagan, conservatives are spitting mad that anyone would dare put Barack Obama on the same plane as the 40th president. There's no comparison, they argue, given that Reagan brought freedom to the world and saved the American economy and Obama is a socialist Marxist communist who everyone hates.

But for all their complaining about Obama's tax-and-spend "big government" policies, the right is ever reluctant to acknowledge a shameful little secret about Reagan -- he raised taxes. Payroll taxes and energy taxes, to be precise. And Reagan's payroll tax increase was enacted to save Social Security, which he also expanded to cover new federal workers.

So as we sit back and enjoy the right's heartfelt paeans to Ronald Reagan, a tax-cutting conservative champion for the ages, don't forget that Reagan raised taxes to preserve and strengthen the keystone program of New Deal liberalism. Facts like that are apt to be overlooked in times like these.

 

[Deuce]

He also implemented a cap and trade system. *gasp*

 

[haymarket]

Good OP post. I strongly suspect that today, Reagan would be a moderate in the GOP and if he ran for anything he would be primaried by a tea partier.

 

[X Factor]

Reagan raised taxes

Reagan raised taxes

February 03, 2011 11:00 am ET by Simon Maloy

We're approaching Ronald Reagan's 100th birthday, and the conservative movement -- after three years of mocking liberals who supposedly worship "The Obamessiah" -- are readying to prostrate themselves before the altar of the Gipper and offer up rosy, revisionist hosannas to the Alpha and Omega and Republicanism. We have tribute videos from the Heritage Foundation, tribute videos from Fox News, a book from Newt Gingrich, and, of course, fundraising appeals from the Republican National Committee.
Eager to protect the heavily redacted memory of Reagan, conservatives are spitting mad that anyone would dare put Barack Obama on the same plane as the 40th president. There's no comparison, they argue, given that Reagan brought freedom to the world and saved the American economy and Obama is a socialist Marxist communist who everyone hates.

But for all their complaining about Obama's tax-and-spend "big government" policies, the right is ever reluctant to acknowledge a shameful little secret about Reagan -- he raised taxes. Payroll taxes and energy taxes, to be precise. And Reagan's payroll tax increase was enacted to save Social Security, which he also expanded to cover new federal workers.

So as we sit back and enjoy the right's heartfelt paeans to Ronald Reagan, a tax-cutting conservative champion for the ages, don't forget that Reagan raised taxes to preserve and strengthen the keystone program of New Deal liberalism. Facts like that are apt to be overlooked in times like these.

Wonder if Whysoserious will come along and accuse you of plagiarism.

 

[Geo Patric]

sure.

Reagan was an actor, remember? He did a great job of giving the audience what it wanted. he put on a great show. and he delivered in a lot of ways.. selling arms to the terrorist Contras in direct opposition to the wishes of the America people, f'instance.

but, as with most presidents, once in office he was pretty centrist. For all his bluster about cutting the size of government, he actually expanded it. He railed against the evils of abortion but never made even the slightest effort to do anything about it, probably because he didn't give a damn one way or the other. He labeled the S.U. the "Evil Empire" but that did not stop him from proposing START I. In fact, he set in motion negotiation with his Soviet counterparts to eliminate nuclear weapons altogether, an effort that, sadly failed. His war against "entitlements" produced, as you mention ,Pbrauer, the largest increase in the Social Security program since its inception - a $165 billion bailout of the program.

vowing ""to move boldly, decisively, and quickly to control the runaway growth of federal spending", he increased it. Promising to "reduce the size of government" by eliminating the depts of Energy and Education he ADDED a new Dept Of Veteran Affairs. Rather than reduce the number of employees, he increased it by 61,000 souls. That was ok, though, because Clinton did it for him, cutting nearly 400,000 federal employees.

he DID cut taxes... a big, big cut... which lasted for a whole year before he turned around and raised them again by $100b... that is "b" as in BILLION. the next year, he raised taxes on gasoline. and the next, he closed various loopholes effectually increasing tax revenue by another $50b

Of course, there was the great Tax Reform of 1986 where he reduced individual taxes by a chunk.. largest in history, resulting in what so many conservatives are now bitching about... no taxes at all for the poor. But, again, vowing "there is no justification" for increasing corporate taxes, he did anyway, by $120b.

ya know what they call that? they call that Progressive Taxation - just the sorta thing we pinko liberals have been defending for forever.

If it hadn't been for his war mongering, his divisive rhetoric and frightening eschatology he might have gone down as the most liberal president since FDR.


hail the gipper,
geo.

