Analysis Of Ronald Reagan's Rundown Of The Drug War
and prevention was reduced. Funds given to the Department of Education were cut from $14 million to $3 million from 1981 to 1984 (Alexander 33). Reagan employed a Southern Strategy where he promised tax cuts to the rich and punishment for the crack users (DuVernay). In his speech to the Nation on the campaign against abuse, Ronald Reagan gives a rundown of the drug war (Reagan 1). Reagan addresses the American public as a concerned parent, grandparent and neighbor, declaring drugs an enemy concerning the young people who their future demands on (Regan 2). Reagan stated that drugs are killing the children, menacing the society, and threatening their values (Reagan 2). Reagan announces smokeable cocaine, or crack as the new epidemic that must
be taken care of (Regan 2). Reagan announces six initiatives to deal with the drug problem; seek a drug-free workplace, schools, ensure that the public is protected, expand international cooperation, strengthening law enforcement activities and expand public awareness and prevention (Reagan 4).
In order to not appear soft on crime, Bill Clinton put forward mandatory minimums and the three-strikes law contributing to the rising prison population (Farley 1). When Clinton passed the 1994 Crime Bill, he overstated that the as a result of the bill there was a twenty five year low in crime and a thirty three year low in the murder rate (Farley 1). The bill passed included $8.7 billion for prison construction for states that employed truth-in-sentencing laws, which required people convicted of violent crimes to serve out eighty percent of their full sentences (Farley 1). The three-strikes provision was also know as mandated life sentences; provided funding for tens of thousands of community police officers and mandated life sentences for felons convicted of a violent felony after at least two prior convictions, including drug crimes (Farley 3). The “three-strikes” law also required mandatory life without parole for those who committed violent
be taken care of (Regan 2). Reagan announces six initiatives to deal with the drug problem; seek a drug-free workplace, schools, ensure that the public is protected, expand international cooperation, strengthening law enforcement activities and expand public awareness and prevention (Reagan 4).
In order to not appear soft on crime, Bill Clinton put forward mandatory minimums and the three-strikes law contributing to the rising prison population (Farley 1). When Clinton passed the 1994 Crime Bill, he overstated that the as a result of the bill there was a twenty five year low in crime and a thirty three year low in the murder rate (Farley 1). The bill passed included $8.7 billion for prison construction for states that employed truth-in-sentencing laws, which required people convicted of violent crimes to serve out eighty percent of their full sentences (Farley 1). The three-strikes provision was also know as mandated life sentences; provided funding for tens of thousands of community police officers and mandated life sentences for felons convicted of a violent felony after at least two prior convictions, including drug crimes (Farley 3). The “three-strikes” law also required mandatory life without parole for those who committed violent