European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 11, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                In a stunning  for democracy Foleta Chamorro As been elected president of Nicaragua but Uncle Sata continues to take a seating in world Trade and Japan says use have Only ourselves to blame a which in Lithuania voters have thrown out the coat Maun its Quot. A of studies show that most american kids dont a nov i adhere any of these places Are . Vey . Watches while democracy transforms the world not to worry or to worry i economic growth v / average rate of growth of Gross National product. 1965-1980 it by Maureen Dowd new York times Eorge Bernard Shaw once noted that there Are two tragedies in life one is to lose your hearts desire the other is to gain it. Democracy is winning. The arms race is Over. Villains Are Friendly now or impotent. Like a Roulette wheel the Globe began spinning in a glorious blur and when it stopped the Jackpot so Long desired was americans. So then Why does t it feel better perhaps because while the world celebrates american values America is Home watching the party on to. Poll takers among others have detected an uneasy sense that in contrast to the powerful images of democracy transforming the rest of the world the United states is going nowhere fast. Quot our ideals Are triumphing but american wealth influence prestige and Power Are All declining Quot said William Schneider a democratic analyst. Quot we have lost our ability to control major  188 s it k for 3 a tip my m 1980-1987 United states Japan West Germany a. A 3.8% 1.6% not republicans of course have rejoinders a among others that resources Are limited. But across the political spectrum officials and business leaders worry about american school children lagging behind asian school children about electronic markets ceded to the japanese about a self indulgent corporate culture that has thrived on Short term profits about an american political system that has grown cynical slashing and corrupt. America was always confident at the Center of the military universe or so it seemed. Now it must struggle to stay at the Center of an economic universe. A we done to have the same kind of Confidence about ourselves economically that we did militarily a a said a Quot i in  a it Norman Ornstein of the american Enterprise Institute a Washington organization associated with conservative thought. A the japanese and the germans seem More disciplined with a greater work ethic and better technological capabilities. On a Basic level of math and engineering we re clearly  in California president Bush talked recently about tackling the nettle some problems at Home education drugs the environment. His speeches were full of Good intentions. At the Santa Ana bowl with movie Tough Guy Chuck Norris and los Angeles rams cheerleaders around him Bush vowed that the Days of the drug lords Are numbered. But Back in Washington his administration had conceded that the world drug crop soared last year despite the presidents High profile drug War. In its annual report on drug production the state department said that South american coca production had increased 12 percent from 1988 to 1989. Americans Are measurably Happy with their president. He talks about fixing what ails the country. And he does not ask for Money to do it and that is Fine with the electorate. When Bush first began to let the Western europeans take the initiative at the Paris economic Summit last summer his deference was hailed at Home and abroad As a refreshing change from the swaggering years of Ronald Reagan. But now Bush has stepped Back so often keeping his White House and Washington in the wings of world events that americans Are growing self conscious about their secondary role say pollsters who have conducted focus groups on the subject. The statesmen catching the world s fancy Are elsewhere Vaclav Havel Nelson Mandela Lech Walesa Mikhail Gorbachev. Schneider echoes a View common among democrats but not necessity limited to them that the country will soon Start to chafe at the ongoing sameness of government its Lack of commitment to any Large new undertaking. In education the president promises that american students will be the Best in the world at math and science by the turn of the Century. And the National governors association meeting in Washington echoed that goal. But some educators merely shake their Heads arguing that that is unlikely. Even As the president praised the governors interest in education congressional democrats criticized the a a tepid 2 percent education spending increase proposed by the the administration which holds that increased outlays Are not necessarily the key to educational improvement. But As Bush continues an avocation of limited government that has held Sway in Washington for a decade the implications of those limits Are becoming Clear. To some Washington now seems devoid of inspiration. But Peggy Noonan a former Reagan speechwriter says that Bush has no need of lofty rhetoric and prefers quietly Chipping away at problems. Tubby Harrison a pollster who has been doing surveys for the Washington fund raising group democrats for the �?~90s, said he has been surprised How often those polled expressed a yearning for an inspirational style of leadership. The president is tetchy about complaints that he does t have a vision. A the vision thing if you will Quot he says sardonically when he talks about it. His advisers say that by using the presidency As a bully pulpit and eking out what Money he can from the budget he will make Progress on Domestic problems. But democrats who once thought Bush unbeatable in 1992 Are beginning to wonder if America will be willing to Settle for incremental wishes and Small scale dreams. Sunday March 11, 1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page 13