Which President left the US in better condition?

[Frozen Sky Ever Why]

The public consensus is clearly with Reagan, but with Rand Paul's recent criticisms, I'm curious as to how more politically literate people are viewing their presidencies in retrospect.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

All in all, Reagan, though Carter is an underrated President.

[SWE]

Carter

[Illuminati Blood Drinker]

Well, a burgeoning oligarchy is clearly the worst of all conditions, and that's what Reagan left us in, so by process of elimination...

[Antonio the Sixth]

Probably Reagan, but for reasons largely unrelated to their respective actions.

[Sol]

Carter

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

Probably Reagan, but for reasons largely unrelated to their respective actions.

This is the correct answer.

[Oswald Acted Alone, You Kook]

Reagan (normal)

[TNF]

Probably Reagan, but for reasons largely unrelated to their respective actions.

This is the correct answer.

Obviously, given that Carter left office with double-digit unemployment and rampant inflation.

[Goldwater]

Reagan is the objective correct answer. The question is to what degree his and Carter's policies influenced it.

[ElectionsGuy]

Reagan of course

[Phony Moderate]

Carter had th better policies andersona
Ity certainly

[Lief 🗽]

The country was obviously in a better state in 1989 than in 1981.

[Dr. Cynic]

Reagan did in terms of both the nation's spirits as well as American prosperity. However, Reagan's policies were far more detrimental than Carter's. Reagan faced fewer challenges and knew how to work Congress better than Carter did.

[H. Ross Peron]

Probably Reagan, but for reasons largely unrelated to their respective actions.

This is the correct answer.

Obviously, given that Carter left office with double-digit unemployment and rampant inflation.

[© tweed]

there is no national interest

[Supersonic]

Reagan is the objective correct answer. The question is to what degree his and Carter's policies influenced it.

[Oswald Acted Alone, You Kook]

You mean when they left office? Reagan obviously It's hard to understand. Carter was a better president and some of his policies didn't take off until the Reagan era. Reagan also continued to eradicate the stagflation early on

I'd say Carter left the economy better off in the long-run.

D-TX.

[I Will Not Be Wrong]

Very tough question, IMO.

[MurrayBannerman]

Probably Reagan, but for reasons largely unrelated to their respective actions.

This is the correct answer.

Obviously, given that Carter left office with double-digit unemployment and rampant inflation.

[Mordecai]

Reagan is the objective correct answer. The question is to what degree his and Carter's policies influenced it.

I agree that Reagan is the right answer but it's not like their policies were polar opposites, they had a similar approach in that they moved toward deregulation and tax reform, but Reagan took it to a further extent than Carter did. Probably because Carter being a Southern conservative Democrat and Washington outsider put him at odds with the liberal Democrats in Congress. Carter and Reagan even shared the same Fed Chairman, Paul Volcker.

I think basically Reagan had the benefit of Carter's presidency being a magnet for disaster. It seems to be that point in history where no matter who had been President they would have lost the election, kind of like 1932 or 2008.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

Reagan is the objective correct answer. The question is to what degree his and Carter's policies influenced it.

This. (Sane)

[MATTROSE94]

Probably Reagan, but for reasons largely unrelated to their respective actions.

This is the correct answer.

Obviously, given that Carter left office with double-digit unemployment and rampant inflation.

[nolesfan2011]

Well, a burgeoning oligarchy is clearly the worst of all conditions, and that's what Reagan left us in, so by process of elimination...

this, Reagan set up the country for ruin, Carter didn't

[Hamster]

there is no national interest

false