By Robert Amoroso

It’s not often that two diametrically opposed entities can co-exist peacefully within a confined area, in Meteorology; the science of weather can predict climatic events with some certainty, however science cannot (as yet), control the dramatic events of opposing weather extremes and can only bare witness to the devastation that these events produce.

However, in the rough and tumble world of politics diametrically opposed ideologies can effortlessly merge into one, as outlined in a recent speech by President Obama. In which he draws a comparison between himself and President Reagan.  In a 30 second snippet President Reagan is seen outlining his vision for tax reform. In which he references the discrepancies within the overall tax system, and draws an analogy between a working class bus driver who pays more in taxes then a millionaire, in so doing Obama portrays himself as a disciple of Reagan’s tax policies.

However, what Obama cleverly omits is that President Reagan was referencing tax loopholes that he wanted eliminated, which allowed millionaires the additional benefit of sheltering their income, and not a punitive tax on a specific segment of society.

That type of egregious system of tax reform as outlined by President Obama’s own tax policies would have been repugnant to President Reagan, who believed in lowering taxes across the board for all individuals, regardless of their status and he believed in a small centralized government, which empowered the individual and not the state.

Why then would Obama invoke President Reagan’s name rather then those within is own sphere of belief? The answer perhaps lies within Obama himself, in that he sees himself as a charismatic leader, and as the “progressive” equivalent to Reagan’s “conservatism”.

However, that’s where the similarity end: Reagan unified the country through his uplifting populist belief and vision that America was unique, while Obama on the other hand, apologizes for America’s greatness, and divides the people through class warfare.

And while both Reagan and Obama inherited a troubled economy, Reagan unlike Obama immediately upon taking office focused his attention on stimulating the economy. He set into motion his 4-specific economic policy components that became known as “Reaganomics”.

He abandoned the Keynesian economic policies of big government intervention and set upon a course of cutting tax rates, from a high of 70% down to 28%. He restored incentives for economic growth, by cutting the overall federal budget by 31 billion dollars, and restrained the money supply which helped lower interest rates, and deregulated government bureaucracy which saved consumers an estimated $100 billion dollars per year in lower prices.

Reagan, much like our Founders had spoken countless times on the dangers of an out-of-control federal government, he warned against the subtle encroachment of government through the use of entitlements, and class warfare, which would eventually rob our freedoms. 

The irony of course, is while Obama continually pushes his “progressive” agenda, and seldom runs on his own record of accomplishments, he shamelessly highjacks the legacy of perhaps the most beloved and iconic president in modern American history.