[Joe]

Your lead is one sentence. That's why my reply was short. Yet your retort is about 900 words? I'm familiar with Goldwater Conservatism, but I prefer the Objectivism of Ayn Rand that influenced Goldwater considerably. Moreover, what you've done here is bad form; you should bait fish, not people.

I cited one Reagan policy. But it was that policy which did more for working Americans to dispel the idea that republicans "are all for the rich" than all the talk that never improved a working person's life.

I did not cite Goldwater policy because there is none. He lost. Goldwater is regarded as a conservative theorist. Theorist is a charitable term they designate to losing politicians who influence other politicians. Whatever the loser does later when his marbles start to go is amusing or disturbing, but not policy.

Reagan pulled from Goldwater, but was astute enough not to go too far. "Morning in America," was a better approach to the people than Goldwater's failed, scary warnings. I voted for Reagan.

Communism failed worldwide in 1989, with the exception of North Korea, Cuba, and China (which has moderated considerably) - and it's not making a comeback.

Reagan won the Cold War by engaging in an arms race that bankrupted the USSR when they tried to keep up. Sure, it ratcheted up debt, but the nukes were never launched. The Cold War was won through diplomacy, and by outspending the Russians - the best formula for victory we could reasonably hope for. It's behind us now. Regan possibly saved the world.

America is not going socialist regardless of how much leftist literature is handed out by the Occupy Movement. We simply can't afford it.