Rep. Mark Souder (R-Ind.) wants change, and he isn't offering apenny for our thoughts. Via House Resolution 3633, which Souderintroduced last last week, he and 88 other congressmen want toremove Franklin Delano Roosevelt from the dime and replace him withRonald Reagan.
Ronald Reagan was a dignified president, and on the surface, onemight mistake Souder's bill for a well-meaning tribute to a man whowill leave a legacy. A closer look at the bill, however, reveals adisturbing undertone.
The findings of H.R. 3633 include a number of justifications,according to Souder, to replace Roosevelt. Some of the reasonsinclude inheriting a nation racked by unemployment and inflation,saving the nation's economy and strengthening the world resolve tooppose totalitarianism.
All of those things are true. Reagan did all of those things,and so did Roosevelt, but the presidents used drastically differentideologies and methods to achieve their like goals.
It doesn't take a genius to figure out what Souder and otherconservatives are trying to pull. They are politicizing currency.They want to erase history.
Republicans can cry out "failed liberal policy" all they want,but there is no argument defeating the fact that Roosevelt, aDemocrat, saved this nation using federally funded social andworks-based programs. Roosevelt's legacy is a thorn in the side ofconservative philosophy; it is the proof in the pudding that socialprograms can work.
If Souder removes Roosevelt from the dime, he will have made astatement: a free-market economy and tax incentives to big businessare better than Social Security and federal-works programs. Toremove Frankie in favor of Ronnie would be to force a nationwideendorsement of Reagan's philosophy onto the American people.
Don't believe me? The most shocking of all justifications forthe Reagan dime in H.R. 3633 is finding No. 9: "President Reaganwrote 'Abortion and the Conscience of a Nation' for the 10thanniversary of Roe v. Wade."
Souder and his 88 friends want to use Reagan's abortion stanceas a justification for replacing Roosevelt's likeness on the dime.That kind of political grandstanding, no matter which politicalparty you belong to, is abhorrent.
Souder's bill leaves me angry, disdained and disgusted. Itepitomizes the revolting conservative bravado Americans have beensubjected to since George W. Bush took office.
The Bush administration won the election fair and square, butthey did not have the mandate of the people. This country did not,has not and never will "stand united" behind George W. Bush. Hisadministration has been a divisive one.
Rather than a moderate, compromising presidency, the Bushadministration, the Republican Congress and their constituents havebehaved like rowdy cowboys and naive teenagers. They've manipulatedevery issue with their "patriotic" slant and newfound mediapresence while ignoring the dissent of nearly half the people theyare elected to represent.
The Reagan Dime Act is conservative self-glorification. Itinsults American history, social reform and Franklin DelanoRoosevelt's dignity. Personally, I think this country has beennickel-and-dimed enough these last three years.
Write to Mouse at bbmcshane@bsu.edu
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