Ronald Reagan: Tax Subsidize It
on Thursday, September 24, 2020Ronald Reagan Money Quote saying government response to everything is a financial response – including taxing and subsidies. Ronald Reagan said:
“Government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it” — Ronald Reagan
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In this quote, Ronald Reagan is satirically summarizing what he views as an overreaching and counterproductive approach to the economy taken by government.
His interpretation is that the government sees its role as taxing economic activity (“if it moves”), overregulating industries (“if it keeps moving”), and intervening through subsidies only when sectors are struggling (“if it stops moving”).
Reagan appears to be criticizing excessive taxation, regulation, and the selective use of subsidies as hampering free market dynamics.
The overall message seems to be a libertarian perspective that government intervention through these mechanisms often does more harm than good by inserting itself too aggressively into private business and commerce.
Birthday: February 6, 1911 – Death: June 5, 2004