Joe Bloggs

History's cool eye

Matt Frei of the BBC suggests caution when he says, "The cool eye of history will decide whether (Ronald) Reagan deserves to be called great". In the aftermath of a quiet passing following a long and debilitating illness, most people are unwilling to talk ill of the dead. When, on top of that, you have an incumbent who could almost claim to be a grandchild, the clamour to foist greatness on a past president becomes deafening. For my part, I don't need to wait. I remember the Reagan years for his close ties with Margaret Thatcher and for a brand of cheque-book conservatism that did little for the people they were supposed to serve ... but a lot for vested interests. It is not surprising that the current administration looks upon him fondly for while Clinton provided the cash, Reagan and his cronies provided the ideas to tug the country further to the right and grant even more favours to the vested interests. As for the eulogising, well I've often thought the Americans could learn a lot from the British and start treating their politicians as politicians and not royalty. (The British, of course, could learn from the Americans and just get rid of their royalty!) All in all Ronnie was a B-grade actor, a C-grade pres., and if in death he has taken on a shine that projects an A-grade aura, it is only because one can't help comparing with what's around now and the current resident of the White House would assuredly get a grade commensurate with his reading level.

See Matt Frei's report via this video link.