True, America views the nation’s capital with a jaundiced eye. And well it should. The system is broke and needs fixing. Lobbyists, special interest money and lawmakers-for-life control the ways and means by which business-as-usual is carried out on Capitol Hill. It is pronounced g-r-i-d-l-o-c-k. We wouldn’t need term limits if more politicians ran from office and returned to their communities after a few years.
It is no small matter when people begin to lose confidence in their government. In that respect, the House GOP’s “Contract with America” is on target when it talks about reforming Congress. However, fundamental changes currently in motion have less to do with political ideology than you might think.
In reality, most folks congregate around the middle when you take away a handful of emotionally charged issues. The real revolution is one of technology. It has been going on for several years now. It’s subtle yet obvious, touching virtually every aspect of American life on a daily basis.
The United States has a competitive edge in high technology; it is, without doubt, the key to the nation’s economic future in the 21st century. That fact alone sets apart Republicans who’ll control Congress next year from Democrats in charge of the White House for at least 24 more months.
The Republican covenant with the people preaches loudly and oddly about fiscal discipline: reduce taxes here, increase defense spending there. It also advocates small business incentives and capital gains cuts, but is otherwise vague on where high technology fits into the picture.
Contrast that with the leaked Oct. 3 memo of Alice Rivlin, director of the Office of Management and Budget, which mapped out budget and economic options and proved quite embarrassing to the Clinton administration, given its timing before midterm elections.
But Rivlin made several keen observations. She recognized that cutting the huge federal deficit isn’t enough. Investment in technology is needed, too. She proposed pumping $1 billion into the National Information Infrastructure over the next five years in order to “Jumpstart advanced deployment of network and applications through NTIA (National Telecommunications and Information Administration/Commerce Department), FCC (Federal Communications Commission) and ARPA (Advanced Research Projects Agency/Defense Department).”
Perhaps the Rivlin memo represents the basis for an alternative contract with America. The memo and the “Contract” point up the fundamental philosophical difference between the two major political parties in this country: Democrats believe government can work for the people, Republicans don’t.
Government has become a dirty word. The fact is, there’s a vocal bunch out there today yelling about too much government. Until, that is, something goes wrong or they want something-like regulatory parity or more spectrum or speedier licensing. Then they write Congress.
Then, government ceases to be the boogeyman.