That sound you hear is the Overton Window swinging as far right as possible.
We have fallen into a trap. A horrible trap partly of our own making. We are in danger of allowing Ronald Reagan to be listed as a truly great President.
How, you say?
Watch this clip from the Ed Show:
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Did you see the trap yet? We talk all the time about how Reagan raised taxes, how he spoke about unions and collective bargaining, how he did a whole bunch of things.
We use Reagan as an example of good governing--how he was able to work with Democrats and achieve policy goals that both were satisfied with.
Then when a person like Jeb Bush says that Reagan would have been kicked out of the Republican Party, we applaud his wisdom.
What's more telling though, is the response of Grover Norquist:
This is the Republican Party that Reagan created — that he envisioned
For once, Grover is telling the truth. Reagan only got half measures passed because he had to work with Democrats in Congress--divided government.
But we ALL know that Reagan wanted to go all the way. Someone had to be the pathfinder. And once those first few chips were made in the 80s, the whole thing would soon come crashing down.
Look at all the charts. Income inequality. Middle class decline. Corporate rule. You name it, it began in 1981.
And we STILL yammer about how Reagan did this and Reagan did that to the Tea People as if it matters to them. They don't care what Reagan did.
Because in their hearts, they too acknowledge what Grover said:
This is the Republican Party that Reagan created — that he envisioned
And it's time we acknowledge it too.