Ronald Reagan's Influence On Government

In society, the vast majority of people are encompassed by the growing economic issues of the modern age. Yet–concerned primarily with themselves–people expect authority to handle any and all crises; however, blame them (namely politicians) when the results are not in their favor. Surprising, when the present meets the past, the differences are not as striking as one may expect. For instance, in 1981 when Ronald Reagan had become the president of the nation, the nation had been in shambles due to the aftermath of the Vietnam War (economic troubles and social unrest unravelling). Understanding the ignorance of the public in regards to acting on problematic issues, he addresses the need for change starting with the people themselves–a lesson

Thus, he goes on to emphasis how in this new era everyone has the “right to dream heroic dreams,”(144) because he firmly believes that everyone can “see heroes every day going in and out of factory gates,” (144) and they can be in a store “across the counter both sides of that counter” (144). Essentially, his point is that people from all walks of life can be heroes, as long as they are “entrepreneurs with faith in themselves and faith in an idea,” (144) so that they can “create new jobs, new wealth, and opportunity”(144). Furthermore, Reagan goes on to discuss how their “patriotism is quiet, but deep”(144) and how values are vital to “sustain” national life (144). To explain, Reagan is saying these things in order to flatter the people with compliments on how they are heroes in their own right along with the necessary role they play in the nation. By doing so, he elicits an emotional response of pride, in their work and in themselves, which also corresponds to his purpose of trying to convince the people of their capabilities. However, a more subtle act of persuasion is the use of juxtaposition as he goes on to talk about with the monuments that honor America’s great, timeless heroes. Reagan mentions how as he stands before the