Conservatism

Rise of the Conservatives

1980s

Liberal vs. Conservative

Liberal

Liberalism is a belief that government has a responsibility to actively solve society’s problems.

Conservative

A Conservative generally believes that individuals should be given more responsibility to make choices in the area of economics and society’s problems

Why Conservatism?

Backlash against entitlements and Affirmative Action (reverse discrimination?)

Opposition to big government programs Outrage at hippie lifestyle Desire for security (Increase defense,

limit immigration)

“Well, they look pretty undocumented to me.”

Goals of Conservatives

Shrink the federal government Reduce spending Promote traditional morality and values Strengthen national defense Stimulating business by reducing

government regulations and lowering corporate taxes

Conservative Support

Coalition: business leaders, frustrated middle-class voters, fundamentalist Christian groups

Elected Ronald Reagan 1980 He was an actor, simplified things, very

comfortable in front of people 1980 Presidential commercials

Supply-side Economics

Decrease taxes and reduce spending Tax cuts would increase private

investments and stimulate the economy

Largest tax cuts to the highest incomes

Deregulation

Reduce the size and spending of the federal government by cutting back on the regulation of industry

Eliminated safety inspections on nursing homes, deregulated the airlines and Savings & Loan

Reduction in Social Welfare Programs

Cut mass transit, food stamps, welfare benefits, job training, Medicaid, school lunches, and student loans (Cut domestic spending by over $40 billion)

War on Drugs

Random drug testing at gov’t workplaces Cut off college loans and public housing to

drug offenders Anti-drug education in schools “Just say

NO” Called drugs “our gravest domestic threat” Long sentences for drug offenders, death

penalty for dealers, emphasis on stopping entry at borders

War on Drugs Song

Civil Rights under Reagan

End to Affirmative Action; saw as reverse discrimination

Opposed abortion and ERA

Increased Defense Spending

SDI: Strategic Defense Initiative (Star Wars). Keep US safe from enemy missiles. Still Developing - 2013

National debt went from $900 billion to $4 trillion; interest payments on debt accounted for 21% of budget (more than budget for education, health, environment, agriculture, transportation, space, science, and technology combined!)