To the editor: I didn’t detest Ronald Reagan as governor of California or president. However I do suppose he did lasting injury to our nation by supporting and selling excessive anti-government sentiment. (“A lot of California Democrats loathed Gov. Ronald Reagan. Here’s why they’re misguided,” Opinion, Sept. 27)
He famously stated, “Authorities isn’t the answer to our downside; authorities is the issue,” and, “I’ve at all times felt the 9 most terrifying phrases within the English language are: I’m from the federal government, and I’m right here to assist.”
Wholesome mistrust and skepticism of any highly effective entity is an effective factor, however Reagan’s rhetoric added gasoline to underlying beliefs which have at all times been current within the American psyche.
Carried to extremes, they change into fantasy-based paranoia that performs out, for instance, as believing that any regulation or regulation that limits possession of assault rifles interprets to “the federal government desires to take my weapons,” or election staff receiving threats for merely doing their jobs.
There are nations on this planet the place the federal government really works, largely as a result of the individuals who perform its work are usually not despised.
Bob Fey, Orange
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To the editor: I used to be by no means a fan of Reagan. Fairly often I disagreed along with his actions and his reasoning behind them.
Nevertheless, I don’t doubt that he sincerely held our nation’s greatest pursuits at coronary heart when finishing up his selections. It’s unhappy to suppose that we can’t at present presume that to be true about a lot of our present leaders and candidates.
Chris Blankenhorn, Valencia
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To the editor: I’m stunned that Max Boot failed to incorporate a big purpose Reagan isn’t held in nice esteem by many in California and elsewhere.
Shortly after his inauguration in 1981, he dismantled the Psychological Well being Programs Act that was signed into regulation by President Jimmy Carter. This shortsighted resolution in impact ended native psychological well being therapy packages all through the nation, and it has a direct hyperlink to the present psychological well being disaster and homelessness in our main cities.
Sadly, jails and prisons that aren’t geared up to deal with these points are right now’s psychiatric hospitals.
Aviva Monosson, Los Angeles
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To the editor: Let’s not overlook that as governor, Reagan pressured the College of California system to begin charging tuition. He did this after giant protests at UC Berkeley, when that college and different UC campuses had been tuition-free.
He additionally oversaw the closure of many state psychiatric establishments. Reagan was not so nice in my ebook.
Nina Trotta-Sutton, Simi Valley