Donald McClarey has a birthday today. \u00a0I\u2019ll leave it to his post to disclose the age. \u00a0A very happy day\u2019s wishes.<\/p>\n
He also shares his birthday with former president Ronald Reagan. \u00a0As the son of two Reagan democrats, I never idolized Reagan. \u00a0I heard plenty of criticisms from my parents growing up. \u00a0But they also gave credit where it was due.<\/p>\n
Then again, the rest of their family remained staunch Democrats who refused to vote for him in either election. \u00a0Nonetheless, they liked him personally. \u00a0And, on the rare occasion they thought he did right, they gave credit where it was due.<\/p>\n
Almost like a different world. \u00a0A world where Tip O\u2019Neil defined obstructionism in a way that would shame young whippersnappers today, and yet when Reagan outmaneuvered him through leadership, the two shook hands and could have gone out for beers for all it looked.<\/p>\n
Again, a far cry from today. Sure there was rancor then, and the younger generation was making it clear that these were not disagreements, these were battles for the heart and soul of America; opinions as a conflict between good and evil here at home. \u00a0Which probably explains the ongoing disintegration of tone in our politics.<\/p>\n
Nonetheless, I\u2019ve grown more fond of Reagan over the years. \u00a0History can be tough, since we look at things through the lens of history. We know how things turned out. \u00a0But I remember how dim and dismal things were in the late 70s: economy plummeting, society unraveling, our international standing diminishing, and the assumption that the Cold War would eventually end with the annihilation of humanity. \u00a0Compared to that, the end of the 80s didn\u2019t look bad at all.<\/p>\n