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Conservatism

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.

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Conservatism

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  1. Conservatism Rise of the Conservatives 1980s

  2. Liberal vs. Conservative

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

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

  5. 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)

  6. “Well, they look pretty undocumented to me.”

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. 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)

  12. 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

  13. Civil Rights under Reagan • End to Affirmative Action; saw as reverse discrimination • Opposed abortion and ERA

  14. 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!)

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