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capturing 49 of 50 states.

The state of the economy when Reagan took office in 1981 — doubledigit inflation and doubledigit interest rates — was decidedly worse than now.

However, the overall challenges that President Trump faces today are, I believe, greater.

Today, federal debt stands at almost 100% of GDP. In 1981, it was less than 25%.

In 1980, per Statista, 18.4% percent of our babies were born to unmarried women. By 2008, it hit 40%, and it has remained steady since.

Per USAFacts, in 1980, the percent of U.S. households headed by a married couple was 60.8%. In 2022, this was down to 46.8%.

In 1980, the main security threat facing the U.S. was the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union was a security threat but not an economic threat. Today, the U.S. faces both Russia under Putin and the enormous economic and security threat from China. In addition, we must deal with the ongoing threat of Islamic terrorism.

Per the World Bank, U.S. defense spending in 1980, at the time of Reagan’s election, stood at 5.2% of GDP. Reagan got this up to 6.8% by 1982. Per Statista, projected defense spending in 2025 stands at 3.2% of GDP, hovering around a historic low.

Social Security and Medicare, our two largest entitlement programs, which together account for some 45% of the federal budget, are broke. Per their trustees, Social Security will have insufficient funds to pay benefits by 2034, and Medicare Hospital Insurance funding will fall short in 2033.

The world has changed dramatically since Social Security was signed into law in 1935 and Medicare in 1965. What firm does business today like it did 50-plus years ago?

These programs need thorough modernization. Politicians may not want to talk about it. But citizens know there is something wrong.

Although the road of change was rocky at first, Reagan’s unwavering commitment to the USA as “the land of the free and home of the brave” won the day.

Today we have historically outsized challenges. It’s obvious that America’s socialists — the Democratic Party — is the wrong address.

If we are going to have a future, we need bold, courageous leadership today.

Republicans are the only address. To our good fortune, we have great leaders like Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson on Capitol Hill.

Star Parker is founder of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education. To find out more about Star Parker and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2025 CREATORS. COM