I have always been struck by how Ronald Reagan’s so called political indiscretions, the ones that devastated so many minority and underprivileged communities through a web of harmful and biased policies, were all but erased from public memory after he died. The list is long, far longer than I could unpack here: Iran Contra, Reaganomics, savage cuts to programs that supported the vulnerable and the arts, and countless other wounds inflicted quietly but deeply. Yet when he passed, the narrative shifted. Suddenly, he was a hero. People from every corner of the political spectrum lined up to honor him as if none of the damage ever happened. What that says about both parties is something I will leave for you to wrestle with.
Just recently, I stumbled upon a back and forth between New York Times columnists Paul Krugman and David Brooks debating how Reagan should be remembered. I thought you might appreciate the conversation as much as I did. If you read nothing else, do not miss Krugman’s final response. It is a masterclass in delivering a well earned checkmate. The entire exchange is worth your time. Read it.
hereGVG
~man of the times~
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