What was a major criticism of government policies under President Reagan regarding socioeconomic disparity?

The criticism of government policies under President Reagan concerning socioeconomic disparity primarily stemmed from the implementation of tax cuts that disproportionately benefited high-income individuals. The Reagan administration's approach to economic policy, often referred to as "Reaganomics," included significant tax decreases for the wealthiest Americans, with the rationale that reducing taxes on the highest earners would stimulate investment, job creation, and ultimately benefit the economy as a whole.

Critics argued that these policies contributed to widening the income gap and increased wealth inequality. By favoring high-income individuals through lower taxes, the Reagan administration shifted more of the tax burden onto lower- and middle-income citizens, exacerbating existing socioeconomic challenges and disparities.

This criticism reflects a broader debate about the effectiveness of trickle-down economics, which posits that benefits for the wealthy will eventually "trickle down" to the rest of the population. Many opponents pointed to stagnating wages for the middle class and rising poverty levels as evidence that these policies did not achieve their intended outcomes and instead favored the affluent, leading to greater socio-economic divide.