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Was Ronald Reagan a libertarian?

Was Ronald Reagan a libertarian?

  • Yes

    Votes: 1 3.4%

  • No

    Votes: 28 96.6%
  • Total voters
    29
Of course he wasnt....he raised taxs 5 times during his presidency

Many Republicans decried the use of additional revenue to help offset any increase in national debt," Connolly said. "Apparently, they forgot that when faced with rising deficits, Ronald Reagan looked to revenue increases, broadening the tax base, closing loopholes and raising taxes. Yes, he raised taxes in 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1987."


http://www.politifact.com/virginia/...rry-connolly-says-reagan-raised-taxes-during/
 
Of course not unless you're operating from a very broad definition of Libertarianism that encompasess virtually the entire right.

In some ways as far as rhetoric goes he was at least an ally of some Libertarian beliefs.
 
He was conservative, but conservative of many branches and could appeal to them all in some measure and disappoint in others.
 
lpast said:
Of course he wasnt....he raised taxs 5 times during his presidency

Many Republicans decried the use of additional revenue to help offset any increase in national debt," Connolly said. "Apparently, they forgot that when faced with rising deficits, Ronald Reagan looked to revenue increases, broadening the tax base, closing loopholes and raising taxes. Yes, he raised taxes in 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1987."


http://www.politifact.com/virginia/...rry-connolly-says-reagan-raised-taxes-during/
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Well, just as there had been a split in the Democratic Party over civil rights, there was also a split in the Republican Party over fiscal policy.

Prior to Ronald Reagan, the Republican Party favored a balanced budget like it does today. However, unlike today, they were willing to do so via tax increases. If I remember my history right, Eisenhower maintained a high tax rate on the wealthy. He did this to bring in tax revenue in order to pay for all the government programs that required funding during the Cold War - drawing down the Korean War, further development of the nuclear arsenal, and the Interstate Highway System.

It wasn't until Reagan started to develop his political career that he started championing decreases in taxes, especially as a method to curtail perceived encroachment of the federal government, especially against so-called socialist policies. Their strategy is that by preventing the government from paying for the services it provides they will ensure that the federal government does not overreach its authority.

Thus Reagan switched the part from one that favors a balanced budget to one that favors deficit spending.

Of course, Reagan was the President under which this transition occurred, and he did have to contend with a Democratic Congress. But I just wanted to point out that, at the time, a Republican President raising taxes wasn't that much of an unheard of thing.
 
Frankly, I don't think we compare libertarians, liberals or conservatives to those who claim the label today. We all have evolved.
Should we not first define the concept during Reagan's administration?
 
samsmart said:
Well, just as there had been a split in the Democratic Party over civil rights, there was also a split in the Republican Party over fiscal policy.

Prior to Ronald Reagan, the Republican Party favored a balanced budget like it does today. However, unlike today, they were willing to do so via tax increases. If I remember my history right, Eisenhower maintained a high tax rate on the wealthy. He did this to bring in tax revenue in order to pay for all the government programs that required funding during the Cold War - drawing down the Korean War, further development of the nuclear arsenal, and the Interstate Highway System.

It wasn't until Reagan started to develop his political career that he started championing decreases in taxes, especially as a method to curtail perceived encroachment of the federal government, especially against so-called socialist policies. Their strategy is that by preventing the government from paying for the services it provides they will ensure that the federal government does not overreach its authority.

Thus Reagan switched the part from one that favors a balanced budget to one that favors deficit spending.

Of course, Reagan was the President under which this transition occurred, and he did have to contend with a Democratic Congress. But I just wanted to point out that, at the time, a Republican President raising taxes wasn't that much of an unheard of thing.
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What I find very confusing is the republicans and the teaparty consider reagan their hero...he raised taxes continuously through his presidency....Obama hasnt raised taxs at all and even passed on letting the bush tax cuts expire.
Bush gave the first trillion away on bailouts and obama continued more but he hasnt raised taxs other than Obamacare...which as of yet hasnt raised anyones taxes..
 
Tigger said:
Nope. He was a dyed-in-the-wool LIBERAL through and through.
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No, he was a Democrat when Democrats were much more conservative than now. This was prior to McGovern. He switch parties when Democrats went ultra-left.
 
American said:
No, he was a Democrat when Democrats were much more conservative than now. This was prior to McGovern. He switch parties when Democrats went ultra-left.
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But that was also a two-way street. He did not repudiate the New Deal nor FDR as many Republicans had as he was Democratic Party voter and when he was President, when he was asked to repudiate FDR.
 
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iliveonramen said:
Of course not unless you're operating from a very broad definition of Libertarianism that encompasess virtually the entire right.

In some ways as far as rhetoric goes he was at least an ally of some Libertarian beliefs.
Click to expand...
He had to pay for all the bells and whistles and bubbleblowing he provided at the Libertarians' orgy.
 
Back in reagans day hardly anyone even heard of libertarian...thats a flakey ron paul creation
 
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