Contrary to Popular Belief

Who said, “There’s no reason why on the street today a citizen should be carrying loaded weapons?”

Who said, “Elected officials need to find common ground and work together to solve difficult problems?”

Are taxes lower under Obama or were they lower during Reagan’s presidency?

Who granted amnesty to 2.6 million illegal immigrants?

Who was president when the United States became a debtor nation for the first time since World War I?

Which president enacted the bill which guaranteed health care access to illegal immigrants?

If you answered Ronald Reagan to all of these questions you are correct.

Most Americans would be shocked to learn these facts. But Ronald Reagan wouldn’t be surprised his legacy has been exaggerated.

Before he became president, as if predicating his future mythology, Reagan once pondered:

“Someday it may be worthwhile to find out how images are created. And even more worthwhile to learn how false images come into being. All of us have grown up accepting with little questions certain images as accurate portraits of public figures, some living some dead. Seldom if ever do we ask if the images are true of the original. Even less do we ask how the images were created. This is probably more true of presidents in our country, because of the intense spotlight which centers on their every move.”

Thanks to Reagan we now have a better understanding of how and why these “images” are created. Images such as Reagan’s idealized conservatism are exploited by political parties to garner support for their ideology and policies. Conservatives have utilized Reagan’s popularity to create a false image that he himself would be embarrassed of. 

Not surprising political parties also like to exploit images to incorrectly brand opponents negatively.  As Winston Churchill liked to say, "A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on."

America’s political “leaders” know this. That’s why party loyalists on both sides fling insults, make false accusations, and ridiculous claims – think “Bush is a fascist,”  “death panels” and “Muslim socialist not born in the USA.”

Historians will look back on these claims as overheated, irrational, partisan rhetoric, but unfortunately voters tend to believe their political “leaders.”

Our political leaders are using their leadership authority to exploit voters, misinform them, and brand political opponents in a negative light.

All this does is exacerbate partisanship, increase conflict, intensify division, and make America less able to confront the serious challenges facing our country.

It needs to stop. How can we have a real debate if we can’t even have a rational conversation?

Other essays you may be interested in… 

Obama: “Let’s Spread the Wealth Around”

Partisanship for Profit

Become a Fan of The Pragmatic Center on Facebook

Follow The Pragmatic Center on Twitter

Register on The Pragmatic Center

Check out our store for political books, movies, and more…

Sorry, no comments are allowed at this time.  Spammers were overwhelming the approval process.  Comments will be allowed again after I install a safeguard to weed out spammers.  Sorry for the inconvenience. 

• American Politics

---