Government does not solve problems; it subsidizes them. For the most part, and more than any of his fellow presidents since Coolidge, Reagan knew that there was no loftier achievement for any society than freedom. Governments tend not to solve problems, only to rearrange them. I've been saying so for more than a quarter of a century now. We in government should learn to look at our country with the eyes of the entrepreneur, seeing possibilities where others see only problems. "32 Ronald Reagan Quotes You Should Know." Our military strength is a prerequisite to peace, but let it be clear we maintain this strength in the hope it will never be used. The price for this freedom at times has been high, but we have never been unwilling to pay the price. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this. Reagan was a small government Republican, clearly favoring Reaganomics over regulations and taxes, but he also spent decades in politics trying to ensure government worked for the people. You meet heroes across a counter -- and theyre on both sides of that counter. After he trounced Jimmy Carter in 1980, I was teaching at Northwood University, where I wheeled in a TV set for one of my classes to watch his inaugural address live. President Ronald Reagan certainly didn't. A rising tide lifts all boats, but the shifting of money into the pockets of the wealthy alsohad some nasty effects (like high end stores saw more business but low-end stores suffered). Behind the ostensible government sits enthroned an invisible government owing no allegiance and acknowledging no responsibility to the people. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. The nicest thing a girl ever did for me was when a girl named Nancy married me and brought a warmth and joy to my life that has grown with each passing year. The current result is President Trump. But great as our tax burden is, it has not kept pace with public spending. Honestly, Reagan doesnt really support the idea that a Democrat or Republican can make America great by using government, but nor does he support the idea that we can just tear it all down. Votes: 0, You can't accuse the creator of The Boondocks, Jesus was black, Ronald Reagan was the devil and the government is lying about 9/11. It is time to restore the American precept that each individual is accountable for his actions. Government is not a solution to our problem, government is the problem God forbid the need, that the generation following the loss of our Republic will quickly realize just what our founding forefathers intended. Rosenberg, Jennifer. We suffer from the longest and one of the worst sustained inflations in our national history. From time to time weve been tempted to believe that society has become too complex to be managed by self-rule, that government by an elite group is superior to government for, by, and of the people. Ronald Reagan (February 6, 1911 June 5, 2004), was Americas 40thpresident, widely known for helping redefine the purpose of government and for pressuring the Soviet Union to end the Cold War. It knows no sectional boundaries or ethnic and racial divisions, and it crosses political party lines. So opportunity for a few and no duty to help those in need. The purpose of our military is simple and straightforward: We want to prevent war by deterring others from the aggression that causes war. Quote by Ronald Reagan: "Government is not a solution to our problem He Was Fatally Beaten by Memphis Police Now People Around the World Are Sharing #SunsetsForTyre in His Honor, 41 Daughter Quotes That Will Touch and Melt Your Heart, 20 Most Inspiring Martin Luther King Jr. The answer is yes and no. And recovery is when, Balancing the budget is a little like protecting your virtue: You just have to learn to say "no.". Quotes Authors R Ronald Reagan In this present crisis, government is. It's true hard work never killed anybody, but I figure, why take the chance? Did he say it, or didnt he? Progress became a search for power and domination. From time to time we've been tempted to believe that society has become too complex to be managed by self-rule, that government by an elite group is superior to . Well our concern must be for a special interest group that has been too long neglected. Not the distributor of gifts and privilege but once again the protector of our liberties. Government exists to protect us from each other. If it keeps moving, regulate it. Idle industries have cast workers into unemployment, human misery and personal indignity.Those who do work are denied a fair return for their labor by a tax system which penalizes successful achievement and keeps us from maintaining full productivity. Ronald Reagan quote: Government is not a solution to our problem Votes: 4 Well preserve for our children this, the last best hope of man on earth, or well sentence them to take the last step into a thousand years of darkness. Powerful quotes from former U.S. President Ronald Reagan on freedom, leadership and the government. It is easy to say I a am small government conservative so what does that mean? Government is not a solution to our problem, government is the problem. Government always finds a need for whatever money it gets. But