Dems: Who do you think is the worst thing to happen to present-day politics?

[darklordoftech]

Democrats only: Who do you think is most responsible for today's political problems?

[darklordoftech]

I feel like economic and foreign policy were the things that Reagan was passionate about and what drove his desire to be President and he social issues as a way to get votes for himself and Republicans in general.

[darklordoftech]

Goldwater seeded the terrible ideology that dominates discourse

Nixon allowed "muh small government" to actually be plausible thanks to Watergate

But Reagan put all of it together and made it last.

Reagan did seem to combine the worst aspects of Goldwater (inability to distinguish entitlements and social justice from communism) and Nixon (belief in a strong executive and a police state). Watergate was caused by a strong executive, not by "big government".