What would Reagan do?

Countless times in the past 15, even 20 years, policymakers on the right would pause
and ask an almost spiritual question: What would Reagan do?

There’s nothing more special about today and the troubles we face as a country in
this tumultuous world, and yet the question seems more in need of asking than ever
before. It certainly is appropriate as America remembers the 100th birthday of one
of the greatest presidents of all time.

Much has been written about Reagan’s uncanny sense of leadership, his giant-sized
sense of humor, and his eternal faith that the U.S. was predestined for greatness,
and to inspire greatness in all who came in contact with her.

But let’s return to this question of “What would Reagan do?” in 2011. More specifically
, let’s apply that standard to entitlement spending. For it is evident as the years
go by, and our nation’s deficits and debt grow, and policymakers seemingly turn
into ostriches, that entitlement spending will be the death of us financially if
we’re not careful. Yes, folks, we need a Reagan-type leader to stand up and take
this problem by the horns.

I don’t need to run through the insurmountable calculations and the glorified Ponzi
schemes we’ve backed ourselves into to avoid tough decisions. That’s behind us.

But we do need to get serious about our future. Think about it: Not since Ronald
Reagan formed the Greenspan Commission in 1981 and then forced the Congress, both
Republican and Democrat, to step up and address a Social Security program that was
tipping into bankruptcy, have we had a serious attempt to fix these runaway programs.

1983. That was the last time both parties put their respective necks on the line
— and their political futures — and tackled the toughest of issues. Ronald Reagan
inspired that movement. And maybe, just maybe, on that legend’s 100th birthday,
we can have similar bipartisanship and courageousness.

I’m not optimistic, but I do know this: the answer to the question we started this
column with is clear. Ronald Reagan would address Social Security. He was that large
of a man. We would do well to emulate such leadership in this town.

Armstrong Williams is on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.