European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - November 10, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 10 the stars and stripes columns Flora Lewis . Does of practice what it preaches on voting. Paris the Good news is that the Grubby cynical Campaign is Over. This had o be written before the polls dosed but theban news was telegraphed ahead it is the number of americans who Canh be bothered to Vole. The trend is spreading in the democratic countries. France had a referendum last sunday and Only 37 per cent of he voters turned out but then it was on a confusing question of Little immediate interest Aboul the future new Caledonia. The ., on the crucial question of the nation s Leader has regularly had about the wont voting record in the world. In recent Yean citizens of country after country have braved the police stormed through the streets even Ris ked their lives to demand the right of Choice that free elections give. Americans lag behind no one in preaching their values and congratulate themselves As dictators All before the yearning for democracy. We re prepared to defend our right to decide our Fate and that of allies with a vast Arsenal including nuclear weapons. Bui about half of us feel no need to practice what we urge on others. The suggestion is Node thai voting be is even More demeaning to the privilege add responsibility of Choice in my View i vim can t be imposed by penalty. Ii is by definition voluntary participation in the functioning of the state and in promoting cohesion of society. There was a lot of talk about american values but in vague and accusatory terms not really stirring a sense of James j. Kilpatrick the right to Delegate Power. Oddly George Bush made his main claim to superiority that he is a dec mainstream and Noone objected. Apart from relegating Michael Dukakis to some Side Stream or Eddy it meant that he asserted Pride in being carried along by a current thai he does not seek to influence. It is the opposite of helmsman ship. Smalt wonder that so Many Felt there was Little Point Roget up and perform the task of endorsing a Floater or his rival As Leader. But not choosing is also just floating a form of submit Sion that is the opposite of the idea of self government. In their contradictory ways presidents Jimmy carte Rand Ronald Reagan showed that americans Don t want to be introspective. They want a cheerleader. Well that s All right if we must be narcissistic it i healthier More typically american not to be morbid about it still that does not explain such indifference to the Central act of a free citizen. There Are a lot of theories Why american Beh Vioris so far from american principle but we Haven t really figured it out there is More mobility there Are More newcomer than in most democracies More of an idea that politics is so dirty that it s As Well not to be involved even in trying to clean up. Then is a sense hat issues Are Loo vast too murky to grasp and that it does t make much difference. Do we have to have a crisis a depression a War for people to think they should make Inheh weight Felt clearly there is a Lack of connection Between the country and those who aspire to guide it and yet with television and computerized polls the candidates have Access to the citizens As never before. They get almost instant feedback on reaction to Ever word and gesture. It s no Good blaming the scripts they were hand crafted and Micro measured to give the audience what it seemed Cowant denunciation of the vacuous Campaign obviously did t affect the handlers became the figures showed i brought belter results than substance and courage might have done. It is probably True though that communications an the struggle for the Broad political Center have perversely taken the Edge off the perception that political pro Grams and definition of issues Mailer such a lot the feeling that one Side has a monopoly of goo ideas and Public virtue recedes before the evidence that society is too Complex for any magic formula to make it work belter. The urge is to relax and get on with one s own affairs. The Low turnout and refusal to address problems dosed a mandate however if a passive one. The message is Don t disturb us just make us feel Good we have other things on our mind. But the problems Are still there and will remain when he cheers die Down same people do vote and it puts an obligation on themen and women elected to embark on a dirty real kind of Campaign. It is to revive interest in society a desire to participate an acceptance of responsibility. These constitute the right to democracy and such a Campaign will be More useful than the one just a Rale Tumi american voters subscribe to jeffersonian View Back in 1787, in the midst of debate Over the pro posed Constitution Thomas Jefferson wrote to James Madison. His letter contained a sentence for All Ages Iam not a Friend to a very energetic government said Jefferson. It is always oppressive through some sort of political intuition passed Dow through the generations americans have adopted the jeffersonian View. This election Day saw ticket splitting on a colossal scale As 100 million voters did their instinctive Best to assure that nothing dramatic will happen in government Over the next few years. The truth is that our people do not want very energetic when flashy new vehicles Roll Forth from legislative Halls we tend to let the air out of the tires. We operate politically under what is known As the two party system but the word system implies a kind of regular order that Over the past 40 years has become a stranger to american politics. Our european friends have trouble understanding our ways. Some of us who cover politics for a living have trouble As Well. The Brit ish who Are reared to strict party loyalty look upon our undisciplined elections and suppose we Are nuts consider this remarkable circumstance in the100th Congress no fewer than 22 of the 50 Sovereign states sent divided delegations to the Senate. This week s election a Virginia adds one More As Democrat Charles Robb joins Republican John Warner in the upper House one has to look at some of these electorates in won Der. Tell me if you will How the same voters in Colora do could Send to the Senate Tim Wirth and Bill Arm Strong this is amazing. In 1987, Democrat Wirth rated. 85 with americans for democratic action Republican Armstrong rated Zero. Wirth rated Zero with the Ameri can conservative Union Armstrong rated 100. The Edi tors of congressional quarterly chose 16 key Senate votes in 1988 votes on civil rights defense welfare the death penalty. Wirth and Armstrong voted Opp Sil elyon 13oflhc i6,v consider California Alan Cranston ranks among the most Liberal democrats in the Senate. He scored a Goose egg in the books of the american conservative Union. His fellow senator fete Wilson scored a respectable 75,on the16 key votes they cancelled each other 11 times. North Carolina provides another example. Jesse Helms and Terry Sanford have the same statewide constituency. In 1987 americans for democratic action gave Sanford a Nice approving score of 85 they gave Helms a pitiful 10. But the american conservative Union awarded Helms a perfect 100. And gave Sanford a measly 8. On those 16 key votes of 1988, the two Northc Rotina senators split is limes. Tvs Meppin so it goes in Arizona Delaware Iowa new Mexico new York and other states. Look at Texas Democrat Lloyd Belsen and Republican Phil Granun. They voted on 12 of the 16 key Voles of 1988 and cancelled each other on eight of them. Tom Harkin and Charles crass icy cast the same kind of nullifying votes from Iowa. Wetting recently in the Washington Post Lloyd n. Cutler took a sober look at this irrational Situa Tion. Culler served As counsel to the president in thearter administration at 71 he ranks among the most respected elder statesmen of the democratic party. Heroes not share the jeffersonian View. Ivc in four of the past five presidential elections the Vot ers have put one party in charge of the while House and the other in control of the Congress the result in Cul Ler s View has been divided and deadlocked govern ment the politically opposing branches have been unable w control the Federal budget they have clashed on War Powers they have failed to find a common policy in such areas As Nicaragua and Angola. By contrast during the Carter years when democrats held both the executive and the legislative Power things Well smoothly. Congress did not balk the president and the president did not Stonewall the Hill. I a. Cutler makes a persuasive Case bul at least Tor this observer ii is not a convincing Case. I am happily Contento watch from the Senate press gallery As Danid Moynihan votes nay and Alfonse d Amato vote "aye.1 if Helms and Sanford cancel each other s Vole on welfare Reform Fine by me. In Cutler s View the More we unite Power the More Likely we Are to see Power . My own View is a Little different the More we unite Power the More Likely we Are to see Power abused
