Mr. Reagan and the oceans

The Reagan administration has been unusually successful in shaping the direction of public policy through a dual strategy of shifts and reductions in the federal budget and the staffing of government with those loyal to Mr. Reagan and his conservative ideas. The consequences for the oceans have been a massive shift of support away from civilian to military ocean activities. In addition to this major reorientation of ocean policy, the Reagan approach has been characterized by continuing conflict between different branches and levels of government, a strong preference for symbols over substantive ocean decisions, and the absence of any long-term vision of the role the oceans might play in the nation´s future.