The great Shift under Ronald Reagan

[edhopper]

Last edited Mon Nov 1, 2021, 09:56 AM - Edit history (2)

From Roosevelt, through Eisenhower, to Carter, (and even Nixon) there was an economic policy to raise the middle class. Yes, it was tarnished to exclude people of color, but the policy was tilted toward working Americans. Reagan changed that and it has been the economic policy of this country ever since to favor the Rich to the detriment of every one else. This has been controlled by the Republican Party, but the Democrats have not been able to change this direction.
Clinton and Obama reversed some of that, but not enough to change the trend.. And I don't see the current Democratic majority ending any of the budget destroying Trump or Bush cuts.

[unblock]

1. Obama did too

Top tax rate went back up to 39.6%, and he introduced a few new taxes on the rich, such as the Medicare surtax and investment income tax, largely used to finance Obamacare (the real reason the right wing hates it).

Plus a few others, like taxing "cadillac" health insurance.

[edhopper]

3. you are right, of course

I edited to reflect that, thanks.

But my premise still holds.

[FakeNoose]

4. The TeaParty jumped in to ruin many of Obama's better intentions

Obama did have Congressional backing for his first 2 years, and that was a good thing. He spent most of that time trying to save the economy from Wall Street's excessive piggery of 2008. But then he tried to pass progressive legislation such as the ACA, that's when the TeaParty came in and ruined much of his plans. I think it was 2010 when most of those a-holes got elected, am I right?

[edhopper]

7. Yep

a billionaire run counter ops that the idiots fell for.

[TreasonousBastard]

2. Reagon's real bosses understood that few Americans would...

become "rich" but all Americans believed they would be. Or at least hoped to be if all governmental restraints were removed.

It is, they told us, government, and only government, that is holding us back.

The big lie that destroyed us.

[Doc Sportello]

5. Exactly

Rush Limpballs made his living off that myth with his dittoheads believing it. It was a central theme, along with racism, to the rise of the RW in this country.

[czarjak]

6. Republicans are the Party of the Rich...

Republican policies only benefit the Rich. Period. (Tax reform) Promises made, promises kept.