21 Comments
User's avatar
Mimi Groome's avatar

Ok about the shining city on the hill, but Reagan’s trickle down economics, deregulating, giving tax breaks to the wealthy and corporations while cutting spending to the poor, is the foundation of Trump’s big beautiful bill. Not only does supply side economics not work to promote healthy economic growth in the long term, it has greatly contributed to the crisis of wealth inequality we have in our country.

Expand full comment
Robert Mann's avatar

Agree 100%. But on immigration, Reagan would be a liberal today.

Expand full comment
Nancy Stich's avatar

I think the point about referencing Reagan’s comments on immigration is to make a point to the “traditional” Louisiana voter that even a former president that they loved and admired recognized the benefits of immigration.

Expand full comment
Robert Mann's avatar

Thank you. Yes, exactly.

Expand full comment
Trey McNabb's avatar

Agreed. Most, if not almost all, of Reagan's policies caused great long-term harm to the US, but as Bob points out, the Gipper was correct on immigration. He would be embarrassed at what the Republican Party has become.

Expand full comment
Sara Smith's avatar

Something that’s being missed in the discussion about foreign students, I believe, is that American students benefit from being exposed to the perspectives of students with different backgrounds and life experiences. Students learn from each other as well as from their instructors.

Expand full comment
Mark Folse's avatar

MAGA is the successful combination of the Know-Nothings, the Klan and the John Birch Society.

There is a method to ihis economic madness although I doubt Trump understands it himself. The plan is chaos to create the perfect disaster capitalism environment to reenact the privatization of the assets of the Soviet Union into the hands of our domestic oligarchs, while the Christian Nationalist wing of MAGA realizes their Handmaid's Tale fever dream, bringing about exactly the conditions out of the original immigrants fled in Europe.

Expand full comment
Trey McNabb's avatar

If I ever travel abroad during the next 3 1/2 years or however long Trump lasts as his diet could conceivably do him in before then, I will do everything I can to conceal my American heritage. Trump embarrasses me that much.

Expand full comment
Clark Forrest's avatar

You”re right again, Bob! And how ironic that our ethnic Republican politicians like Landry and Scalise don’t and didn’t criticize Trump and Musk for their many illegal and cruel immigration and other acts. If I missed any, please let me know.

We’re all immigrants, including the American Indians who crossed the Bering Strait from Asia. To expand Trump’s immigration policy, he would be back in Germany and Musk in South Africa.

Expand full comment
Aimée D's avatar

Robert, thank you. Good to know the truth -even as sad and disheartening as it is.

That said- would you be interested in speaking in Lafayette, LA at out No Kings Rally on June 14?

Expand full comment
Robert Mann's avatar

Thank you. Wish I could speak, but will be out of state that day.

Expand full comment
Aimée D's avatar

I’m guessing there will be more opportunities 🙂

Expand full comment
dane strother's avatar

great piece. This is well worth a read.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/attack-knowledge-103000182.html

Expand full comment
Robert Mann's avatar

Thanks. That Yahoo News piece was excellent. Also terribly depressing.

Expand full comment
Laura McLemore's avatar

You know, Thomas Jefferson was far from a perfect person (like all of us), but he believed in the perfectability of human beings. I don't necessarily share his opinion, but I've always admired him for it. The ideals he left us to strive for have served this nation incredibly well, even though they've always been mostly aspirational. It makes me sadder than I can say, that so many Americans seem willing to abandon them.

Expand full comment
Ronald R Thompson's avatar

I love Germany! trump is an egomaniac and incapable of closing all of our doors. He will be gone soon and we must honor our Constitution and treaties/alliances. My siblings and I have served in Germany. Great memories, great allies, and great beer/wine. thanks

Expand full comment
John howland's avatar

In my recent overseas travels everyone was courteous enough not to mention the Donald. But in the back of our minds, we all had to deal with the international embarrassment of his nonsense.

Expand full comment
Bob Johannessen's avatar

Beautifully written.

Expand full comment
Robert Mann's avatar

Thank you, Bob.

Expand full comment
Garrett Deschamp's avatar

Too many cliches in your article.

Expand full comment
Robert Mann's avatar

Thanks for the writing advice.

Expand full comment