The illusion of a conservative Reagan revolution / Larry M. Schwab ; with a new introduction by the author.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Schwab, Larry M., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Party affiliation--United States.

Party affiliation.

Government spending policy--United States.

Government spending policy.

Conservatism--United States.

Conservatism.

United States--Politics and government--1981-1989.

United States.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (260 p.)

Place of Publication:

New Brunswick : Transaction Publishers, [2016]

Summary:

This book presents a provocative perspective on the impact of the Reagan administration. Many political commentators, both liberal and conservative, argue that the 1980s was a period of fundamental conservative change. Some of them believe the changes have been so important that the 1980s should be seen as a watershed period in American political history as significant as the 1930s. Schwab denies this thesis and points out that politics and policy did not fundamentally change in a conservative direction. Instead, he demonstrates how policy developments and the political system actually moved in the opposite direction. In the realm of public opinion, Schwab points out that sentiment tends to shift toward the left rather than the right. Support for social and environmental programs remained high and even increased during the Reagan era, whereas support for defense programs dropped to a near-record low. Instead of a New Right conservative shift in public opinion on social issues, Americans became more liberal on women's rights, minority rights, and sexual behavior issues. Schwab's critique extends as well to Reagan's political success and popularity. Rather than being one of the most successful presidents in leading Congress, he was one of the least successful. His conservative ideology lessened support for him among many voters and congressional liberals gained more voter support during the 1980s' elections than conservatives.

Contents:

Cover; Title; Copyright; Contents; List of Tables; Preface; Acknowledgments; Introduction to the Paperback Edition; Public Opinion; Attitudes on Policy Issues; Reagan's Popularity; Conservative Voting in Elections; Public Policies; Ideology; Reagan's Legislative Record; Domestic and Foreign Policies; Party Politics; Conclusion; Notes; 1 Introduction; Reagan Revolution Thesis; Fifty Liberal Years?; Public Opinion; Reagan's Popularity; Conservative Voting in the Elections; Reagan's Legislative Record; Public Policies; Party Politics; Governance; Conclusion; Notes

2 No Conservative Shift in Public OpinionSelf-Identified Conservatives; Ideological Orientation of Young Americans; Federal Government Programs; Economics; Social and Moral Issues; Foreign Policy; Conclusion; Notes; 3 The Illusion of President Reagan's High Popularity; Conclusion; Notes; 4 No Conservative Shift in the 1980s' Elections; Ideological Voting and the Presidential Elections; Ideological Voting and the Congressional Elections; Ideological Voting and the California Assembly Elections; Conclusion; Notes; 5 No Party Realignment; Party Realignment Debate; A New Era of Party Competition

Gerrymandering and the Alleged Republican RealignmentConclusion; Notes; 6 No Fundamental Conservative Change in Public Policies; Agriculture; Sugar; Tobacco; Peanuts; Dairy; Honey; Wheat, Feed Grains, and Soybeans; Cotton and Rice; Farm Credit and Drought Relief; Budget; Total Federal Spending; Budget Deficits; Taxes; Spending Priorities; Business; Deregulation; International Trade; Banking and Finance; Business Taxes; Antitrust; Civil Rights and Liberties; Black Civil Rights; Grove City College Civil Rights Law; Defeat of Judge Bork's Nomination; Cases on the Rights of the Accused

First Amendment CasesVoting Rights Cases; Defense; Reasons for the Decline in the Defense Budget; Various Projections on Military Spending; Year-By-Year Analysis; Economics; Components of the Mixed Economy; Economic Theories; Education; Education Spending; Elimination of the Department of Education; School Prayer, Vouchers, Tuition Tax Credits, and School Desegregation; Energy; Deregulation; Elimination of the Energy Department; Nuclear Energy; Energy versus Environment; Environment; Clean Water; Superfund; Clean Air; Land Use; Global Environmental Issues; Foreign Policy; Soviet Union; China

AfricaMiddle East; Latin America; Europe; Japan; Social Policy; Level of Morality; Religious Values; Women's Rights; The Family and Child Care; Abortion; Sexual Behavior; Sexually-Explicit Presentations; Social Programs; Social Security; Welfare; Child Care; Health Programs; Defense Personnel Costs; Tax Policy; Conclusion; Notes; 7 The Illusion of President Reagan's Great Legislative Success; Reagan's Overall Legislative Record; Reagan's Legislative Record in Major Policy Areas; Conclusion; Notes; 8 No Fundamental Change in the Governmental System; The Presidency; Federal Bureaucracy

Congress

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

1-351-48105-3

1-4128-6347-3

OCLC:

951835838