 

[Deuce]

sure.

Reagan was an actor, remember? He did a great job of giving the audience what it wanted. he put on a great show. and he delivered in a lot of ways.. selling arms to the terrorist Contras in direct opposition to the wishes of the America people, f'instance.

but, as with most presidents, once in office he was pretty centrist. For all his bluster about cutting the size of government, he actually expanded it. He railed against the evils of abortion but never made even the slightest effort to do anything about it, probably because he didn't give a damn one way or the other. He labeled the S.U. the "Evil Empire" but that did not stop him from proposing START I. In fact, he set in motion negotiation with his Soviet counterparts to eliminate nuclear weapons altogether, an effort that, sadly failed. His war against "entitlements" produced, as you mention ,Pbrauer, the largest increase in the Social Security program since its inception - a $165 billion bailout of the program.

vowing ""to move boldly, decisively, and quickly to control the runaway growth of federal spending", he increased it. Promising to "reduce the size of government" by eliminating the depts of Energy and Education he ADDED a new Dept Of Veteran Affairs. Rather than reduce the number of employees, he increased it by 61,000 souls. That was ok, though, because Clinton did it for him, cutting nearly 400,000 federal employees.

he DID cut taxes... a big, big cut... which lasted for a whole year before he turned around and raised them again by $100b... that is "b" as in BILLION. the next year, he raised taxes on gasoline. and the next, he closed various loopholes effectually increasing tax revenue by another $50b

Of course, there was the great Tax Reform of 1986 where he reduced individual taxes by a chunk.. largest in history, resulting in what so many conservatives are now bitching about... no taxes at all for the poor. But, again, vowing "there is no justification" for increasing corporate taxes, he did anyway, by $120b.

ya know what they call that? they call that Progressive Taxation - just the sorta thing we pinko liberals have been defending for forever.

If it hadn't been for his war mongering, his divisive rhetoric and frightening eschatology he might have gone down as the most liberal president since FDR.


hail the gipper,
geo.

And yet he is damn-near worshipped as Supply-Side Jesus. It makes me wonder if the far-right is even living in the same universe that I am, or if they're from that bizarro universe.

 

[joe six-pack]

Yep. President Reagan expanded the size of the federal Government, raised taxed twice (one of which was a historic increase) and was a former Democrat.

Governor Reagan had a liberal policy on Abortion. I'd say as a Conservative, Reagan scores a C+. But I respect the man, no disrespect intended.

 

[whysoserious]

He also reduced the number of nuclear arms we have. Something Obama got shredded for and on conservative talk radio I heard them about how we needed to go back to Reaganism.

 

[Jetboogieman]

He also reduced the number of nuclear arms we have. Something Obama got shredded for and on conservative talk radio I heard them about how we needed to go back to Reaganism.

Amazing isn't it...

 

[X Factor]

Gee, with all that libs are saying here, kinda makes you wonder why liberals didn't like him more when he was in office.

 

[The Giant Noodle]

Good OP post. I strongly suspect that today, Reagan would be a moderate in the GOP and if he ran for anything he would be primaried by a tea partier.

Im not sure Reagan would like the Tea Party. I really like Reagan.

 

[Deuce]

Gee, with all that libs are saying here, kinda makes you wonder why liberals didn't like him more when he was in office.

Should we go over his record of messing around in situations like the Contras?

 

[X Factor]

Should we go over his record of messing around in situations like the Contras?

Something about trying to free hostages, right? The bastard.

 

[Deuce]

Something about trying to free hostages, right? The bastard.

Yes. Clearly freeing hostages is the part that upsets people. :roll:

 

[X Factor]

Yes. Clearly freeing hostages is the part that upsets people. :roll:

That's the part y'all always seem to overlook.

 

[TurtleDude]

Reagan raised taxes

Reagan raised taxes

February 03, 2011 11:00 am ET by Simon Maloy

We're approaching Ronald Reagan's 100th birthday, and the conservative movement -- after three years of mocking liberals who supposedly worship "The Obamessiah" -- are readying to prostrate themselves before the altar of the Gipper and offer up rosy, revisionist hosannas to the Alpha and Omega and Republicanism. We have tribute videos from the Heritage Foundation, tribute videos from Fox News, a book from Newt Gingrich, and, of course, fundraising appeals from the Republican National Committee.
Eager to protect the heavily redacted memory of Reagan, conservatives are spitting mad that anyone would dare put Barack Obama on the same plane as the 40th president. There's no comparison, they argue, given that Reagan brought freedom to the world and saved the American economy and Obama is a socialist Marxist communist who everyone hates.

