Yet Another Reagan Post

(Before a huge crowd at the Capital Building, Homer reveals the candidates as space aliens.)
Kodos: It's true, we are aliens. But what are you going to do about it? It's a two-party system! You have to vote for one of us.
(The crowd murmurs)
Man in crowd: Well, I believe I'll vote for a third-party candidate.
Kang: Go ahead, throw your vote away! Ah-hah-hah-hah-haaaah!

* * * * *
As the World pays tribute to Ronald Reagan, it's difficult not to be slightly put off by the over-positive praises. Does he really deserve to be added to Mount Rushmore?

One aspect of American politics I have always admired is its effectiveness to remain non-radical, and therefore provides a platform for what Popper termed "piecemeal social engineering". We might doubt George W. Bush's intelligence and his government's actions after September 11, but imagine if the same had happened to China under its dictatorship? I think it is actually a good thing that American politics remains a middle-of-the-road, two-party contest. And because of that, I find it difficult to believe that Reagan did any more than a middle-of-the-road political system would allow.

For some not-so-positive "tributes" to Reagan, check out Slate's Reagan, Reconsidered.