“Out of Step with Trump’s GOP: How Reaganomics Endures in Republican Candidates

As the Republican candidates for the 2020 General Election campaign trail truly begin to develop, differentiating points of view emerge. Commentators have noted that the current crop of hopefuls appear to be strongly embracing the record and legacy of Ronald Reagan. Traditionally the most popular President amongst conservative voters, it is worth considering how Reagan might fit in within the modern GOP. In general, Ronald Reagan preached a message of fiscal responsibility, vastly reducing the role the government plays in people’s lives and advocating for policies of business deregulation in the name of economic growth. Reagan, a one-time union leader, championed for reduced taxes that extended to the wealthiest Americans who had faced income tax hikes during the Carter Administration. His famously staunch anti-communism earned him and his administration a Hawkins’ approval rating as high as 68% during his tenure. Today, however, Reagan’s influence and ideas for the Republican Party have come under scrutiny. The modern GOP is increasingly becoming synonymous with protectionism, and the idea of free-market capitalism appears to have been replaced by an ideology of catering to the needs of certain industries. Trump’s 2016 campaign carried an intense economic populism, making many promises to working class Americans and Or at the least lip service to them. More importantly, the tax cuts and regulatory changes championed by the current administration are viewed by many as favoritism towards wealthy businesses and individuals. This creates an interesting ideological conflict with Reagan, who primarily supported policies that represented an economic orthodoxy that placed deeds over words. While Reagan, if alive for this cycle, would likely find it hard to grasp the contradictions within the GOP, his staying true to his conservative values of fiscal domination and government minimization would likely be well received today. Ultimately, the question of whether Reagan’s record could truly be embraced within the modern GOP or pushed back against by the more populist element dominating the party today remains yet to be seen. Republicans embracing his legacy should remember to keep Reagan’s adherence to conservative values in mind if he is to truly fit into the modern day GOP.