How did Reagan’s policies hurt the poor?
1. Reduction in social welfare programs: Reagan's policies included significant cuts to social welfare programs, such as food stamps, housing assistance, and Medicaid. These cuts disproportionately affected low-income individuals and families who relied on these programs for basic necessities.
2. Trickle-down economics: Reagan implemented a policy of "trickle-down economics," which focused on tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations in the belief that the benefits would "trickle down" to lower-income individuals. However, this policy ultimately led to income inequality as well as decreased funding for important social programs that support the poor.
3. Deregulation: Reagan also implemented policies that deregulated industries, which led to lower wages and decreased job security for low-income workers. Additionally, deregulation enabled corporations to exploit labor and environmental laws, further disadvantaging the poor.
4. Union busting: Reagan's anti-union policies weakened labor unions and workers' bargaining power, resulting in lower wages and less job security for workers, particularly those in low-paying industries.
5. Increased military spending: Reagan significantly increased military spending during his presidency, diverting crucial resources away from social welfare programs that support the poor. This decision exacerbated poverty and inequality, as funds were reallocated to defense rather than social services.
Overall, Reagan's policies hurt the poor by cutting social welfare programs, implementing trickle-down economics that disproportionately benefited the wealthy, deregulating industries, weakening labor unions, and increasing military spending at the expense of social programs.