The Economic History of the 1980s

In trying to make sense of where we are at present, in our politics and in the national zeitgeist, it seems to me we need to look backwards for an understanding of cause.  There is a question of how far back to go.  For many liberals of my ilk, there is an intellectual shortcut that probably leads to some wrong conclusions - it all started with Reagan.  In fact, some of what I will talk about preceded Reagan.  But you need to start somewhere and for most of the time that Carter was President, I was a graduate student.    I didn't have much income then and my dad did my taxes.  So the awareness of the world, limited though it may be, that comes from having a regular job coincides for me with Reagan becoming President and that is where I will begin.