Saturday, September 20, 2008  At some point, someone will need
to make this speech  Reagan made this speech in 1981, not long
after becoming President. It strikes the right balance between
confronting the challenges facing his new government and
striking a tone of optimism about the possibility of doing so
successfully. It is neither airy waffle nor dismal and
dispiriting.  "A few days ago I was presented with a report I'd
asked for, a comprehensive audit, if you will, of our economic
condition. You won't like it. I didn't like it. But we have to
face the truth and then go to work to turn things around. And
make no mistake about it, we can turn them around.  I'm not
going to subject you to the jumble of charts, figures, and
economic jargon of that audit, but rather will try to explain
where we are, how we got there, and how we can get back."  In
recent years spending, taxes and regulation have all increased
and the money has been wasted on unreformed public services,
long standing weaknesses in our transport