But for all their complaining about Obama's tax-and-spend "big government" policies, the right is ever reluctant to acknowledge a shameful little secret about Reagan -- he raised taxes. Payroll taxes and energy taxes, to be precise. And Reagan's payroll tax increase was enacted to save Social Security, which he also expanded to cover new federal workers.

So as we sit back and enjoy the right's heartfelt paeans to Ronald Reagan, a tax-cutting conservative champion for the ages, don't forget that Reagan raised taxes to preserve and strengthen the keystone program of New Deal liberalism. Facts like that are apt to be overlooked in times like these.

what was the tax rate before Reagan took office?

after he left

so what was his net impact?

 

[joe six-pack]

Gee, with all that libs are saying here, kinda makes you wonder why liberals didn't like him more when he was in office.

I'm guessing it was the "ketchup is a vegetable" comment. :doh

If you actually look at Reagan's approval ratings, which started out very low--he got popular after the attempted assassination. After that point, Reagan was fairly popular on both sides of the isle, he was charismatic and the Nation empathized with him. The partisanship dissolved into ideological cooperation.

None of that changes the fact that Reagan had Liberal policies that Conservatives today would attack any Democrat for. Double standard.

 

[Deuce]

I'm guessing it was the "ketchup is a vegetable" comment. :doh

If you actually look at Reagan's approval ratings, which started out very low--he got popular after the attempted assassination. After that point, Reagan was fairly popular on both sides of the isle, he was charismatic and the Nation empathized with him. The partisanship dissolved into ideological cooperation.

None of that changes the fact that Reagan had Liberal policies that Conservatives today would attack any Democrat for. Double standard.

Not would. Have.

Repeatedly.

 

[X Factor]

I'm guessing it was the "ketchup is a vegetable" comment. :doh

If you actually look at Reagan's approval ratings, which started out very low--he got popular after the attempted assassination. After that point, Reagan was fairly popular on both sides of the isle, he was charismatic and the Nation empathized with him. The partisanship dissolved into ideological cooperation.

None of that changes the fact that Reagan had Liberal policies that Conservatives today would attack any Democrat for. Double standard.

Double standard, huh? What would current a liberal be saying about a person who speaks like this today?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVwGIeD9i3I&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

[Concept]

Reagan raised taxes

Reagan raised taxes

February 03, 2011 11:00 am ET by Simon Maloy

We're approaching Ronald Reagan's 100th birthday, and the conservative movement -- after three years of mocking liberals who supposedly worship "The Obamessiah" -- are readying to prostrate themselves before the altar of the Gipper and offer up rosy, revisionist hosannas to the Alpha and Omega and Republicanism. We have tribute videos from the Heritage Foundation, tribute videos from Fox News, a book from Newt Gingrich, and, of course, fundraising appeals from the Republican National Committee.
Eager to protect the heavily redacted memory of Reagan, conservatives are spitting mad that anyone would dare put Barack Obama on the same plane as the 40th president. There's no comparison, they argue, given that Reagan brought freedom to the world and saved the American economy and Obama is a socialist Marxist communist who everyone hates.

But for all their complaining about Obama's tax-and-spend "big government" policies, the right is ever reluctant to acknowledge a shameful little secret about Reagan -- he raised taxes. Payroll taxes and energy taxes, to be precise. And Reagan's payroll tax increase was enacted to save Social Security, which he also expanded to cover new federal workers.

So as we sit back and enjoy the right's heartfelt paeans to Ronald Reagan, a tax-cutting conservative champion for the ages, don't forget that Reagan raised taxes to preserve and strengthen the keystone program of New Deal liberalism. Facts like that are apt to be overlooked in times like these.

Certainly. He was a liberal champion on certain issues.

"I believe in the idea of amnesty for those who have put down roots and lived here, even though sometime back they may have entered illegally," he said.

A Reagan Legacy: Amnesty For Illegal Immigrants : NPR

He would not survive a Republican primary today. For all the reverence and honor conservative commentators pay him today, they grossly misconceive how far-right views are generally incompatible with his moderate politics.

 

[Geo Patric]

Something about trying to free hostages, right? The bastard.

nah... it was illegal selling of arms to an avowed enemy of the U.S. (and one of its principal allies), conspiracy with a despot whom we would eventually arrest and imprison (noriega) to intervene in the internal affairs of a sovereign nation and redirecting the profits to terrorists in order to disrupt the legitimate government of Nicaragua that was the issue.

you are welcome.

geo.