“By giving its advice and consent to ratification of this Convention, the Senate of the United States will demonstrate unequivocally our desire to bring an end to the abhorrent practice of torture.”
—Ronald Reagan on the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Sadly, the GOP forgot about Regan a long, long time ago . . . (sigh)
Forgetting about Reagan would be a good thing, the problem is that the GOP has only remembered the most extreme of Reagan’s statements and policies, that fit into their world view. They have entirely forgotten that Reagan made pragmatic governing decisions when absolutely necessary. They have embraced voodoo economics, and forgotten that Reagan was willing to adopt Keynesian methods when truly necessary.
Bush really was worse than Reagan.
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Bush was worse than watching his father nosedive & vomit into the Japanese Prime Minister’s lap.
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Reagan’s willingness to expand government while saying he was cutting government was not one of his virtues in my book. Although I did not vote for him, I had some hope that we might at least lose the Department of Education. I guess I was young(ish) and optimistic.
Sometimes I almost think that if the Department of Education isn’t going to do anything better than bounce from one fad university education faculty curriculum to the next like a Super Ball it should disappear… then I see the idiotic things local school boards and state boards of education are doing and am more convinced than ever what is necessary is that the Department of Education start doing its job.
Education policy and curriculum cannot be set at the national level, but academic standards can be set and clear, common sense mandates can be given… and the D of E can make sure that school districts and schools can afford to follow said standards and meet said mandates.
Though I think, sometimes, that the Department of Justice could be a lot more effective… many state school systems are desperately in need of RICO investigations.