It started with Reagan, not Trump

[appalachiablue]

72. Correct, a call to arms for all out war on liberal democracy, based on a false 'attack'

on the American Free Enterprise System. Powell and others laid out the plan, and the far right went to work implementing policies and changes that have been in effect for 40+ years. As Powell wanted, a return to The Gilded Age, pre FDR, LBJ and all that 'society stuff,' no taxes on the wealthy and 'job creators,' and attacks on public education and affordable college tuition. The harsh and regressive neoliberal- libertarian ideology of the Free Market was adopted by Reagan, Milton Friedman, Thatcher and many others.

The strategy included funding powerful right wing think tanks, dominating the media - Am Radio, Fox, Murdoch on 3 continents; influencing legislation nationally and on the state level through large numbers of well paid lobbyists; demolishing regulation on business; eliminating the Welfare State; shifting higher education from progressive ideology, the humanities and liberal arts, toward business, law and tech.

As well, build up the Moral Majority, Christian nationalism, reduce rights for minorities, fear monger about soshialism!, 'welfare queens,' urban crime hell, racism, immigrants, LGBTQ, non Christians - The Others.

And look where we are now.

As John Kenneth Galbraith said, "The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy: that is, the search for a moral justification for selfishness."