ABSTRACT
Nathan Glazer argues that the Ronald Reagan administration has been somewhat unique in that it has a congruous set of ideological beliefs that have been applied to a number of social and political issues. Glazer traces several conservative themes in Reagan's social policy: changes in welfare that emphasize norms rather than work incentives; the withdrawal of the federal government from various programs; and an emphasis on the "new federalism". The conservative argues that various programs provide for "income-in-kind" such as subsidized housing, food stamps, and Medicaid. That Reagan espouses a "culture of poverty" viewpoint can be seen in his emphasis on the significance of values and norms - particularly regarding deviant family forms, and the importance of work and commitment to work. The public statements made by the Reagan Administration concerning poverty and welfare contain messages that mesh well with the images that many Americans hold about who welfare recipients are and why they are poor.
