Question

In proclaiming that "Government is not the solution to our problems. Government is the problem," Ronald Reagan was making clear his allegiance to the political philosophy known as

Answer 1

Well, if you lived through the late 70s, as I did, you might well be tempted to answer "common sense!" But what you're probably be asked or is "limited government," or "libertarianism" or "classical liberalism," perhaps.

"Conservatism" is another answer that may work today, but you have to be careful about that. It's a peculiar use of the word in 2010s Western debate, and it means something very different elsewhere, and at other times. That is, a "conservative" in a political debate in the United States today is very often someone who believes in increased individual liberty and decreased power of government to enforce social or religious norms. But a "conservative" in a political debate in Iran or Russia today, or in England or France in 1848, is someone who believes in *decreased* individual liberty, and an increased power of government to enforce social or religious norms.