These politicos are either competing for an industry or new stadium, or fighting to load tax burdens on each other. The media, feeding on conflict, laps it up. The leaders, hungry for news bites and headlines, respond by spitting more.
Cynics say no.
But America's first organized effort to persuade the local Hatfields and McCoys to talk and collaborate has been launched. Vice President Al Gore was on hand to play spiritual godfather when the new center held its first official meeting at the White House Dec. 17. Its membership of 50 consists of 25 mayors and 25 county commissioners. It's being run by the U.S. Conference of Mayors and National Association of Counties in an alliance that is itself unprecedented. First, the times demand it.