In January 1981, Ronald Reagan stepped into the White House amid economic turmoil that had gripped the nation for years. Inherited from the disastrous Jimmy Carter era, the U.S. economy was plagued by stagflation—a mix of stagnant growth, oppressive inflation at 13.5% in 1980, and unemployment hovering near 8 %, which would spike to over 10% during the ensuing recession. Interest rates were VERY high, with the prime rate peaking at 21.5% as Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker waged war on inflation through tight monetary policy.

The situation was grim and our people and economy were in a bad place: Americans faced double-digit price hikes on essentials, eroding savings and confidence. But Reagan’s response—bold tax cuts, deregulation, and a commitment to free-market principles—sparked what became known as the “Reagan Revolution.”

I’m old enough to remember this, so I am imparting my own personal recollections and facts you an easily look up.   I remember the headlines and the anger of our citizens.   The recovery didn’t happen overnight. The 1981-1982 recession, brought on by Carter’s failures was painful.   By the way, Ford and Nixon didn’t really help, either—neither were free market advocates.     With unemployment at 11% in late 1982—the highest since the Great Depression—and mortgage rates lingering at 13-15%, times were tough. But by 1983, the turnaround began: Gross Domestic Product (GDP) surged with and inflation dropped to 3.2% by year’s end. The American public truly started feeling the benefits in late 1983 and early 1984, as unemployment fell below 8% in September 1983 and continued dropping rapidly, real disposable income rose, and consumer confidence soared. By 1984, inflation was at 4.3%, unemployment below 7%, and GDP grew 7.2%—culminating in Reagan’s landslide reelection and the iconic “Morning in America” campaign.

Fast-forward to January 2025, when President Donald Trump inherited a landscape with eerie parallels, though not identical in severity (thankfully). The Biden administration left behind an economy marked by persistent inflation—peaking at around 9% in 2022 and lingering above the Federal Reserve’s target in late 2024—fueled by post-pandemic supply shocks, expansive and reckless spending and untold and unchecked waste.

Interest rates, hiked to combat this reality, stand at elevated levels with the Fed funds rate around 5%, reminiscent of Volcker’s squeeze in the 80s.  Unemployment is a brighter spot at roughly 4.1%, but wage growth has struggled to keep up with prices, leaving families struggling with higher costs for groceries, energy, and housing. Economic growth has been moderate, around 2-3% annually, burdened by regulatory overreach.

Like the highly successful Reagan, Trump enters office with a proven playbook of tax relief, deregulation, and energy independence to unleash American potential. His first term’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act mirrored Reagan’s 1981 Economic Recovery Tax Act, slashing corporate rates and spurring investment.  By the way, the left and media continue to lie about those tax cuts, saying they were enjoyed only by the wealthy—not true.

Now, proposals for further cuts, tariff adjustments to protect domestic industries, and slashing bureaucratic red tape aim to mirror that supply-side success. Both leaders faced skepticism: Reagan was called reckless for deficits (which now seem miniscule), yet his policies generated revenue surges and prosperity.   The left hates this fact, but it is fact.    Reagan didn’t win 49 states in his reelection bid because the economy was bad.

Trump is being excoriated for every move, but he is moving out with his plan.   History has proven bold action pays off.

To Republicans in Congress: This is a clarion call. With 2026 midterms on the horizon, now is the time to act decisively. Enact the proven policies—tax cuts, deregulation, and pro-growth measures—that worked under Trump in his first term and for Reagan in the 1980s — they will work again.   Resist the urge to delay; the people of Louisiana and throughout America  need relief, and delivering it is the right thing to do.    Patience is key for the public to feel the effects, as they did in late 1983 and 1984, but action must start today.

This is Morning in the Greatest America—a sequel where optimism and bold action will triumph.