Ronald Reagan a libertarian?

[Obnoxiously Slutty Girly Girl]

The libertarian line on Reagan reminds me of the libertarian line on Greenspan:

The libertarian line years ago:

"Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan is arguably the most powerful libertarian in politics, and I am quite surprised when other card carrying libertarians are unaware of this.  You may disagree with some of the things he's done, you may be unaware of his political ideals, or you may equate him with every other big government bureaucrat.  Were he able to implement his "radical" ideologies before they were politically palatable, he would be quickly dealt with by the entrenched powers, either through some impeachment, or by new limitations of his office.  But the fact remains that he is a libertarian idealist, crafting policies, and suggesting changes to the degree that they can be successfully pursued."

- Libertarian Party of Maryland

The libertarian line today:

"Just because the man used to hang out with Ayn Rand and was apparently a libertarian Objectivist doesn’t mean he continues to be one. Anyone who advocates aggression is not by definition a libertarian. But what better way to destroy a movement then by redefining the words? Eric Arthur Blair would be proud. It was done at around the turn of the 20th century with ‘liberal.’ In economics ‘inflation’ has been redefined. Now a concerted effort appears to be being made to change the meaning of ‘libertarian.’ People like Glenn Beck and Neil Bortz nationally claim to be libertarians. Advocating government manipulation of the market and money bailouts, immigration control and war with people who pose no threat is NOT libertarian."

- some libertarian blog

Of course, Greenspan was never on the front lines advocating war, bailouts, or immigration control. He was, on the front lines battling Brooksley Born arguing that the market was self regulating so laws against regulation weren't needed, and that the market always priced things correctly so there was no need for the Fed to step in and burst bubbles.

Spreading BS as usual, beet. Actual libertarians never supported Greenspan or Reagan.

[Associate Justice PiT]

The libertarian line on Reagan reminds me of the libertarian line on Greenspan:

The libertarian line years ago:

"Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan is arguably the most powerful libertarian in politics, and I am quite surprised when other card carrying libertarians are unaware of this.  You may disagree with some of the things he's done, you may be unaware of his political ideals, or you may equate him with every other big government bureaucrat.  Were he able to implement his "radical" ideologies before they were politically palatable, he would be quickly dealt with by the entrenched powers, either through some impeachment, or by new limitations of his office.  But the fact remains that he is a libertarian idealist, crafting policies, and suggesting changes to the degree that they can be successfully pursued."

- Libertarian Party of Maryland

The libertarian line today:

"Just because the man used to hang out with Ayn Rand and was apparently a libertarian Objectivist doesn’t mean he continues to be one. Anyone who advocates aggression is not by definition a libertarian. But what better way to destroy a movement then by redefining the words? Eric Arthur Blair would be proud. It was done at around the turn of the 20th century with ‘liberal.’ In economics ‘inflation’ has been redefined. Now a concerted effort appears to be being made to change the meaning of ‘libertarian.’ People like Glenn Beck and Neil Bortz nationally claim to be libertarians. Advocating government manipulation of the market and money bailouts, immigration control and war with people who pose no threat is NOT libertarian."

- some libertarian blog

Of course, Greenspan was never on the front lines advocating war, bailouts, or immigration control. He was, on the front lines battling Brooksley Born arguing that the market was self regulating so laws against regulation weren't needed, and that the market always priced things correctly so there was no need for the Fed to step in and burst bubbles.

Spreading BS as usual, beet. Actual libertarians never supported Greenspan or Reagan.

     Use of the No True Scotsman fallacy aside, I don't see how anyone could make the case Reagan was a libertarian in light of his running up the deficit, greatly increasing military spending, & supporting socially conservative positions (though it seems possible that he was privately more socially libertarian).