The Reagan-era shift toward restrictiveness in old age policy in historical perspective.
For forty years following the passage of the Social Security Act, the United States experienced a liberalization in public policy toward the aged. In the late 1970's, the momentum of this liberalization began to ebb, and by the early 1980's, a shift toward greater restrictiveness was underway. Scholars and journalists often discuss this Reagan-era shift as if it were a unique policy initiative. A case can be made, however, that this is just a recent example of a recurrent pattern of social policy reform and reaction in the history of American politics. This point is illustrated by placing the current policy shift alongside a historically remote period.
D000368:Aged; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D006801:Humans; D009826:Old Age Assistance / Q000266:history / Q000639:trends*; D011632:Public Assistance / Q000639:trends*; D011640:Public Policy; D012946:Social Welfare / Q000266:history / Q000639:trends*; D014481:United States