Daniel Hannan: How to shrink the state? Copy Reagan

I’ve blogged before about why I admire Ronald Reagan; why, indeed, I see him as the greatest of all 44 US presidents. Here, in his centenary year, is a reminder of his greatest domestic achievement: he managed to bring spending down as a percentage of GDP. He did so in the only way possible in a modern democracy, not by slashing expenditure in absolute terms, but by allowing the private sector to grow faster than the public sector.

Never forget the central message of Reagan’s inauguration speech: “In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem”.

My favourite of the Gipper’s aphorisms makes the same point in more folksy terms: “I don’t drink coffee at lunchtime; I find it keeps me awake in the afternoon”.

As much as I admire and love the memory of President Reagan, he talked a very good game, and grew govt at an alarming rate. I have seen no “ideal” conservative in the White House since Calvin Coolidge, but Reagan was OK. I felt like he would defend this country to the end, and he loved America and its rich history. Now THAT is really something we haven’t seen since the Duke, Jimmy Stewart and RR have passed on.

>>>>>...President Reagan ... grew govt at an alarming rate.

Some folks have short memories. The Democrats controlled the purse strings during the 1980`s. Even with the budget power in the hands of the House liberals Reagan was able to reduce the overall size of government by 1.0% of GDP during his 8 years in office. From 22.2% in 1981, to 21.2% in 1989. A small but significant decrease which enabled Reagan to ramp up the Defesne budget and rebuild the military. Reagan also had success in limiting the growth of the welfare state by reducing spending on "Human Resources" from 53.4% in the 1981 budget to 49.7% in 1989. Realizing some of the lowest welfare and discretionary spending levels in a decade.

At the same time he was battling Tip O'Neal and the Democrats on budget priorities, Reagan managed to revive the worst economy since the Great Depression through pro-business and pro-growth policies, sending the economy soaring and inflation rates, interest rates and unemployment falling. He reduced the top tax rates from 70% to 28%, simplifying the tax code twice and eliminating volumes of administrative deregulation employed by federal agencies.

If Reagan had a GOP House he would have had much more success in decreasing the size and scope of government.

Reagan Man made a good point above me and I will go one further -

Reagan was absolutely focused on the destruction of the USSR and to achieve that goal he needed to greatly increase defense spending. It worked and he won the cold war without a horrible conflict. In order to do that with a democrat led congress he had to let them fund their pet projects. Was it right? No, but it was realistic.

I adore President Reagan and like all mortal men he was not perfect but he was the perfect man for his time. Without a Carter before him we likely would not have had Reagan. We can only pray the current train wreck leads to another Reagan because we really need him or her right now.

The biggest mistake Reagan made was letting the RINO establishment and Rockefeller wing put Bush on the ticket. I respect Bush and think he was a very honorable man but he was not a conservative and rapidly abandoned the principles of the man he served under. The principles that I believe got him elected. Reagan was popular enough to have carried the ticket with a younger conservative like Kemp and it would have possibly continued his legacy two more terms. How much different would America look today?

The Republican congress certainly abandoned Reagan’s principles too even though they all act like him and talk about him every two years.

Reagan was a terrific President and considering the withering assault by the media and the left and the continued assault by academics and history writers he will always be an iconic figure who was without a doubt one of the best Presidents we have ever had.

Sorry we disagree, but Reagan was “rolled” by the Democrats. Sure he got tax cuts, but with a PROMISE from the D’s to make commensurate cuts in discretionary spending. He had been around politics long enough to know that a promise is just something you make, and accept to CYA. He had a BIG STICK with the bully pulpit, but did not fight when he could have easily won.

Its not that we disagree. Its that your words don't jive with the historic facts. You're engaging in Reagan revisionism. From the dismissive nature of your reply, you either weren't alive during Reagan's Presidency or if you were around in 1980’s you definitely weren't paying attention.

Reagan was not perfect. Far from it. But he deserves a better factual account of his political record and successes as President. My post gave you the facts.

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