the problem is not the size of the deficit, it's the size of government's claim on our economy. (. The solutions we seek must be equitable, with no one group singled out to pay a higher price.We hear much of special interest groups. If it keeps moving, regulate it. If the federal government had been around when the Creator was putting His hand to this state, Indiana wouldn't be here. Reagan's campaign brought together a " New Right " coalition of economic conservatives, members of the Christian Right, working-class whites, and supporters of a more . Freedom is the recognition that no single person, no single authority or government has a monopoly on the truth, but that every individual life is infinitely precious, that every one of us put on this world has been put there for a reason and has something to offer. Love Reagan and his polices or not, that is the context in which the quote should be understood. Protecting the rights of even the least individual among us is basically the only excuse the government has for even existing. Progress may be slow -- measured in inches and feet, not miles -- but we will progress. MLK's 'I have been to the mountaintop' the, Ronald Reagan: 'Government is not the solution to the problem: government is the problem', Inaugural Address - 1981. https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/ John Foster Dulles: 'Free people will never remain free if they are not willing to fight', On the Fall of Dien Bien Phu - 1954, Jimmy Carter: '1976 will not be politics as usual', Democratic Convention Acceptance Speech - 1976 , Jon Stewart: "They responded in five seconds", 9-11 first responders, Address to Congress - 2019, Jacinda Ardern: 'They were New Zealanders. One way to make sure crime doesnt pay would be to let the government run it. The numbers dont lie. Votes: 2, Haitian rice farmers are quite efficient, but they can't compete with U.S. agribusiness that relies on a huge government subsidy, thanks to Ronald Reagan's free market enthusiasms. And theres purpose and worth to each and every life. http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/document/progressive-platform-of-1912/. Flavia Medrut is a freelance writer, researcher and part-time psychologist. Ronald Reagan 68 likes Like "In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem. If men were angels, no government would be necessary. Where government has gone beyond its limits is in deciding to protect us from ourselves. Votes: 3, The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help. Ronald Reagan. Thanks for clarifying that. Follow on LinkedIn andLikehis public figure page on Facebook. The nine most terrifying words in the English language are "I'm from the government, and I'm here to help.". Communism and the Soviet Union, B.A., History, University of California at Davis. Now, so there will be no misunderstanding, its not my intention to do away with government. I know that for America there will always be a bright dawn ahead. Ronald Reagan quote about government from Inaugural Address From time to time weve been tempted to believe that society has become too complex to be managed by self-rule, that government by an elite group is superior to government for, by, and of the people. Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one. This website or its third-party tools use cookies, which are necessary to its functioning and required to achieve the purposes illustrated in the cookie policy. However, this only sheds light on the fact that citizens seek the path of least resistance rather than the path of truth. If it keeps moving, regulate it. Instead, in terms of economic policy, Reaganused government to deregulate specific businesses and cut specific taxes which is in-line with general Conservative strategy since the 1920sand essentially defines supply-side trickle downReaganomics. The Great Communicator never thought that he would someday become a world leader. Off to one side, the stately memorial to Thomas Jefferson. Government is like a baby. A depression is when you lose yours. Governments tend not to solve problems, only to rearrange them. I dont take too seriously the statement of positions in advance of negotiations. Just get help. He was the start of what we now know as the uni-party. From time to time we've been tempted to believe that society has become too complex to be managed by self-rule, that government by an elite group is superior to government for, by, and of the people. All great change in America begins at the dinner table. Rosenberg, Jennifer. So in other words Yes, he DID say that. Life is one grand, sweet song, so start the music. Ronald Reagan The only movie actor ever to become president, he . I do believe in a fate that will fall on us if we do nothing.So with all the creative energy at our command, let us begin an era of national renewal. