The coming new year not only provides us with the time to reflect upon what has transpired but also allows us the opportunity to set goals and aspirations for the new year. Unfortunately, this past year has been marked by continued domestic political strife that often pits neighbor against neighbor or even family members against one another. Our politicians, not statesmen, appear to engage in conflict for the sake of satisfying their own selfish egos rather than for the greater good of the nation.
As a septuagenarian I look back over my lifetime and see leaders of both major political parties fighting almost literally to the death in order to advance their respective agendas. But despite that, many had mutual respect for their adversaries and waged their political fight in both a civil and honorable manner. A prime example of placing the good of the nation over one’s political party was Ronald Reagan the 40th President of the United States and Thomas Phillip “Tip” O’Neill, Jr. , Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1977 to 1987. Two political opposites but yet they put service to the nation above self.
While much of their political partnership was based on gamesmanship for domestic consumption, Reagan, the Republican, and O’Neill, the Democrat, worked for the good of the country and put aside their party differences in order to compromise. They both had mutual respect and separated their ideological differences in order to reach across the aisle and put the good of the nation first and foremost.
Following Reagan’s assassination attempt, O’Neill entered Reagan’s hospital room, walked over to the bed, and grasped both the president’s hands, and said, ‘God bless you, Mr. President.’ Reagan was in critical condition but when he saw O’Neill he lit up and gave the speaker a big smile, and said, “Thanks for coming, Tip.” “Then, still holding one of the president’s hands, the Speaker got down on his knees and said he would like to offer a prayer for the president, choosing the 23rd Psalm.” Then O’Neill kissed Reagan on the forehead.
After his recovery, the two leaders fought over the major issues of the day — welfare, taxes, and Social Security — but with each issue they ultimately reached a compromise. O’Neill’s quiet behind-the-scenes support also helped Reagan win the Cold War. They each won some and lost some battles, but through it all they maintained respect for each other’s positions and worked to advance the country rather than obstruct progress.
Fast forward some thirty-odd years and the contention that it cannot happen again — let’s hope not. As a nation we need statesmen who can rise above the din of partisan petty politics and put the good of the nation above their own agendas and petty politics. I am sure there are still a few out there — this is my hope for the new year.
2 comments
Isn’t the truth that the only real economic growth by the American economy now comes exclusively via price increases, translated inflation? Deficit spending run wild. Isn’t it also true that the only real “hope” now a days by more and more Americans comes in a plastic bottle, via prescription anti-depressants? All we see in the media 24/7, 365, are the worst disasters media can find, not only all around the world, but now they have reached out into outer space for more fear mongering bad news. Entertainment media is nothing but murder plots, and games based on cartoon killing scores of people by your young people. There isn‘t, and there hasn’t been, a New Year Year in decades. It’s the same shxt from previous years over and over. Anybody who does not conform is immediately crucified by the corrupt media. You watch media report on delivered package thefts off people’s fro t porches via doorbell cameras, and all that really does is show other American’s how to cash in on crime. You watch media show endless columns of illegals marching into this country, and all that does is show the rest of the planet how to come into the US, claim assylum, pick up a monthly government deficit check, government cellphone, government housing, healthcare, auto, and much, much, more.
Hope you say? Total BS I say. Just like Ukraine, and Israel, and much, much more. In today’s world, fat, corrupt, old men, with one foot on a banana peel and the other in a coffin, take bribes, sell classified info, send the few healthy young adults left to die fighting for nothing but a lie. Then, they lie in the media about the whole deal. Somebody farts in church these days, that fart was backed by Iran.
There is no hope in stupid Mr. Author. None.
The former editor of the NYT opinion page, Bennet, who was fired when he approved of Tom Cotton’s editorial submssion concerning BLM… said that the NYT’s is an echo chamber for liberals.
He said that liberals especially liberal boomers live in a world that doesn’t exist anymore.
The adoration of Reagan for conservatives is this on the right side. There are some inconvenient issues with Ron… He grew the federal government in size and debt load and he signed an illegal immigrant amnesty that fundanentally changed the US from then on…
Until that amnesty, California was not automatically blue… now as it is majority Spanish?
But that aside, you have a sinking, polyglot boarding house that aint going back to the Eighties, James…the levels of corruption are incredible in a government that is useless and increasingly totalitarian..
But Yay Giper!!!