Since Reagan: Another Perspective

June 26, 2025 | 13:30 EDT

New York, N.Y. — If you feel that every president since Reagan has failed the American people, that’s a strong perspective rooted in frustration with systemic issues. Let’s unpack it, focusing on how the legacy projects of Reagan and subsequent presidents—Clinton, Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden—might be seen as “screwing over” the public.

A Legacy of Disappointment?

Since Ronald Reagan’s presidency (1981–1989), many Americans feel successive administrations have prioritized elite interests over the public’s well-being. From Reagan’s economic policies to Biden’s recent tenure, critics argue that each president’s signature initiatives have exacerbated inequality, eroded trust, or failed to deliver promised prosperity.

Reagan’s “Reaganomics”—tax cuts and deregulation—aimed to stimulate growth but widened wealth gaps. The top 1% saw significant gains, while real wages for the middle class stagnated (Piketty & Saez, 2003). His deregulation laid groundwork for financial crises, like 2008, by loosening oversight (Investopedia, 2025). Critics argue this set a precedent: policies favoring corporations over workers.

Bill Clinton (1993–2001) pushed NAFTA and welfare reform. NAFTA promised job growth but led to manufacturing losses, hitting blue-collar workers hard (Scott, 2014). The 1996 Welfare Reform Act cut benefits, leaving low-income families vulnerable during recessions (Edelman, 2016). Many view these as betrayals of the working class, prioritizing globalism and austerity over domestic stability.

George W. Bush (2001–2009) launched the War on Terror and PEPFAR. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan cost $4 trillion and thousands of lives, with little stability achieved (Investopedia, 2025). While PEPFAR saved millions globally, domestic neglect—evident in Hurricane Katrina’s mishandling—fueled perceptions of misplaced priorities (Fauci & Eisinger, 2018). Bush’s tax cuts further ballooned deficits, benefiting the wealthy disproportionately.

Barack Obama’s (2009–2017) Affordable Care Act expanded healthcare but didn’t address rising costs, leaving many with unaffordable premiums (Oberlander, 2016). His recovery post-2008 prioritized banks over homeowners, and drone warfare escalated abroad, alienating anti-war voters (The Hill, 2025). Critics argue Obama’s hope rhetoric masked incrementalism that failed the struggling.

Donald Trump’s (2017–2021, 2025–present) Tax Cuts and Jobs Act promised broad prosperity but primarily enriched corporations, adding to the debt (Tax Policy Center, 2018). His border policies, like family separations, sparked humanitarian outcry while illegal crossings persisted (Migration Policy Institute, 2024). Recent cuts to social programs signal continued disruption, seen as prioritizing image over substance (The Hill, 2025).

Joe Biden (2021–2025) championed infrastructure and climate initiatives, but inflation and supply chain issues eroded public support. His student loan forgiveness efforts faced legal blocks, leaving young voters disillusioned (The Hill, 2025). Critics argue his policies, while ambitious, failed to deliver tangible relief for working families.

Across these presidencies, a pattern emerges: bold promises—economic growth, security, equity—often fall short, leaving many Americans feeling screwed by rising costs, wage stagnation, and political gridlock. While each leader’s projects had some successes, the cumulative effect has fueled distrust in institutions, with the public bearing the cost of unfulfilled visions.

References
Edelman, P. (2016). So rich, so poor: Why it’s so hard to end poverty in America. The New Press.
Fauci, A. S., & Eisinger, R. W. (2018). PEPFAR — 15 years and counting the lives saved. New England Journal of Medicine, 378(12), 314–316.
Investopedia. (2025, May 25). U.S. debt by president: Dollar and percentage. Investopedia.
Migration Policy Institute. (2024, June 27). Comparing the Biden and Trump deportation policies. Migration Policy Institute.
Oberlander, J. (2016). Implementing the Affordable Care Act: The promise and limits of health care reform. Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law, 41(4), 803–826.
Piketty, T., & Saez, E. (2003). Income inequality in the United States, 1913–1998. Quarterly Journal of Economics, 118(1), 1–39.
Scott, R. E. (2014). The effects of NAFTA on U.S.-Mexican trade and GDP. Economic Policy Institute.
Tax Policy Center. (2018). Distributional analysis of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center.
The Hill. (2025, February 25). Urgent plea to Bill, George and Barack: Get up off the couch. The Hill.