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A Rebuttal of Peggy Noonan’s “Apathy in the Executive” analysis of Obama and Reagan
Rather than stay and fight, Reagan cut and run in Lebanon after 241 marines were killed by terrorist bombs.
Reagan failed to lead – or at least show compassion – on civil rights and race issues. He opposed the civil rights act of 1964 and the voting rights act of 1965. He is also known for openly opposing Equal Amendments Rights – the amendment to the United States Constitution designed to guarantee equal rights for women.
On the economic front like Obama, Reagan came to office in the midst of an economic crisis. The resurgence of Europe and Japan was undercutting America’s manufacturing edge and the crises in the Middle East had caused an enormous jump in the price of oil. Reagan’s solution was “Reaganomics” i.e. to endorse free trade so called market liberalization which resulted in the relaxation of tariffs and the beginning of out sourcing.
Out sourcing resulted in the depletion of America’s manufacturing base (and jobs), creation of corporate tax heavens and the genesis of the US$16.7 trillion debt that America is saddled with. These policies favored the very rich at the expense of the middle class, the historic engine of American prosperity hitherto. The 2008/09 financial crisis is a culmination of years of “Reaganomics” policies.
Obama has been saddled with the task of cleaning up this mess and re-establishing the middle class. I guess having policies of restore America’s manufacturing base and rejuvenating her economy by plugging corporate tax loopholes, reckless deregulation and ending unsanctioned, unbudgeted wars is a sign of weak leadership in the eyes of the Peggy Noonans of this world.
Emmanuel Musaazi is a college professor based in Toronto, Canada.
