Some of America's presidents have been great. Some are hard to remember. Some we do remember, though not with much fondness.
But looking back over our recent commanders in chief, Ronald Reagan seems to have been the last really good one.
He was not a perfect president. He was wrong, for instance, when he supported amnesty for illegal aliens.
But he was admirably "hands off" in his view of the role of government. In one of his memorable quips, he declared, "Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it."
We can scarcely imagine a comment that better describes the federal government's habit of excessively taxing and regulating successful businesses, and of subsidizing industries that are failing. We doubt that "the Gipper" would approve of today's constant stream of bailout, subsidy and "stimulus" programs.
But Reagan was great not only because he opposed harmful domestic policies but because he promoted freedom around the globe.
Although the actual collapse of the Communist Soviet Union would not come until the subsequent administration of President George H.W. Bush, it was the Reagan administration that really stood up to the Soviets, fortified our national defense and laid the groundwork for U.S. victory in the Cold War. Literally hundreds of millions of people around the world are freer today in large part because of Reagan's bold stand.
Ronald Reagan, an Illinois native, was born into a humble family on Feb. 6, 1911, meaning today is the 100th anniversary of his birth.
He died in 2004. Fortunately, the impact of his two terms in office did not die. We salute his legacy today.