Tactics of the Reagan administration

Tactics of the Reagan administration

Passage:

The Reagan administration was defined by the phrase "government is the problem" and tried to remove all government regulation of businesses. Despite this, the budget deficit of the federal government continued to grow through the decade, along with an increasing trade deficit also growing rapidly since the 1970s, and despite Reagan' promises to tackle the "twin deficits." 

 

The budget deficit grew largely because of a combination of increased military spending and significant tax cuts given to the highest income brackets in the country. Reagan was later forced to reverse many of these tax cuts and ended up raising taxes several times.  Much of the increased military spending was used to finance covert wars in Latin America and the Middle East, but also to "outspend" the Russians on defense, a process that some commentators believe helped pushed the Soviet Union into its final downward spiral into dissolution.

 

Meaning of the Passage:

The government was moving towards an international competitive direction. Meanwhile the people were still in a domesticated state of mind. There were certain moves that needed to be made to ensure the future for the United States. Reagan had to make sure the people were satisfied, but also needed satisfy the needs of the country as a whole. This required a strong military presence, strong political representation, and a method to sustain the economy at the same time.

 

Why I chose the passage:

I chose the passage because there is always a misunderstanding as to why wars take place, and why power seems to be one sided. I was able to see it in a neutral perspective, and wanted to share my view on the matter.