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Those of us who lived through the conservative revolution in America, started by Barry Goldwater and brought to power with Ronald Reagan have differing perspectives on whether or not this was good or bad for our nation. My own experiences and perspective is for the former. I viewed Ronald Reagan as a constitutional savior. Under Jimmy Carter I became increasingly concerned that the socialist leanings of the federal government was destroying my young childrens' future and more immediately my own ability to provide for their needs. Some people discount these fears but to me they were substantive. The near collapse of the economy, high inflation and interest rates, the apparent determination of socialists in our government to redistribute wealth to the dependent class looked to me and many others as the proverbial road to ruin. The election of Reagan was truly a revolution, a repudiation of the welfare state, and a renewed prosperity for the middle class in this country. Today the political landscape seems more confused, with the most evenly divided elrctorate I've ever seen. If the left-wing socialists who control the democratic party are successful in consolidating their federal control, I truly fear a return to the hopeless policies that very nearly destroyed America before Reagan. Unless we unify behind sound capitalist principle, the result will be a weaker, more vulnerable America, and quite possibly disaster as a nation.

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