QuoteProject
Government actually grew during the Reagan years.
Noam Chomsky
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote highlights the irony that government size and influence increased during Ronald Reagan's presidency despite his rhetoric about reducing government.

Noam Chomsky's quote points to the contradiction in Ronald Reagan's policies, where, despite promoting a philosophy of reducing the size and role of government, the government in fact expanded during his administration. This suggests that the realities of political governance often diverge from the principles espoused by leaders, and that narratives around government power can be complex and misleading.

Themes

GovernmentPolicyReaganSizePolitics

In practice

Example use cases

In a discussion about the expansion of government programs, one might use this quote to illustrate Reagan's contradictory policies.

More from Noam Chomsky

There is no plausible theory under which the record of the Pentagon Papers can be interpreted as relating to the national defense.
Noam ChomskyRead
The 'free-floating intellectual' may occupy himself with problems because of their inherent interest and importance, perhaps to little effect.
Noam ChomskyRead
If you're teaching today what you were teaching five years ago, either the field is dead or you are.
Noam ChomskyRead
There are very few people who are going to look into the mirror and say, 'That person I see is a savage monster;' instead, they make up some construction that justifies what they do.
Noam ChomskyRead
The Republican Party has become overwhelmingly so extreme that it's hardly a traditional political party anymore.
Noam ChomskyRead
There is still much debate about whether torture has been effective in eliciting information - the assumption being, apparently, that if it is effective, then it may be justified.
Noam ChomskyRead

Similar quotes

No measure can be more desirable, whether viewed with an eye to its intrinsic importance, or to the general sentiment and wish of the Nation than to establish a systematic and effectual arrangement for the regular redemption and discharge of the public debt.
George WashingtonRead
Our 'neoconservatives' are neither new nor conservative, but old as Bablyon and evil as Hell.
Edward AbbeyRead
A politician is a statesman who approaches every question with an open mouth.
Adlai E. StevensonRead
Your Constitution is all sail and no anchor.
Thomas B. MacaulayRead
We can't have special interests sitting shotgun. We gotta have middle class families up in front. We don't mind the Republicans joining us. They can come for the ride, but they gotta sit in back.
Barack ObamaRead
If the Queen can reject the advice of a minister on a little thing like a postage stamp, what would happen if she rejected the advice of the Prime Minister on a major matter? If the Crown personally can reject advice, then, of course, the whole democratic facade turns out to be false
Tony BennRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.