I’ve managed to get into more political conversations about President Reagan with 18 year olds than anyone ever should. Thanks, Fox News. The latest was even more interesting as the student went on to extoll the virtues and foreign policy acumen of Reagan with the fervor of a cabinet member. I asked, ‘Were you even alive then?’ The answer is, of course, no. Which begs the question: Who taught you this nonsense? My initial thought was to say, No, the best American President ever was James Polk, to which the expected response would be, ‘who?’ Who indeed. The fact is, there is a sustained media campaign to make Reagan into the greatest American president and by that make the republicans into the greatest American party. It is working…
Some Thoughts:
- 1812… Well, there was that war. There’s that. In truth though the war of 1812 spanned a bit longer, with conflicts cropping up as early as 1810 directly leading to the war declared in 1812. Britain was interested in kicking a l’il American arse much sooner, but Napoleon was tying up their attention. By the time war was declared they were able to do so on their own terms.
- I’m not a fan of Sports Agents. They seem rather predatory in nature–a hanger on who is either a fast talker, legal wiz, connected, or any combination of factors. These guys take a percentage of a player’s salary in return for making sure the player gets what is deserved. In modern society is the agent even necessary though? Can’t a player save themselves 10% by being the arbiter of their own deal? I get the value of a middle man in terms of insular relationships and, well, history. I don’t know that we need these folks in all circumstances. Sometimes, like in the case of Adrian Peterson, the agent is just another problem.