( CNN ) -- Thirty-two years ago , President Ronald Reagan launched an era of anti-government politics with his first inaugural address . On Monday , President Barack Obama offered the best rebuttal to date . Conservative columnist Charles Krauthammer said the speech marked `` the end of Reaganism , '' and I could n't agree more . Like Reagan , the president sought to ground the national conversation in his own definition of patriotism . But instead of the `` liberty-only '' patriotism of Reagan and political descendants such as Paul Ryan , who would turn love of country into hate for its government and its people , Obama offered a deeper `` liberty and justice for all '' patriotism . Obama noted that the world has changed -- that global problems cause local disasters , and what happens across town affects you and your neighbors -- and he called on us all to realize that you can not have liberty for all without justice for all . Opinion : World to Obama -- You ca n't ignore us . Perhaps most fittingly , on a day heavy with memory , the president invoked those who once stood on the National Mall to hear a different type of founding father -- `` a king ( who proclaimed ) that our individual freedom is inextricably bound to the freedom of every soul on Earth . '' The overtones of Reagan 's 1981 speech rang so loudly , in fact , that it 's clear the president and his team looked to that address as inspiration . Reagan offered up a vision of an over-taxed , long-neglected `` We the People '' ; Obama 's version of `` We the People '' is youthful , diverse , energetic and engaged . Both saw their addresses as a call to arms for all Americans . Both sought to tie the best traditions of our founding fathers to today 's challenges . Both insisted that what truly drives America is the ingenuity and independence of our people . Opinion : Obama finally meets Machiavelli . But while Reagan advanced the simplistic idea that government and liberty are always at odds , Obama 's speech reflected the realizations of a new century . Instead of `` government is the problem , '' the president reminded us that we could all fall victim to sudden misfortune . Instead of pinning blame for every social problem on the size of government , the president recognized both individual responsibility and the role of community in giving each child the opportunity to succeed . Like Reagan , the president invoked the names of famous places in American history -- but instead of battles , he tied Stonewall in with Selma and cemented his declaration that lesbian , gay , bisexual and transgender rights are civil rights . Coming off an election during which today 's Reaganites insulted a nation of `` takers , '' the president declared that Medicaid , Medicare and Social Security `` free us to take the risks that make this country great . '' Opinion : Obama 's ringing defense of liberalism . This was not a partisan speech . It was not a campaign rally . But it showed that Obama will not back away from a fight . He is staking a bet that a rising generation has a new vision for the country . I do not think that following through will be easy , or that the president will do everything right . But he showed Monday that he is standing on the right side of history . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Van Jones .
Van Jones : Reagan promoted simplistic idea that government and liberty are at odds . Reagan et al . tried to turn love of country into hate for government , he says . Jones : Obama offers `` liberty and justice for all '' patriotism . Jones : Obama 's address also shows he is standing on the right side of history .