Thirty years ago, America faced almost the same problems that it faces today. President Jimmy Carter preached that the sky was falling, and that Americans had to settle for mediocrity. Amidst this pessimism and disappointment, one man stepped up and said no.
With his mind set on redeeming America’s previous glory, Ronald Reagan became one of our country’s greatest leaders.
As we celebrate the anniversary of President Reagan’s birthday, I encourage everyone to look back on the leadership of this true American hero. Reagan understood what it meant to be an American, and set an example for his fellow Americans.
Throughout his two terms, Reagan’s dream for global freedom and democracy never faded. He believed it was America’s duty to fight for these principles abroad, and dedicated his presidency to fighting oppressive powers throughout the globe. During his presidency, he encouraged free, democratic elections in Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Guatemala, the Republic of Korea, Honduras and the Philippines. Oh yeah, and he ended the Cold War.
When it came to fighting oppression, President Reagan believed in a head-on approach. He combined his skills as the “Great Communicator” with his dedication to national defense in order to successfully bring down this oppressive power. He was a man of action, and made sure that America took charge in global issues. Reagan did everything in his power to sustain the safety and freedom of America and took every threat seriously. He had the ability to reason with powerful leaders like Chairman Gorbachev and strengthened America in the process. During these doubtful times, he glorified America for all of its greatness and asserted its strength as an untouchable world power.
Reagan realized America’s potential for excellence and fought hard to ensure our success. He recognized the ability of the American people to raise themselves up and understood that big government was only an impediment to our national prosperity. President Reagan gave America the confidence to thrive and provided realistic optimism for the future. Instead of authorizing endless handouts, he fought poverty with sustainable solutions.
President Obama could learn a few valuable lessons from Reagan.
First off, he needs to have faith in the American people. The government is not meant to “save” America from domestic problems. The government is meant to serve America, and allow for prosperity. Reagan never used monumental stimulus plans. He encouraged employment and curbed inflation by cutting taxes for those that provided America with jobs.
Secondly, Obama needs to look beyond political interests in order to rebuild America. Rejecting GOP suggestions for healthcare, national security and the struggling economy may boost his image within the Democratic Party, but his stubbornness to listen will inevitably lead to failure. “Change” has not occurred because it takes both sides to agree on policy. Just as Reagan worked with Democrats on issues like communism and unemployment, Obama needs to reach out to the other side instead of scolding them for disagreeing with him.
Lastly, he needs to renew America’s domestic pride and improve our image abroad. Instead of apologizing to other world leaders for our past policies, he needs to show that we truly are a great world power. This means that he has to be decisive under pressure and deal with our enemies head-on. There is no room for negotiation when dealing with hateful radicals. Like Reagan, Obama needs to stop dithering and react immediately as issues arise.
Being the President of the United States means more than making a statement about the party you represent. It is about guiding our country with confidence, and ensuring the preservation of democracy in this free and wonderful nation.