Some presidents change history with a single sentence. Ronald Reagan did exactly that in 1981 when he declared: “Government is not the solution… government is the problem.” It wasn’t just a memorable quote—it became the thesis of his presidency, a political doctrine wrapped in optimism, Hollywood charisma, and free-market conviction. For eight years, the U.S. was steered by this belief: cut taxes, loosen regulations, trust the markets, build military power, and let America roar back to greatness. Then came 2008. The financial system—built over decades on deregulation, high-risk mortgage markets, and unchecked derivatives trading—collapsed spectacularly. And suddenly, the Reagan thesis had its first real stress test in history. Enter Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States. But Obama didn’t just disagree with Reagan. In practice, he governed in a way that directly disproved Reagan’s core claim. If Reagan said government is the problem, Obama showed the world what happens ...