In the whirligig carnival ride called the ReaganObamaRama --
we must let Obama explain his regressive backslapping of Ronald Reagan.
Obama talks alot about "change". But with his recent Reagan comments, Obama has now clouded all his previous campaign statements about the importance of change in 2008.
Reagan's brand of change was BACKWARD, REGRESSIVE, REACTIONARY change. And it has been continued by neocons and the Bush Gang has conducted its theivery undercover of regressive change. Just because it is "change" doesn't give it worth. It's lazy language to fail to clarify the type of change.
Obama clarifies no differential between what "Obama Change" is compared to what "Reagan Change" was. Just because they are both change, is not good enough, Barack. Because we need clarity that the change that results from the 2008 election will be PROGRESSIVE CHANGE.
Reagan as governor of California instituted one BACKWARD change after another:
o Reagan removed public support for higher education
o Reagan said 'if you've seen one redwood tree, you've seen them all" and proceeded to breakdown conservation measures
o Reagan ended public participation for mental health care and put mental patients on the street -- starting the homeless epidemic!
And in the White House, Reagan practiced the same REACTIONARY change exponentially against the entire nation.
It's called the Reagan Revolution, but it was the OPPOSITE of the American Revolution because the Reagan Revolution was a regressive revolution and the American Revolution of Independence was a PROGRESSIVE REVOLUTION!
The American Revolution following 1776 broke away from Royalty/servitude to tyranny/corporate dominance.
The American Revolution fought for representative and participatory government/power in and from the people/equality as applicable principle/government open to scrutiny.
The Reagan Revolution turned back toward sovereignty of monied class over citizenry at large/power through secrecy/rule by an elite. The Reagan Revolution turned 180 degrees away from the American Revolution. Change like this Reagan change -- who needs it? Not a Republic of freepersons! Because if the Reagan Revolution becomes a total success, there will be no guarantee of freedom. The continuation of the Reagan Revolution shows clearly in the systematic destruction of our Bill of Rights perpetrated by the Bushies!
Obama claimed that the Reagan Revolution was justified by the "excesses of the 60s and 70s". Obama needs to define what he considers "excesses of the 60s and 70s"!
Which of THESE progressive accomplishments of the 60s and 70s does Obama consider "excesses"?: Headstart programs? War on Poverty? Creation of an environmental protection agency to address environmental problems? Superfund program to clean up environmental pollution? Women's right to choose/right to privacy/reproductive choices of contraception? Stopping the unjust Vietnam War? Putting a man on the moon? Civil Rights Act? Gay rights movement? Daycare? Dental coverage? Anti-discrimination, anti-harassment in the workplace? Women's rights movement? Consumer safety (including auto safety like seatbelts)(thank you Ralph and Nader Raiders)? Jimmy Carter energy conservation goals? Cracking down on the mobs? Standing up to a president's impeachable acts?
Obama has to clarify, because we shouldn't accept anybody but Obama himself explaining away the Obama Reagan Love Fest Comments. Obama has to speak for himself and embrace the progressive stance 100 percent or get out of the way so the upfront progressives like Edwards and Kucinich can serve as the voices of us progressives who make up the bulk of the Democratic Party!
This Obama "unity" hype is meaningless if it leads to the nation losing even more ground on social, environmental, energy, etc., issues! Consensus that does not confirm democracy and restoration of our rights and equality on every level is a worthless consensus.