Reagan's policies were what one would do to pull the country out of recession. He put us in stimulous mode -- dramatic increases in spending, huge cuts in taxes. The problem is that stimulous measures are usually pulled back when the trouble passes, but Reagan's policies became irreversable Republican doctrine. Their answer to everything has been "reduce taxes, roll back regulation, more military spending" since he took office and through today. The GOP is convinced that if they just do what Reagan did, they will have the same results. The problem with that is, it is stimulous upon perpetual stimulous. Too much stimulation is terrible for the economy. Their are instances when measured stimulous is great for the economy. Reagan's recovery from the recession of the late 70s is a great example, but long term refusal to raise revenue to run the government, and handing the government over to big businesses has gutted the middle class and made life for everyday citizens worse, not better. And since the levers of power are now operated by the big corporations who benefit most from them, there is little hope that they are going to hand that power back willingly.
When Dems are in office, the fierce backlash to roll back any of those policies makes it near impossible to set the country on the right track. When you say "Government caused this mess," I fully agree, and it is Ronald Reagan who launched us in that direction. We need to invest in this country's infrastructure -- power grid, roads and bridges, sewage systems. This will create jobs -- good paying jobs that will get this country moving in the right direction again while bringing in new tax revenue. Let's use that money to invest in renewable energy, get away from fossile fuels and get out of the Middle East once and for all and let them finish their ancient feuds without our intervention. I'm tired of watching news reports about dead American soldiers ... aren't the Republicans? I suppose not. They always seem willing to build and drop more bombs on just about anyone. We need to reform education to prepare the workforce who will drive this economy in the future.
I know, you will say we can't afford such things. I say we cannot afford not to have them. You will say the real problem is with the social programs that help the poor and the underserved. That helping our own people is unsustainable but doing anything but spending 10 times what any other country in the world spends on the military is absolutely unspeakable. Your party was all for stimulous when the Gipper was running things. It's almost like the love of party and its infallible diety is greater than the love of country.
