Don't be scared

We once had a President who was a governor and a movie star? Of course that would be our 40th President of the United States of America, President Ronald Reagan. What made up for his lack of an Ivy-League education seemed to be a simplistic way of getting the job done. His resume says that he played football, and worked his way through Eureka College. He acted in school plays and became a radio sports announcer.

Reagan used common sense in dealing skillfully with Congress, obtaining legislation to stimulate the economic growth, curb inflation, increase employment, and strengthen national defense. He embarked upon a course of cutting taxes and government expenditures, refusing to deviate from it when the strengthening of defense forces led to a large deficit.

He had an innovative program aimed to reinvigorate the American people and reduce their reliance upon government. He overhauled the income tax code, which eliminated many deductions and exempted millions of people with low incomes. At the end of his administration, the nation was enjoying its longest recorded period of peacetime prosperity without recession or depression. He believed in "peace through strength," negotiating a treaty that would eliminate intermediate-range nuclear missiles.

Reagan declared war against international terrorism, sending American bombers against Libya after evidence came out that Libya was involved in an attack on American soldiers in a West Berlin night club. Reagan ordered naval escorts in the Persian Gulf; he maintained the free flow of oil during the Iran-Iraq war. He gave support to anti-Communist insurgencies in Central America, Asia, and Africa.

Sometimes simple is better using the K.I.S.S. Principle (Keep It Simple Stupid). Sarah Palin recently used a quote from Reagan's policy to win a war, "We win; they lose!" Is there anything that appears to be simplistic about President Ronald Reagan, and Sarah Palin? "You bet ya!"

Rob Mixon
Sebring