From: kguinn@zephyr.cair.du.edu (Kip J. Guinn)
Newsgroups: co.general
Subject: "Betrayal of Democracy" on PBS, 4/15
Keywords: out of control
Date: 16 Apr 92 15:32:30 GMT
Distribution: co
Organization: University of Denver
Originator: kguinn@zephyr.cair.du.edu

[Sorry for the length, but with the way the country is going, I feel
very strongly about this stuff...]

The special "Betrayal of Democracy", shown on Channel 6 last night,
was a Frontline documentary about the malaise of the political 
process and the disaffection of the voting public.  Since there has
been a discussion here about Perot and the upcoming election, and
since the show raised a few new points with me, I thought I would
try to start a discussion about it here.

The show did a great job of showing how politicians are mired in money
politics.  The party process (and party control) has been so diluted
by television (the candidates don't need the caucus/precint system
to get elected) and general malaise, that politicians are not only
unaccountable to the people (who they have less and less contact
with because, quite simply, they don't _need_ to), but they are unaccountable
to the party, who cannot control them enough to swing big votes on
important issues (and elections, too).  I never thought about the party
machinery being a possible friend to the average person, but it could
very well be, especially nowadays.  Also, because of the machinations
of the "money process" (the way candidates get funded for re-election),
it ties the politican to a set group of narrow interests, who he/she
must then serve, even over his own conscience.  Since most politicians
have little contact with the public, and since most ignore whatever
letters they do get (or more likely never see them, since some aide has
tossed them), they serve their "clients"--the interests that elected them
and are watching their every move.

The issue of "clients" was especially clearly outlined in the case
of the Republicans.  Long the party of business and the wealthy,
the party has actively served its client base, and ignored the people.
This is so true.  A leftist friend of mine once described the
Republican track record as "open class warfare", and I know see that
is very much the case.  Think about it--the tax system, the absence
of corporate taxes, the taxation of private initiatives like tuition
waivers, etc.--it's all aimed at keeping the population down.  

The big lightning bolt for me was the fact that the people are being
wholly, completely out of the political process.  People now have
to use radical approaches to gain the attention of the political
system--they have to demonstrate, use outrageous tactics, civil
disobediance, etc--just to be _heard_.  Letters, phone calls, etc
don't do it anymore.  And when do you see your representative in
person?  And if you did actually make it into one of the high-priced
fund-raising dinners or special interest group function, would you
actually have the opportunity for a meaningful chat?  The special showed
how the S&L bailout moved ahead, _in spite_ of a large, organized
outcry from the public.  They interviewed one official who revealed
that since both parties would be implicated in the scandal, they
met together and drafted the bailout legislation before the 1988
presidential election, then simply waited until a few months after
it was over, and passed the bailout onto the public.  The reporter
did a wonderful job of asking him "Do you think its just coincidence
that the bailout legislation of 1987, 1989 and 1991 happened in
odd-numbered years, while the presidential elctions were happening
in even-numbered years?".  The offical had no answer for that.
And since people have no voice, and no real representation, and no real
way of finding out what REALLY is going on, no one could oppose the
bailouts until they already being debated in Congress--with the outcome
assured already.  Any problems on the Floor (of Congress) were dealt
with by voice votes--passing national legislation on a a few dozen (or 
less) votes...

He also raised the spectre of the upcoming commercial bank bailout scheme
and showed how the Democrats are just as out of touch as the Repubs.
But this article is too long already.

What are going to do?  Voting "no" is NOT enough.  I see that very clearly
now...

sigh

Kip