The era of big government is over

The era of big government is over

In his 1996 State of the Union address, President Bill Clinton famously declared that "the era of big government is over." This statement marked a significant shift in the political landscape of the United States, as Clinton sought to distance himself from the traditional Democratic Party platform of expanding government programs and services.

During his presidency, Clinton worked to promote a more centrist approach to governance, emphasizing the importance of fiscal responsibility and limited government intervention in the economy. He believed that the government should not be involved in every aspect of people's lives, and that individuals and businesses should be given the freedom to succeed or fail on their own merits.

One of the key initiatives of Clinton's presidency was welfare reform, which aimed to reduce the size and scope of the federal government's role in providing assistance to low-income individuals and families. The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 sought to shift the focus of welfare programs from providing long-term assistance to promoting self-sufficiency through work and personal responsibility.