Jamie Allard: From Reaganomics to Bidenomics, a Labor Day look at contrasting visions and outcomes

By REP. JAMIE ALLARD

I recall being just 14 years old when President Ronald Reagan delivered his iconic Labor Day address in 1984 from the Oval Office. Growing up in the glory days of Reaganomics, I witnessed firsthand how conservative policies led to a thriving economy where American workers and families flourished. Our nation enjoyed unprecedented growth, with both unemployment and inflation decreasing simultaneously for the first time since the Kennedy Administration.

Dubbed the “American Miracle,” Reaganomics was driven by the belief that “what is good for the American worker is good for America,” and that shaped my political values from an early age.

Forty years later, as we approach Labor Day weekend in 2024, we are presented with a pivotal moment. November’s election offers a choice that will shape our economic future. Labor Day is a time to celebrate the productivity and spirit of America’s working people, but also a moment to recognize the challenges we face, and to consider our role in steering America toward prosperity once again. 

Currently, approximately 161 million Americans are employed, yet 7.2 million remain unemployed. This is a significant number, and it highlights the need for a change with policies that stimulate job growth and economic stability. Under President Joe Biden, the average inflation rate has soared to 5.7%, in contrast to the 1.9% average inflation rate under President Donald Trump.

These figures are not just statistics; they represent the daily struggles of American families facing skyrocketing grocery prices, highway robbery at the gas pumps, and being priced out of the housing market. 

To navigate out of the economic downturn we face, we must adopt policies that stimulate growth and create jobs, like the historic tax cuts delivered during President Trump’s first term. We must bring back jobs that have been outsourced to countries like Mexico and China and bring our manufacturing home. Let’s become the economic powerhouse we once were and promote the production of American-made goods. We can no longer take the American worker for granted. This is not just about economic policy but about pride and belief in the American worker, the backbone of our communities. 

Recently in an unprecedented move, President Trump opened the door for Teamsters President Sean O’Brien to address the Republic National Convention for the first time in the Teamsters 121-year history. The tides are changing as a groundswell of voices rise to preserve the American working class against gigantic multinational corporations. As O’Brien points out, “Remember, elites have no party, elites have no nations. Their loyalty is to the balance sheet and the stock price at the expense of the American worker.”

Sadly, it took a global pandemic for the elites to notice that the American worker is essential. We must not lose that perspective moving forward as we vote for policies that put the American worker first and reign in runaway national debt and inflation.”

The groundswell can be seen across the nation as the workforce demonstrates their priorities in this election. For example, despite the United Auto Workers endorsing the Harris campaign, there is contention between union officials and the auto workers who are on the plant floors. The “Auto Workers for Trump 2024” movement is gaining momentum, with workers planning to rally weekly at Detroit’s Big Three facilities through Election Day. They know that their jobs are on the line as a Harris/Walz administration would continue the current push to make gas vehicles obsolete by 2032, only eight years away. 

Today’s working class feels the sting of “Bidenomics.” The dream of homeownership has become elusive, and the reality of affording basic necessities has become a burden for the average family. We all know that the system is broken. Yet, meaningful work—not government handouts—remains the hope of most Americans. We must foster an environment where the American Dream is accessible to all through free-market policies that limit government intervention, decrease and simplify taxes, and cut down on burdensome regulations.

I believe a strong workforce develops in the classroom. We must focus on revitalizing our education system to better prepare the next generation for the workforce. We need innovative educational reforms that encourage continued trade schools and develop better local vocational training opportunities for high school age students.

Unlike the new “Academies of Anchorage” in the Anchorage School District, we must ensure these initiatives are backed by data and effective research. For example, moving from six to eight class periods in the ASD Career Academies Master Plan might dilute core learning time, hindering students from obtaining the well-rounded education they need for college. How many of us chose our lifelong careers in ninth grade?

Rather, proven successful reforms like school choice are necessary, particularly as our state continues to rank among the lowest in educational performance. Our children are our future. 

This Labor Day, we salute the workers of America, the backbone of our nation. As we celebrate the principles of freedom and take advantage of those sales that boost our local economies, let’s take a moment to remember those in countries where basic human rights and freedoms are still out of reach. We are fortunate to live in a nation where freedom prevails, but we must actively work to preserve it. 

With the right leadership and policies, we can ensure that the spirit of American enterprise and the power of the American worker continue to thrive for generations to come.

As Ronald Reagan wisely said, “Let us in America be thankful for the strength of our free labor movement; may it long endure.”

Rep. Jamie Allard serves in the Alaska Legislature for Eagle River District 23 and was previously on the Anchorage Assembly.