I’m a Republican. Just like Ike.

The first time I voted, I voted for Gerald Ford over Jimmy Carter. While I thought they were both decent men, I really liked Ford’s idea of smaller government, and letting the market sort out our economic problems. That made sense to me. Four years later, though, I didn’t see this working out like I thought it would, so I voted for Carter over Reagan (My guy lost both elections!) Although Reagan was a decent man, who was very good at inspiring people.as time went on I came to wonder about his policies.

And now, looking back from 40 years in the future, it seems to me that the Reagan administration was the beginning of a very hard shift to the right in this country. (I’m not the first to say this; I believe it’s pretty well documented.)

This shift is in contrast to the policies of Dwight “Ike” Eisenhower, a Republican President in the late 1950’s. Look at some of his beliefs:

• Against big military spending
• For equal pay for women
• For protecting Social Security
• For accepting refugees
• For raising the minimum wage
• For strong unions
• For taxing the wealthy at a much higher rate (the top marginal tax rate was 91%)

He was also responsible for the Interstate Highways (one of the single costliest government projects ever).

Today, that’s very similar to what the Democrats are asking for. But where Eisenhower was considered centrist, Democrats today are called “leftist” or “socialist” or quite often “libtards” or sometimes just “idiots.” And many even say that Democrats want these things to "control the masses." (I'm not exactly sure how that would work.) But instead, maybe Democrats are just trying to help out the less fortunate among us.

This is one time that I think looking to the past can help in forming the future. Because I would like policies similar to the 1950’s to 1960’s. Yes, I realize the world is different, so the policies can’t be exactly the same. But the ideas behind them can:

• A minimum wage that is actually a living wage.
• Less military spending
• Equal pay for women
• Protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid
• Strong unions
• Wealthy people paying their fair share in taxes

In addition, how about these? ( I think Eisenhower would embrace these.)

• I’d like college to be affordable again, like it was when I went to college.
• I’d like the government to tackle another huge project, not Interstates, but healthcare.
• I’d like policies to help the environment, including but not limited to addressing climate change (EPA was started during Nixon’s administration. Nixon of course was a Republican.)

If I had these views during the 1950’s or 1960’s, they would fit in perfectly with those of the Republican party at the time. From everything I can find, none of those things differ significantly from what Republicans stood for in the 1950’s and 1960’s.

But now when I have these ideas, I'm called a “leftist” or “socialist” or “libtard.” Of course, I’m none of those things. But that’s what I'm being told.

I wonder what they’d call “Ike” today?

I stand with Ike.