Today's GOP presidential candidates want to be associated with Ronald Reagan conservativism; in one debate he was mentioned 24 times. A recent NPR segment points out that the current conservatives have moved so far out that Reagan would most likely be too moderate for them.
For example, Reagan campaigned against a statewide measure that would ban gays and lesbians from teaching in public schools. Reagan granted amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants, a law that current Republicans are rallying against. While in office, Reagan supported many tax increases, and promoted the policy that those living at or near the poverty level pay no income taxes.
A comparison with Reagan's policies shows that current hierarchy conservators have moved to an extreme position as they play out their predictable role in the death struggle. As support for hierarchies has eroded continuously over the past 50 years, hierarchy-conservators have had to resort to a radical platform that is steeped in rhetoric and fear. They have been forced go further out to balance the social/cultural see-saw.
http://www.npr.org/2012/01/15/145272020/would-ronald-reagan-be-elected-today