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right. Ronald Reagan, in full Ronald Wilson Reagan, (born February 6, 1911, Tampico, Illinois, U.S.died June 5, 2004, Los Angeles, California), 40th president of the United States (1981-89), noted for his conservative Republicanism, his fervent anticommunism, and his appealing personal style, characterized by a jaunty affability and folksy charm. During the 1964 US presidential election campaign, Reagan delivered a notable speech A Time for Choosing that had a major contribution to his future political career. And if it stops moving, subsidize it. One of the traditional methods of imposing statism or socialism on a people has been by way of medicine. Ronald Reagan. Be careful what you wish for. For his remarkable skill as an orator, he received the title The Great Communicator. And these will be our first priorities, and on these principles there will be no compromise.On the eve or our struggle for independence a man who mightve been one of the greatest among the Founding Fathers, Dr. Joseph Warren, president of the Massachusetts Congress, said to his fellow Americans,Our country is in danger, but not to be despaired of. He won reelection in 1984 by one of the largest margins in US history. It is time to reawaken this industrial giant, to get government back within its means, and to lighten our punitive tax burden. 739 Copy quote. For decades we have piled deficit upon deficit, mortgaging our future and our children's future for the temporary convenience of the present. 8 years later Reagan was somewhat of a changed man with more nuanced views. So, upon reflection Ive made this a little clearer. Ending inflation means freeing all Americans from the terror of runaway living costs. Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. He goes on for a full speech about exactly what he means. The content of this website is provided for informational purposes only. It'd still be waiting for an environmental impact statement. Do Americans want the government to micromanage every aspect of our lives? To grasp and hold a vision, that is the very essence of successful leadership not only on the movie set where I learned it, but everywhere. Government does not solve problems; it subsidizes them. 01 May 2023 06:45:18 He never missed a chance to let Americans now that they are the ones telling the Government what to do for their well-being and not the other way around. Well, what you say is that you love that person and treasure her. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . Ive always believed that this blessed land was set apart in a special way, that some divine plan placed this great continent here between the oceans to be found by people from every corner of the Earth who had a special love for freedom and the courage to uproot themselves, leave homeland and friends, to come to a strange land. Just consider the S&L crisis. Government for who, by who, to what means? Here are a few remarkable Ronald Reagan quotes on God: Freedom prospers when religion is vibrant and the rule of law under God is acknowledged. Like it was yesterday, I remember his smashing victory in the North Carolina primary, then his sweep of every delegate in Texas, followed by a nail-biting, narrow loss to Ford at the GOP convention. C-SPAN ARCHIVES 01/20/1981 [We are a nation that has a government -- not the other way around\" .]FULL HERE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpPt7xGx4Xo\"The business of our nation goes forward. Here are the best Ronald Reagan quotes on Government: Government's first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives. Government exists to protect us from each other. If any were, business would steal them away. Today, if you invent a better mousetrap, the government comes along with a better mouse. Well the answer is an unequivocal and emphatic "Yes." Suicide, Care, Simply Love. Recognizing that for many reasons (some no fault of his), Reagans rhetoric sometimes soared higher than actual results, I offer here some of the best things he said on the subject. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Lawrence W. Reed is FEE's President Emeritus, Humphreys Family Senior Fellow, and Ron Manners Global Ambassador for Liberty, having served for nearly 11 years as FEEs president (2008-2019). Why then should we think that collectively, as a nation, we are not bound by that same limitation?We must act today in order to preserve tomorrow. The years ahead will be great ones for our country, for the cause of freedom and the spread of civilization. Ronald Reagan served two terms as President of the United States, from 1981 to 1989. I'm convinced that today the majority of Americans want what those first Americans wanted: A better life for themselves and their children; a minimum of government authority. But remember a couple things: He was not a dictator; the opposition party controlled the House all of his eight years and greeted his proposed spending cuts as dead on arrival. His focus on the big-ticket issuesrolling back the Evil Empire, cutting punitive tax rates, taming price inflation and reducing over-regulationsometimes prompted him to compromise on other matters to save political capital for these more critical ones. All of us together, in and out of government, must bear the burden. An alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other. RT @GoogleExpertUK: "I think that one of the things is that people keep looking to government for the answer and GOVERNMENT is the problem!" Ronald Reagan 40th . TIP: The quote is from January 20, 