Final answer:
In Ronald Reagan's speech, 'for the masses' refers to policies intended to benefit the general population, but in reality, his policies such as tax cuts primarily benefited the wealthy and corporations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phrase 'for the masses' in Ronald Reagan’s speech refers to policies aimed at benefiting the majority of the population. However, in practice, Reagan's policies, particularly his tax plans, favored the wealthy and corporations. These policies under 'Reaganomics' were expected to result in greater overall economic development by stimulating economic growth through tax cuts for high-income earners and reducing the size of the federal government. The aim was to shift decision-making power away from Washington and give more control to businesses and consumers, advocating freedom from government rather than freedom through government. Despite these intentions, the outcome of Reagan’s policies had a mixed impact, with some Americans experiencing diminished quality of life while affluent Americans generally saw their wealth increase.