The Reagan Revolution

We're still feeling its effects today.  I'm doing some dissertation research and I'm reading the book description of "Poverty and Power: The Political Representation of Poor Americans."  Here's a stat I've long been looking for:

In 1981 alone, 70 percent of the $35 billion cut from the federal budget came from programs for the poor.

It goes on to talk about the "Reagan/Bush agenda," which seems fitting for George W. much more so than George H.W., wouldn't you say?

The high point of the 1980s, according to this book?

His findings delineate how electoral policy and economic change in the 1980s posed a direct threat to the welfare of the poor, and suggest reasons why no massive mobilization for social justice emerged. Still, the dogged efforts of advocates and activists culminated in the passage of the 1987 McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, the first positive federal intervention into domestic social policy since the Reagan inauguration.

Discuss.