1981 from Reagans first inaugural address. My request of you is: could you on this day whisper in her ear that someone loves her very much and more and more each day. Votes: 2, Democracy is worth dying for, because it's the most deeply honorable form of government ever devised by man. We will maintain sufficient strength to prevail if need be, knowing that if we do so, we have the best chance of never having to use that strength.Above all we must realize that no arsenal or no weapon in the arsenals of the world is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women. Not a professional, but you should really seek help. But we wont be very effective leaders unless we can rise above the specific but secondary concerns that preoccupy our respective bureaucracies and give our governments a strong push in the right direction. Madison and Jefferson believed in the key ideas: All men are created equal, inalienable rights, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness Notice the first word is ALL not some so limited government leads to just some men representing some of the people. His messagewas one of individual responsibility and small government, especially in terms of economics, where freeing up businesses would trickle down wealth on the lower classes. "Government is not the solution to our problem, government is the problem. You crowned us', by Toni Morrison - 1988, for Michael Gordon: '13 days ago my Dads big, beautiful, generous heart suddenly stopped beating', by Scott and Sarah Gordon - 2018, Tara Westover: 'Your avatar isn't real, it isn't terribly far from a lie', The Un-Instagrammable Self, Northeastern University - 2019, Tim Minchin: 'Being an artist requires massive reserves of self-belief', WAAPA - 2019, Atul Gawande: 'Curiosity and What Equality Really Means', UCLA Medical School - 2018, Abby Wambach: 'We are the wolves', Barnard College - 2018, Eric Idle: 'America is 300 million people all walking in the same direction, singing 'I Did It My Way'', Whitman College - 2013, Shirley Chisholm: ;America has gone to sleep', Greenfield High School - 1983, Joe Marler: 'Get back on the horse', Harlequins v Bath pre game interview - 2019, Ray Lewis : 'The greatest pain of my life is the reason I'm standing here today', 52 Cards -, Mel Jones: 'If she was Bradman on the field, she was definitely Keith Miller off the field', Betty Wilson's induction into Australian Cricket Hall of Fame - 2017, Jeff Thomson: 'Its all those people that help you as kids', Hall of Fame - 2016, Dan Angelucci: 'The Best (Best Man) Speech of all time', for Don and Katherine - 2019, Hallerman Sisters: 'Oh sister now we have to let you gooooo!' He served from January 1981 to January 1989 and he is still regarded as one of the best three leaders America has ever had. And, yet, in the history of our nation it is a commonplace occurrence. Remember Pelosi praying for Trump and calling for a family intervention. The taxpayerthat's someone who works for the federal government but doesn't have to take a Civil Service examination. Votes: 0, It was Ronald Reagan who used to say that the 10 most frightening words in the English language are, "I'm from the federal government, and I'm here to help." The reality is, if we look at Reagans actual record and policy positions, we can see he hardly shied away from using Government. Above all, we must realize that no arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women. TIP: See also:Ronald Reagan Second Inaugural Address Monday, January 21, 1985. -Ronald Reagan In the absence of justice, what is sovereignty but organized robbery? Below is an excerpt from Reagans speech so you can decide what you think the quote means in context for yourself. The problem is not that people are taxed too little, the problem is that government spends too much. The problem is not that people are taxed too little, the problem is that government spends too much. I dont think a chief executive should peer constantly over the shoulders of the people who are in charge of a project and tell them every few minutes what to do. And that is a good thing, because Reagan got more things right than most of them did. It is rather to make it work -- work with us, not over us; to stand by our side, not ride on our back. Actually he was an apostle of big government. Susan Dolan on Twitter: "RT @GoogleExpertUK: "I think that one of the Anyone knows it was nit Regan himself. It is a weapon our adversaries in todays world do not have. Ronald Reagan: Election and domestic policies (article) | Khan Academy Therefore, I will work; I will save; I will sacrifice; I will endure; I will fight cheerfully and do my utmost, as if the issue of the whole struggle depended on me alone.The crisis we are facing today does not require of us the kind of sacrifice that Martin Treptow and so many thousands of others were called upon to make. Votes: 2, The best minds are not in government. for Caitlin & Johnny - 2015, Korey Soderman (via Kyle): 'All our lives I have used my voice to help Korey express his thoughts, so today, like always, I will be my brothers voice' for Kyle and Jess - 2014, Bruce Springsteen: 'They're keepers of some of the most beautiful sonic architecture in rock and