It really warmed my heart to see "Jimmy" receiving a picture from the Democratic Party in Chattanooga. I'm sure that a very slim majority of those in attendance were not on this earth during his administration. Unemployment off the chart - the military was in shambles - foreign policy...much like today who's on first... what's on second - oh I saved the best for last if you wanted to buy home you faced the devil of interest rates to the tune of 18 percent.
Jimmy micro managed his time in office; just look at the botched rescue attempt of the Americans held hostages at the Embassy in Iran. Democrats and the media promote the absolute worst Presidents - past - current, is this a dog leg right or left hole - and an out of touch old incompetent First Lady...not the person to lead the country out of the mess we're in.
Oh I don't have a plan for this attitude needs to stop now. We've lost our blue collar attitude and the Democrats are not the party of the people...they're the party that uses the minorities.
Michael McClure
Gulf Shores, Ala.
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Nostalgia is a dangerous force, it makes us want to pay a premium for talismans from a bygone era at auctions and trade shows. It also seems to make us conflate sepia-toned opinion and fact. I have no particular allegiance to Jimmy Carter, nor do I have any antipathy toward Reagan. I was after all, a child in 1980, but I do have a penchant for sensing the zeitgeist of the time. What compels me to answer this letter is the use of personal recollection as a substitute for fact.
Every so often I read a an opinion here that defies explanation as to why its author felt the need to draft something, much less hit the “send” button. I suppose the missive from Mr. McClure falls into this category. Once I detect a rant, I normally stop reading and move on. In this case, I’m at a loss as to why someone would feel the need to check back in to Chattanooga happenings from 300 miles away and use imperfect recollection to disparage a 90-year-old man, 33 years out of office, to wit: the historical average mortgage rates for the Carter years (1977-1980) were 8.85, 9.64, 11.20, and 13.75 percent respectively.
The first four years of Reagan’s term (1981-1984 saw rates of 16.63, 16.04, 13.24, and 13.88 percent respectively (freddiemac.com “30-Year Fixed-Rate Mortgages Since 1971). Unemployment is hardly discernible between the Carter years and the first Reagan term—a low of 5.7 percent and a high of 7.8 percent for Carter and a low of 7.2 percent and a high of 10.8 percent for Reagan (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Mr. McClure then asserts (from quite a distance) that a “slim majority of those in attendance were not on this earth during his administration.” What are you saying? I certainly know what you are implying. You’re using the same old saw about naïve younger voters easily swayed to vote for Democratic candidates. Would I be any less correct if I asserted that older, fearful voters are easily swayed to vote for Republicans? I don’t actually believe either one (and perhaps you don’t either).
What I do confidently assert is that that entropy is taking over our political system—helped by clinging to a closed-minded “circle the wagons” mentality that ultimately dulls our senses and ability to understand and react to the problems truly facing us today. Both sides of the political spectrum are susceptible.
The lack of a viable two-party system in Tennessee is detrimental to our long term well-being. Just look at the rancor and discontent with the current crop of 3rd and 4th Congressional District choices from the GOP. It’s astounding to see such unpopular candidates blithely walk into office without feeling the need to run much of a campaign. I dream of the day when our state fields viable candidates from both parties where a true full-court press is required to election day-not primary day. Mr. McClure’s letter (perhaps unintentionally) tells me we have a long way to go.
Will Taylor