HW4.6

REAGAN'S POLICIES OF DEREGULATION AND DEVOLUTION OF GOVERNMENT POWER FIT HIS BRAND, BUT INCREASING THE FEDERAL DEFICIT DID NOT.

Reagan's believed that “deregulation would make businesses more efficient and competitive” (HA 56.3), and his policies fit this brand. Reagan "replace[d] tough enforcement of environmental laws by a "voluntary" approach," so businesses could decide what they wanted to do for themselves (Zinn). Policies like these reduced governmental control of businesses, therefore fitting Reagan's 'brand.'

"Curb[ing] the size and influence of the Federal establishment" (Reagan's first inaugural address) was one of Reagan's 'brands' that his policies lived up to. Continuing Nixon's 'New Federalism' policy and establishing block grants, which were lump-sum payments to states, who could use it as they wished, lessened federal power and gave states more responsibilities, thus following his brand.

Reducing government spending was one of Reagan's 'brands', because the US "for decades... piled deficit upon deficit" (Reagan's first inaugural address), but his policies did not fit this brand. From 1982 to the end of Reagan's term, annual deficits exceeded $100 billion, due to tax cuts and military spending (HA 56.3). Clearly, high deficits did not fit his 'brand.'