roll', Induction U2 into Rock Hall of Fame - 2005, Olivia Colman: 'Done that bit. Average government and citizen debt and spending has grown while personal income has stayed stagnant since Reagans presidency. . Talk about nuance.? If we lose freedom here, there is no place to escape to. Ronald Reagan was a true believer in God and made sure to mention Him and His power in every of his notable speeches. It threatens to shatter the lives of millions of our people. So, in one phrase he did not say it. Those who do work are denied a fair return for their labor by a tax system which penalizes successful achievement and keeps us from maintaining full productivity.But great as our tax burden is, it has not kept pace with public spending. Coronavirus pandemic shows that government isn't the problem - Los Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/ronald-reagan-quotes-you-should-know-1779926. Then into the White House came a man of boundless optimism, of infectious confidence in American freedom and exceptionalism. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same. Votes: 2, Government exists to protect us from each other. 85 Ronald Reagan Quotes on Freedom, Leadership and the Government ThoughtCo. 32 Ronald Reagan Quotes You Should Know. All Rights Reserved. Stagflation at home was the new normal as Jimmy Carter seemed incapable of anything more than lecturing us to get used to it. I believe the best social program is a jobI believe the best social program is a job. Any mention of a brand or other trademarked entity is for the purposes of education, entertainment, or parody. Jennifer Rosenberg is a historian and writer who specializes in 20th-century history. ', Defense of 2nd Spanish Republic - 1936, Jimmy Reid: 'A rat race is for rats. His website iswww.lawrencewreed.com. I had the pleasure of meeting Reagan three timesonce during his 1980 campaign, then during my own (for U.S. Congress) in 1982, and then for lunch with a small group at the White House in 1987. In other words, if people would take the time to read history, learn the intent of our forefathers arguments in their individual debates over why they should ask their states citizens to fight for their revolution against tyranny, they would learn that no man is without evil nature and only a few make noble decisions for the good of all vs the good of a select few. Reagan cherished the individual, such is a good liberal position in the veinof Jefferson, Jackson, or even a 1920s Republican, but he never implied that the answer was to literally dismantle the government (nor did he govern that way). Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. Ronald Reagan: Quotes | Britannica This is not to say that Reagan was perfect. Votes: 2, History teaches that war begins when governments believe the price of aggression is cheap. Votes: -1, Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one. A few key points are: Government creates unpredictability due to constantly changing policies. Heres him using it in 1975 on Carson: Government's first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives.. The rich got richer, the country went into debt, but the economy did grow, and some aspects of wealth did trickle down. The great dynamic success of capitalism had given us a powerful weapon in our battle against Communism-money. Four years ago we said we would invigorate our economy by giving people greater freedom and incentives to take risks and letting them keep more of what they earned. Biography of Donald Trump, 45th President of the United States, Top 6 Key U.S. Presidential Foreign Policy Doctrines, Go Back in Time With This 1980s History Timeline, Jimmy Carter- Facts on the 39th President, Biography of Mike Pence, Vice President of the United States, What the President of the United States Does, Gerald Ford: President of the United States, 1974-1977, Tear Down This Wall! Somewhere the truth was lost that people don't make war, governments do. History shows that when the taxes of a nation approach about 20% of the peoples income, there begins to be a lack of respect for government When it reaches 25%, there comes an increase in lawlessness. To paraphrase Winston Churchill, I did not take the oath Ive just taken with the intention of presiding over the dissolution of the worlds strongest economy.In the days ahead, I will propose removing the roadblocks that have slowed our economy and reduced productivity. Now almost two decades since he died at 93, things he said are far better remembered than the things critics said about him. Government does not solve problems; it subsidizes them. Reagan Said, "Government is the Problem" - Fact or Myth? An alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other. If you can afford a donation, it will help Speakola survive and prosper. It doesn't require expropriation or confiscation of private property or business to impose socialism on a people. George Washington, father of our country. There are no easy answers but there are simple answers. To continue this long trend is to guarantee tremendous social, cultural, political, and economic upheavals.You and I, as individuals, can, by borrowing, live beyond our means, but for only a limited period of time.