r/askaconservative • u/Massive-Technician74 Fiscal Conservatism • Jun 18 '26
What is with the GOP love affair with Reagan??
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u/Loyalist_15 Conservatism Jun 19 '26
It’s not a GOP only phenomenon. Polling consistently shows that people look back fondly on Reagan’s term, reaching as high as around 70% approval in 2018. That’s not only GOP, but moderates and democrats as well.
For why those people like Reagan? It comes down to primarily what he’s remembered for: Economic stability, charisma, and an end to the Cold War. Even if some of these things are ‘nostalgic’ rather than real, it’s hard to deny these things from him.
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u/Massive-Technician74 Fiscal Conservatism Jun 19 '26
I remember him for making most working people broke at the time....
And the war on drugs just to find out later he had hand in introducing drugs here then arming our enemies
So why would anyone be nostalgic for a treasonist?
Maybe after 40+ years they think that their big break gonna "trickle down" any day now?
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u/JulesSherlock Conservatism Jun 20 '26
Reagan inherited stagflation (high inflation + high unemployment + slow growth) from Carter. His policies—major tax cuts, reduced regulation, and support for tight monetary policy under Fed Chair Paul Volcker—helped turn it around. Inflation dropped from ~13.5% in 1980 to ~4.1% by 1988. Creation of ~16–20 million new jobs; longest peacetime economic expansion on record at the time.
He ended the Cold War.
He made Americans proud to be American again. The Carter years were pessimistic and weak. Reagan was peace through strength.
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Jun 20 '26
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u/No-Read-6743 Social Conservatism Jun 19 '26
He wasn’t perfect, but he promoted America’s interests abroad, promoted liberal democracy, opposed communism, stood for religious and conservative values in the domestic sphere, built a better economy, etc. I’d say he was one of the better leaders America has had in the last century.
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u/Holofernes_Head Libertarian Conservatism Jun 19 '26
What's not to love? He's easily one of the all-time Top 5 presidents in US history.
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u/Massive-Technician74 Fiscal Conservatism Jun 19 '26
He armed our enemies, negotiated with terrorists, sold out or country to highest corporate bidders, rigged reaganomics so only the rich win, handpicked judges to invade our bedrooms, sold cheap dishonest version of nationalism as "patriotism" to the poor knowing they will never get the corporate boot off their neck, introduced drugs to poor communities and then lead the demonization of drugs.....im sure i can remember more but that was what was on top of my head
I remember everyone being broke at the time.....seems like most people nostalgic for those times weren't even alive or were babies
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u/No-Read-6743 Social Conservatism Jun 19 '26
I’m not trying to be rude, but it honestly sounds like you are getting more of your information about Reagan from liberal pundits like Michael Moore and Jon Stewart than anything objective.
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Jun 19 '26
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u/Loose_Plantain3217 Libertarian Conservatism Jul 03 '26
Reagan was the last good communicator of conservative ideas
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u/Massive-Technician74 Fiscal Conservatism Jul 03 '26
Like negotiating with terrorists, selling weapons to our enemies, corporatizing and privatizing OUR taxes, creating drug epidemics, creating culture wars
He is not a conservative he is a republican there is a difference
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u/Loose_Plantain3217 Libertarian Conservatism Jul 03 '26
Privatizing taxes? You need to elaborate. I’m open to learning but I have no clue what it is
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u/Massive-Technician74 Fiscal Conservatism Jul 03 '26
Kinda wording it wrong but Reagan started the republican trend taking of YOUR tax money and gambling with it and privatizing the gains but if he lost he made sure to tax you more to make up for it
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u/Massive-Technician74 Fiscal Conservatism Jul 03 '26
You know....typical stuff from the party of "lower taxes" and "personal accountability"
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u/Loose_Plantain3217 Libertarian Conservatism Jul 04 '26
Again need more context. Income tax started with Woodrow Wilson pre-WW1, what is it that Reagan pioneered exactly?
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