I’m of two minds about Ronald Reagan.
The first thought I have about him is that he was bats! He believed in voodoo economics to such a degree that George W. Bush is trying to outdo him on the cut-taxes-and-hike-the-deficit front. He pushed the world closer to nuclear war than at any other time since the Cuban Missile Crisis, with his peace-time arms spending, star wars defence initiative, and “evil empire” talk about the Soviet Union. He said the most ridiculous things — the most memorable being that trees caused acid rain! He had a tin (and it turns out, deadly) ear when it came to the AIDS crisis. He disdained welfare, and said government was the enemy. All that would have been enough to make me detest him in any political context.
The problem is, it’s hard not to like someone as kind as Ronald Reagan.
Ronald Reagan deserves his title of “great communicator”. He was an outstanding speechmaker, and he was heartfelt and truthful in a way few can match. Unlike George W. Bush, what you saw with Reagan was what you got — no pretense. He was pure in his beliefs, and steadfast in the love of his country.
He was also the most empathetic politician I have ever known. Most vividly I recall his speech at the memorial to the crew of the destroyed space shuttle Challenger in 1986, where he made one of the most mesmerizing speeches I have ever heard. Afterwards, as he offered his condolences to the families of the crew, you could see how he shared their immense pain and loss — it was written plainly across his face. This was a man who, if he were President today, would have attended almost each and every funeral for the fallen soldiers in Iraq. Dubya can’t even compare to the warmth and compassion of Reagan.
So, despite the fact that many people despised his policies and his politics (myself included), Ronald Reagan remains an icon of American history, and of America in the 1980s. The man was a champion of optimism and looking to the future. He instinctively knew that life can and should get better, and he refused to let people fall into despair and cynicism. It is fitting that the end of his presidency all but coincided with the end of the Cold War. It’s as if history knew that an epoch was ending…for both a man, his country, and the entire world.
Why Vote Liberal? Two words: SCOTT BRISON
Watching CBC News Sunday last night, I watched former Tory-now-Liberal Scott Brison campaigning in his riding of Kings-Hants. He was energetic, enthusiastic, confident, suave…why can’t we have such an MP in all ridings?
He represents the future of Canada: an openly gay politician, accepted by his family and community. He is also a smart, experienced businessman who understands that government can be both fiscally prudent and socially active. There’s no dichotomy in this — Tommy Douglas proved that with a socialist government in the 1940s! Brison is the ideal representative of what it means to be a centrist in this country…and why the Liberals remain the only party that can straddle both sides of the political spectrum. If anything, listening to him spell out why Stephen Harper doesn’t deserve the trust of the citizens of Canada is more than enough reason to appreciate his moral character.
One day, this man could become Prime Minister…and if that happens, I’m absolutely certain we would be in good hands. As far as I’m concerned, Scott Brison is all of Canada, tied up in a single package. He is the product of the last 30 years of this nation’s social development, and we couldn’t ask for a better representative for our country.
Hmm…well, I guess I know who I’ll be supporting in the next leadership campaign. 
