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If it moves, tax it. If it keeps on moving, regulate it. If it stops moving, subsidize it. - Ronald Reagan
by tomohawk 3y ago
If it moves, tax it.
If it keeps on moving, regulate it.
If it stops moving, subsidize it.
- Ronald Reagan
- iamtheworstdev 3y agoholy shit what a misquote. For anyone that wants the whole quote: > 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."
- nox101 3y agoEven that expanded quote doesn't entirely make it clear he was criticizing the government Here's the entire thing https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/speech/remarks-state-chairpersons-national-white-house-conference-small-business https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/speech/remarks-state-...
- tjpnz 3y agoIt's Ronald Reagan though. Should be clear to most with a very elementary understanding of US politics what he's saying.
- Filligree 3y agoMost people wouldn’t really have that understanding.
- EasyMark 3y agoWho else other than government has the power to tax, regulate, and subsidize tho? I don't think it's much of a leap that it's a negative criticism on government bureaucracy.
- nox101 3y agoSince Reagan was head of the government it would be easy to draw the conclusion he was saying "this is what we do" (we the government with him as the head). That would not be a criticism. IMO, to know it was a criticism requires more context.
- silent_cal 3y agoYeah it's completely obvious what the context is.
- tomohawk 3y agoThe government taxed and regulated this and other industries to the point where industry moved overseas. Only now they're seeing the peril of that overreach, and are trying to subsidize it to bring it back. Only, they're so inept that they're forcing the use of their cronies (the unions, etc) to get the work done, and, in comparison to Japan, it's a disaster. The quote is on target.