There's certainly a disturbing tendency in that direction, but simultaneously there's more issue information around than at any time in U.S. history. Through the Internet, Americans can now read almost any newspaper or magazine in the country, every major candidate's positions, the reports of think tanks and research centers and any government publication. It's true, both party establishments are trying to pre-select candidates this year, freezing out all but Texas Gov. George W. Bush and Vice President Al Gore. But the choice is not inevitable if enough people decide they don't want it. Go to work for them.
Citizenship does take effort.
Passivity and complaining is much easier. On the other hand, what's up for grabs is the fate of a great country we inherited. We should be worthy of the inheritance. Morton Kondracke is executive editor of Roll Call, the newspaper of Capitol Hill. Newspaper Enterprise Assn.