Ronald Reagan in Seize Freedom, by Rep. Thad McCotter

On Budget & Economy: Enduring economy comes from fiscal integrity & sound money

America should return to President Ronald Reagan's four proven policies for an enduring economic recovery: real and sustained tax relief, fiscal integrity, smart regulatory reform, sound monetary policy. Reagan trusted in Americans' entrepreneurial spirit, innovative talents, and industriousness, and he agreed with Adam Smith's insight that freedom and prosperity are inextricably entwined and mutually reinforcing. The flexibility of our markets is endangered by excessive regulation, onerous litigation, and government redistribution of wealth. Special interests promote complex tax loopholes that impede the free flow of capital and divert it for less productive purposes, while the government is not adequately addressing the anxieties many citizens feel during globalization's era of rapid innovation and change. We must address the public's insecurities to prevent a backlash against the very free-enterprise system that is the foundation of our prosperity. Source: Seize Freedom, by Rep. Thad McCotter, p. 72 Feb 8, 2011

On Corporations: Goal is not material gain; but to renew the American dream

In 1982, President Ronald Reagan, at the Conservative Political Action Conference declared, "Higher productivity, a larger gross national product, a healthy Dow Jones average--they are our goals and are worthy ones. But our real concerns are not statistical goals or material gain. We want to expand personal freedom, to renew the American dream for every American. We seek to restore opportunity and reward, to value again personal achievement and individual excellence. We seek to rely on the ingenuity and energy of the American people to better their own lives and those of millions of others around the world." Source: Seize Freedom, by Rep. Thad McCotter, p. 90 Feb 8, 2011

On Families & Children: All great change in America begins at the dinner table

Abiding Ronald Reagan's observation that "all great change in America begins at the dinner table," conservatives love real life, ordered liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (with no guarantees of finding it). They are aware of their mortality and time' march, so they've got no time for BS (brooding solipsists). Creative, entrepreneurial, patriotic, and admittedly imperfect, conservatives accept their lot and thank the Lord for it. Source: Seize Freedom, by Rep. Thad McCotter, p.186 Feb 8, 2011

On Jobs: Worker & managers join forces to rebuild economy

It is time for a new set of ground rules for the interaction between business and labor, one they jointly determine and then present to Congress. While many fervently argue that such a conciliatory role for government is presently impossible, the only president of an AFL-CIO affiliated union who reached our nation's highest office--Ronald Reagan--disagreed: "Unions represent some of the freest institutions in this land. Too often, discussions about the labor movement dwell only on disputes or corruption or strikes. It also might be nice for once if we could hear about the thousands of hard-working, honest, union officials who have done so much to improve your movement and raise the standard of living for all Americans. So instead of workers and management trying to solve the dilemma by opposing each other, it's time you joined forces, so you can get on with the task of rebuilding our economy. Saving American jobs and raising the standard of living for all our people--that's part of the job. Source: Seize Freedom, by Rep. Thad McCotter, p. 85-86 Feb 8, 2011

On Principles & Values: Common sense conservatism is antithesis to fanaticism

The first step to transcending great challenges is to rid ourselves of ideology. As was his wont, Ronald Reagan hit the nail on the head: Conservatism is the antithesis of the kind of ideological fanaticism that has brought so much horror and destruction to the world. The common sense and common decency of ordinary men and women, working out their own lives in their own way-this is the heart of American conservatism today. Conservative wisdom and principles are derived from a willingness to learn --not just from what is going on now, but from what has happened before. Ideologues fit the world to their minds; conservatives fit their minds to the world. Ideologues believe politics is only a part of life. Ideologues believe they possess an abstract, absolute truth that can compel an imperfect humanity to attain a terrestrial paradise; conservatives believe in self-- evident truths and traditional rights and duties. Source: Seize Freedom, by Rep. Thad McCotter, p. 21 Feb 8, 2011

The above quotations are from Seize Freedom! American Truths and Renewal in a Chaotic Age, by Rep. Thad McCotter. Click here for main summary page. Click here for a profile of Ronald Reagan. Click here for Ronald Reagan on all issues.
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