[QUOTE=Steamer;156885]Probably not much … in 1989 he was forced by Bush to reject Reagan’s call to spend $13 billion to build and operate new USMM vessels. What an irony, Ronny Raygun wanted to support the USMM and Bush gutted it with his sealift policy document that (like the “patriot act”) created exactly the opposite of what the title proclaimed. It introduced the acceptance of “effective US control” which meant the government was free to use FoC ships whenever it was convenient or suited some special interest group.
I wish Leback had resigned rather than follow Bush’s policy. I think he knew how the system works and believe he thought he could do more good from within than outside. Unfortunately campaign funding is more important to the parasites who make the laws than the health and security of the nation and we have seen maritime policy based on the silent and incremental destruction of the American maritime industry.
Follow the money … the folks who want to end government food exports on US ships are the same people who received $30 billion when Bush stopped the American merchant shipbuilding program Ronnie wanted.[/QUOTE]
Steamer…you cut me to the quick here. I am a man who has closely followed the plight of the US Merchant fleet ever since the late 70’s and vividly recall the ending of all the subsidies provided for in the Merchant Marine Act of 1936 by none other than the Reagan Administration yet know nothing of this supposed desire to correct the harm caused by those actions by building a new fleet also by Reagan? Please elaborate for us who thirst for knowledge?