Of the long and drawn out Union election process which favors the employer. Also, reregulate the the trucking industry like it was before Reagan.

got the working class to vote against their own best interests, Only 6% of the private sector is unionized.

Reagan also employed the trope of the "Welfare Queen" in order to rally support for reform of the welfare system. During his initial bid for the Republican nomination in 1976, and again in 1980, Reagan constantly made reference to the "Welfare Queen" at his campaign rallies

He also said "Unemployment insurance is a pre-paid vacation for freeloaders."

Cuts to education, in cities and college loans and grants.

I was still in high school when Reagan was President and was just starting too really pay attention to politics and the impact it has. The entire downward trajectory of the GOP starts with Reagan IMO. The breaking of the ATC Union, Reagans pathetic response to the AIDS epidemic (which set back treatment for decades). As you mention the “Welfare Queen” trope and then Iran/Contra scandals which he should have been impeached for and many others out in jail for. That was also when religion began making a in roads in its lobbying. I can only imagine what else went on during the 80’s that never saw the light of day. But ever since then the GOP has steadily become more and more belligerent towards social values and anything below the upper class threshold and it’s only going to get worse.

DT for all his horrible qualities is just the start of a new phase in the GOP’s desire for an oligarchy here as it is in Russia. The next wave, Cotton, Massie, Rubio etc will push the line further. Unless...there is real accountability and justice applied to the current admin of DT. If people are held accountable by the Dems (if they win) and those who for the last 4 yrs have simply ignored the law are held to account we may be able to stop the progression. If we get the “We need to look forward not backward” from Biden if he wins it will only be slowed until the GOP (if they retain majority in Senate) can manufacture a way to impeach Biden.

Your post is right on. Those of us who are old enough to remember, see Reagan as the beginning of the downfall of the middle class. I can remember so many people who were hurt by his busting of the unions. Now I see some of those same union workers who are retired and are avid GOP backers. They have excellent retirements because of what the unions did for them in their working days, but don't want that for others. I can understand the cognitive dissonance there. I live in Michigan where there are a lot of auto union workers who enjoyed the benefits of being in a union but now vote GOP.

We still have way too many people who fall for the things that are making their lives even harder and I don't get that.

Good for you.... and us.

to all the undocumented immigrants to give his rich backers a source of cheaper labor which helped break the unions and bring more workers from Mexico and Central America.
He stopped enforcing the law which penalized employers for hiring the undocumented. Enforcing that law would increase wages and working conditions as employers wouldn't have a cudgel to hold over the heads of the undocumented. Enforcement would also discourage illegal entry, thereby giving employment to citizens and green card holders.