The strategy to undermine Jimmy Carter's presidency proved effective, leading to his significant defeat in the 1980 election, which marked the beginning of the "Reagan Revolution." This era was characterized by extreme financial excess and a stark redistribution of wealth, primarily benefiting the affluent. The federal treasury was exploited during this time, significantly harming the economic stability of the middle class.

The 1980s became a time of lavish excess for the newly wealthy as tax cuts significantly reduced the maximum income tax rate to 31 percent. This period saw the rise of a privileged class that was celebrated and supported by the Reagan administration, reflecting a deepening divide between the rich and the middle class.