What Did Ronald Reagan Mean?

By Frank Li, Ph.D.

In an earlier post, I gave my own interpretations to 10 quotes by Winston Churchill. Because it was reasonably well received, I will now try out Ronald Reagan, with the same assumption that you are patriotic and you have a good sense of humor.

“A people free to choose will always choose peace.”

He meant: President George W. Bush, it was reckless for you to launch the Iraq War in 2003!

“It’s silly talking about how many years we will have to spend in the jungles of Vietnam when we could pave the whole country and put parking stripes on it and still be home by Christmas.”

He meant: President Obama, end the war in Afghanistan, and all wars, now!

“How do you tell a communist? Well, it’s someone who reads Marx and Lenin. And how do you tell an anti-Communist? It’s someone who understands Marx and Lenin.”

He meant: Read this: Loop Theory – Capitalism vs. Socialism.

“How can a president not be an actor?”

He meant: Democracy is a showbiz by definition. But, President Obama, you went too far on September 8, 2011, when you gave a speech on your jobs bill to Congress. It was a campaign speech in disguise!

“The best minds are not in government. If any were, business would steal them away.”

He meant: The public-sector workers should serve, not profit!

“Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”

He meant: Times have changed. The challenge is on the American side now! The Berlin Wall came down in 1989, but America has failed to adapt to the changing world by adequately changing itself, from foreign policies to domestic policies. As a result, by 2000, America had not only more economic competitors than ever, but also more political enemies (e.g. Islamic extremists) than ever. Worse yet, the incompetence of the American political system in general, and specifically of the American Presidency, has finally become more evident than ever. After two disastrous Presidents in George W. Bush and Barack Obama, today, America has not only even more economic competitors and political enemies than in 2000, but also much stronger duals than in 2000!

“Government always finds a need for whatever money it gets.”

He meant: President Obama, stop the class warfare! America does not have a revenue problem. America has a spending problem.

“I am not worried about the deficit. It is big enough to take care of itself.”

He meant: A deficit is acceptable when the economy is projected to grow. President Obama, where will the growth come from for America in the next decade? If you can’t answer this question honestly, succinctly, and convincingly, then control the deficit! Spending for the purpose of your own re-election? That’s totally unacceptable!

“They say the world has become too complex for simple answers. They are wrong.”

He meant: The solution to many American ills today is to reform the political system and run the country like a business, simple and straightforward!

“It has been said that politics is the second oldest profession. I have learned that it bears a striking resemblance to the first.”

He meant: It does not have to be that way, especially at the President level. America desperately needs a great President to turn things around now. Bet on a Republican this time, because the odds are much better than the Democrats. 7/8, as shown in the picture below – Way better than the Democrats, huh?

Related:

What Did Winston Churchill Mean? by Frank Li

Other articles by Frank Li

About the Author

Frank Li is the Founder & President of W.E.I. (West-East International), a Chicago-based import & export company. Frank received his B.E. from Zhejiang University (China) in 1982, M.E. from the University of Tokyo in 1985, and Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University in 1988, all in Electrical Engineering. He worked for several companies until 2004, when he founded his own company W.E.I. Today, W.E.I. is a leader in the weighing industry not only in products & services, but also in thought and action. Dr. Li writes extensively and uniquely on politics, for which he has been called “a modern-day Thomas Jefferson” (see page 31).