President Reagan's Radio Address to the Nation on Welfare Reform on August 1, 1987. For more information on the ongoing works of President Reagan's Foundation, visit us at www.reaganfoundation.org.
notice how he talks about ending dependence, not ending poverty. Reagan's goal was to save the government a dime not to end the suffering of poor families.
Many of Reagan's policies and philosophy still affect our country and especially our economy today. For instance the wealth and income inequality that afflicts us now is a result of Reagan's economic model. The lack of economic mobility in America is due to Reagan's philosophy. The calamitous rise of corporate power is the result of Reagan' idea NOT to enforce the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. And no president including the current one have attempted to reverse that mess. The closing of mental health facilities and the resultant increase in homelessness and obviously mentally ill people wandering the streets is another idea of Reagan's. This man was a disaster for America and , yet people worship him like a god. Reagan's supply side economics has not , will not and cannot work for the American people ( except, of course for the rich and super-rich) and should be ditched yesterday. I wish some politician had the balls to call out Reagan's administration for the damage it has done.
How are all those high taxes and massive welfare spending working in France, Greece, Spain, England, Japan and the vast majority of European countries? You liberals act like your ideas usher in ages of prosperity wherever they're tried. We have more purchasing power and a higher standard of living than any country with greater than 25 mil people, and arguably than many of the countries with less. Your ideas are have been demonstrated to be flawed over and over and you refuse to acknowledge it.
He said "Welfare is one of the creators of poverty" and he is right. Once you are a slave to free checks, it's soooo hard to get off, trust me, I know friends that have been on it, and it dragged them down, not helped them. Reagan said it best, "The best tool against poverty is a JOB" Reagan had the biggest economic boom when he took office in the history of the world. Safety nets are fine for people who really need it until they can start working, but right now it's out of control.
