- What is your impression of Ronald Reagan?
He is confident in himself and what he set out to say. He did not falter whatsoever. He researched his material, and he challenges the then-current government with facts and not theories. He is smart and manipulative, introducing the topic of deployment to appeal to the ordinary citizen.
- We know what a liberal politician like Lyndon Johnson believed. What is the essence of conservatism as articulated by Ronald Reagan? Please provide examples from the speech to support your answer
Reagan wanted “Individual freedom that was consistent with law and order.” He warned of America being destroyed both from inside and out. This was by politicians who worked hard to keep their enemies happy. He was up for Americans being able to maintain their social norms with minimal disruption as possible, and he wanted this to happen as soon as possible.
- What did Americans find appealing about Reagan in the 1980 presidential election?
Americans felt like Reagan was discouraged by what was going on in the country, the way people believed that America’s time was up, now was the time they decline. He gave the people hope, making them believe he is saving them from those dark times.
- What was his “conservatism platform?”
It was that of less government and stronger defense, promising to restore America’s greatness.
- What were Reagan’s set of beliefs (or “precepts” as George Will called them)?
He believed that the government was too big, that they taxed too much against the people, and that the Soviets were getting away with murder internationally. He also came in with an agenda to try and implement those beliefs.
- What is “supply-side economics?”
Supply-side economics is a theory where economic growth is stimulated by lowering tax rates and having fewer regulations, thus increasing employment and ensuring the consumer has greater access to goods and services at lower prices.
- Reagan’s Tax Cuts were designed to help the economic recovery. How did critics respond?
They argued that without deep cuts, the budget deficit could rise to as high as a hundred billion dollars
- Imagine that Lyndon Johnson (liberalism) and Ronald Reagan (conservatism) were competing for the presidency in 2020. Who would you vote for and why?
I would vote for Ronald Reagan. He believes in checking the government’s power, and he also looks out for the common man since he is an apt supporter of the supply-side economic theory, which makes life that much easier for the ordinary citizen by creating a thriving economy that will make more job opportunities that benefit everyone.