Not to take sides yet in the battle for the 10th congressional district seat, but we have to agree with Republican challenger Scott Keadle in his chiding of incumbent U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry for the latter's efforts to put Ronald Reagan's image on the $50 bill.
First, let us say for the record that there's absolutely nothing wrong with the current $50 bill, which features Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th president and famed Civil War general. Sure, the guy ranks low on the presidential popularity list, but without the $50 bill, what's he got?
And more importantly, and as Keadle points out, do McHenry and Congress have nothing better to do right now? We've got a messy health-care debate, rampant joblessness and an economy making our heads spin.
As Keadle noted in a news release the other day, "As much as we all admire President Reagan, I seriously question why Mr. McHenry thinks this is a priority when nearly one in five people are out of work."
Added Keadle, "While President Reagan certainly deserves to be memorialized, I doubt whether he would have focused on this issue when we have such urgent problems facing North Carolina's workers and families."
Reagan was one of the most popular presidents, for sure. Presidential scholars rank him sixth in that category and he won re-election in 1984 by one of the widest margins ever. But during his eight years, the gross federal debt rose by 18.5 percent. That's the largest increase for any president (even though Barack Obama is on track to double that percentage if he stays in office and current trends continue over the next seven years.)
Then again, considering that rapid rise in national debt under Reagan, maybe putting his face on the lofty $50 bill is actually appropriate. (We can hear the angry letters being written to us already.)
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