General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: I was 19 years old when Ronald Reagan was first elected... [View all]greatlaurel
(2,004 posts)The destruction of small family farms was an important part of the destruction of the American middle class. The money from small family farms flowed through the community 7 times, according to a farmer I know. We saw the destruction that was going on. It was eerie. The causes of the farm crisis were ignored by the media or misdirected by blaming fuel costs or some such absurd excuse. Never did they discuss the true cause which were the farm loan policies ut in place by the Reagan administration. It was just fly over country and they deserved it by not being clever enough to have real jobs like the Wall Streeters. Pretty soon this devastation flowed through the economy across the country and many of the media people who stood by while the Midwest was destroyed were soon out of work at newspapers, radio stations and magazines as the massive media corporations swallowed up their employers.
Houses, farms and businesses were abandoned left and right. The notices for auctions of farms were nailed up by the dozens at every remaining gas station and restaurants. We saw people begging for food at restaurants, something we had never seen before.
It was obvious this was a manufactured crisis to destroy the Midwest economy for the benefit of a very few people. Unfortunately, even the people impacted by this were easily distracted by abortion, gays, and racism. A common theme in right wing circles was the reason the economy was bad was because all those laws were passed to give women and minorities their jobs. Worked like a charm and is still in use to this day.
Reagan will someday be given his correct place in history as the biggest traitor to the American people. Most people who voted for him refuse to admit how badly they were duped.