I survived Reagan

[Alpharetta]

I survived as a young adult during the Reagan years.

Yes, it was difficult. His lack of concern for 10% unemployment during his recession was troubling. I worked as a security guard in 1983 even though I had graduated with a computer science degree in 1982. Jobs for inexperienced people were tough to find.

I survived Nancy Reagan directing Ronnie's military into Beirut and Grenada based on her astrologer's readings.

I survived Reagan's School of the Americas training Guatemalan government forces how to massacre 300,000 peasants in remote villages who had no idea of who their government was, much less the slightest inclination to revolt against it.

I survived Reagan's sale of weapons to Saddam. Reagan's sale of weapons to the Ayatollah (with Ollie North's help). Reagan's sale of weapons to every party in the Middle East. Sure, the 3000 dead on 9/11 didn't survive it, but the rest of us soldier on.

I survived the U.S. destroyer New Jersey shelling of poor villages of Lebanon. I survived the meaningless death of 240 Marines in Beirut, sent there with an unclear mission, killed in a bombing of their barracks, and then the subsequent withdrawal of U.S. forces.

I survived Reagan's cratering of the school system in California.

I survived Nancy Reagan's "Just Say No" and the escalation of the drug war.

I survived the rise of the Religious Right. I survived the preachers of the 1980's who said AIDS was sent from God to punish the gays.

I survived 8 years of Reagan. 8 years of yuppie fever. 8 years of L.A. Law and preppy styles, 3 piece suits, greed is good, communism is evil, let's rape the environment, anything for business.

I survived living under an evil empire, hoping someday my vote would count.

4 more years of George W. Bush? You lightweight asshole. You're nothing to me. Bring it on. I survived Reagan.

[imenja]

1. George Bush is so much worse than Reagan

and the School of the Americas still thrives.
I appreciate your coping skills though. We will survive, and we will ultimately prevail in putting the country back on track.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. I not only survived Reagan, I survived Nixon.

But if you ask me this is way worse. Nixon and Reagan and Bush I were just the warm-up acts. In those days we had strong Democrats in Congress and news media with spines. We didn't have hate radio and Pox News and a cabal of organized, virulent "Christian" fundamentalists. In contrast, now there is no institution -- not Congress, not the media, not the courts -- standing between this Bush and his goal of a single-party, virtually totalitarian state. Nixon and Reagan were amateurs, and we are well and truly screwed this time.

[gumby]

3. Exactly!

Well said. This is MUCH worse. It's so bad that "democracy" may not survive. If our votes don't count, well.......

[kikiek]

7. I made the mistake of looking up the articles from yesterdays

announcement about stopping the tax breaks companies receive for covering their employees health insurance. Salon's article really summed up this administrations goal well. http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2004/11/20/tax/index.html The people who voted for this jackass have no idea what they have done. Thom Hartman is right we are regressing to the times of Feudal Lords. Us serfs will be too busy trying to survive to fight for our democracy back.

[Claire Beth]

4. my significant other says the same thing n/t

[Shopaholic]

5. I've been saying the same thing. . .

I made it through 8 years of that GOP SOB RR and another 4 of George the Elder. But I was a lot younger then--in my teens & 20's. Now I'm 40 and * is so very much worse than RR & Bush I ever thought about being-combined. I just don't know what the next four years holds for this country and for the world.

[zulchzulu]

6. Reagan is Mr. Rogers compared to the Chimp

Everything Reagan did that was bad has been magnified 10,000 times by the Chimp. Nearly half of Reagan's staff now work for the Chimp. They had to sit out Clinton and did everything they could to make him fuck up, but now they are back.

Badder than ever.

[RafterMan]

8. That's the truth

If the 2004 election had been Bush vs Reagan, I'd have been out there cheerleading Reagan as hard as I cheerled for Kerry.

[quaker bill]

9. So did I, but

Bush is the illegitimate offspring of an ill considered union between Ronald Reagan and Jerry Falwell. (now there is an ugly picture for you)

A cross of Raygun's tendency for the quick draw with Falwell's religious zeal.

Receipe for Bush:

Toss in some of Raygun's social darwinism, nihilsm, and 200 year old economic theories. Then mix in Falwell's selective biblical literalism, puritan sexual obsession, and American exceptionalism. Then, for novelty, add a profound lack of curiosity and fear of intellectual analysis. Bake for 9 months than let stand for 50 years, occasionally baste with liquor and cocaine. Frost lightly with "moral values". Serve cold.

[Califooyah Operative]

10. Its not just about the president, its about the machine and the people

running it controlling the president, clinton controlled his white house, bush does not.