dzd@cosivax.UUCP (10/26/84)
I resent it when Ronald Reagan lays claim to the memory of
President Kennedy and pretends he has anything in common with that
good man.
Geraldine Ferraro
Boston, 26 September 1984
Ms Farraro would like us to believe, that she and her running mate have
something in common with JFK. This shows how Democrats have drifted out of
the mainstream to become sloganeering special-interest-group panderers. A
frequent object of her scornful attacks, Reaganomics, was "lifted, lock, stock
and latch key from the 1962-1963 'JFK model'." Consider these comparisons:[1]
POLICIES
Tax Cuts In 1963-65, the Kennedy-Johnson administration
carried out a 23% across-the-board personal income
tax cut, coupled with elaborate new investment tax
credits for industry.
In 1982-84, the Reagan administration did the same
with approximately the same levels of reduction for
both individuals and business.
Revenues In 1964, these were 18.1% of GNP
In 1984, 18.8 % of GNP; down from the peak 21% by
Carter-Mondale in 1981.
DoD Increases In 1962-64, the Kennedy administration increased
real defense spending 5% per year.
In 1982-84, the Reagan administration increased
defense by an average of 8% per year.
DoD Spending In 1964, the Kennedy-Johnson administration spent 8%
of GNP and 43% of Federal budget on defense.
In 1984, the Reagan administration spent 6.2% of GNP
and 27% of Federal budget on defense.
Social Spending In 1964, the Kennedy-Johnson administration spent
5.5% of GNP and 32% of Federal budget on social
programs.
In 1984, the Reagan administration spent double
that: 11.4% of GNP and 54% of budget.
Main Difference President Reagan is slightly more "liberal" than
President Kennedy; spending somewhat less on defense
and more on social programs.
RESULTS
Productivity In 1964, increased 4.3%
In 1984, increased 4.1%
Real Wages In 1964, up by 1.8%
In 1984, up by 2.0% after steady decline under
Carter-Mondale
Real GNP In 1964, grew by 5.3%
In 1984, grew by 6.2%
Inflation In 1964, 1.2%
In 1984, 4.0% -- down from 12.4% under
Carter-Mondale.
NAME THAT SPEAKER
1. "Our true choice is not between tax reduction ... and the
avoidance of large federal deficits ... So long as our national
security needs keep rising, an economy hampered by restrictive
tax rates will never produce enough revenue to balance the budget
-- just as it will never produce enough jobs or profits."[2]
2. "I must warn against stimulating [the economy] by increasing
federal expenditures more rapidly than necessary, [because] such
a course would soon demoralize both the government and the
economy."[3]
3. "Born in the safe harbor of freedom, economic growth has gathered
force and rolled out in a rising tide that has reached distant
shores."[4]
To avoid being 'banned in Boston', Ms Ferraro's shrill resentment can only
rely on naive ignorance of the early 1960s and/or of current economic facts.
This is called "issues-oriented" campaigning.
----------
1. Data From "Reaganomics: Vintage JFK" by Warren T. Brookes Detroit News (26
October 1984)
2. John F. Kennedy, New York Economic Club: December 1962
3. John F. Kennedy, loc. cit.
4. Ronald Reagan, IMF annual meeting, Washington, D.C., September 1984
_______________________________________________________________________________
Dean Douthat
I have no connection with COSI except as a guest on their VAX.orb@whuxl.UUCP (SEVENER) (10/30/84)
> > I resent it when Ronald Reagan lays claim to the memory of > President Kennedy and pretends he has anything in common with that > good man. > > Geraldine Ferraro > Boston, 26 September 1984 In the first place, Ronald Reagan was the head of "Democrats for Nixon" in 1960. But let us look at the respective policies of Kennedy vs Reagan: 1)Civil Rights-was the major social issue of the day-Kennedy steadfastly supported the Civil Rights Movement. Ronald Reagan is trying as hard as he can to dismantle it. Instead of coming in on the side of Civil Rights in the case of discrimination by Bob Jones University, Reagan has come in on the side of discrimination. In the case of Title IX which has helped promote equal access to athletics and other college facilities for women, Reagan's administration argued before the Courts that it only applies to funding for specific programs--thus colleges would not be punished for discrimination against women's athletics and other women's programs 2)Nuclear arms control- in 1963 Kennedy negotiated the FIRST major arms control treaty, the Limited Test Ban Treaty. He accomplished that by daring to take a risk for Peace rather than War by unilaterally halting US testing and daring the Soviets to respond. They did and a long string of nuclear arms agreements by Presidents from both Parties was begun. Ronald Reagan opposed that treaty, and every other arms control treaty negotiated by both Republicans and Democrats. Instead of challenging the Soviets to move towards Peace, Reagan has refused to respond to the Soviets unilateral moratorium on weapons in space. Needless to say unlike Kennedy, Reagan has achieved absolutely no agreements to control nuclear arms. Instead he has already announced he will stop observing SALT II next year (after the election) and his Star Wars plan would violate the ABM treaty. 3)Tax cuts for the Rich-Kennedy's tax cuts favored those of lower-income groups. Reagan's have hurt the poor to the benefit of the rich. The year before last there were only 5 millionaires who paid no income taxes--the last tax year with Reagan's tax cuts there were 171 millionaires who paid absolutely NO income taxes. Does this benefit the average American? Reagan is kin to Barry Goldwater, not John F. Kennedy. He may win re-election--we will all regret it if he does. "Don't Blame Me, I'm voting for Mondale" Tim Sevener whuxl!orb