In advanced stages of decrepitude, political movements ascribe their frustrations to the electorates' intellectual shortcomings and moral corruption. Just six years ago the 1994 congressional elections sent to Washington a wave of legislators vowing radically to reduce Washington's post-New Deal role. But if today's polls are indicative, an electoral majority is prepared to vote for Al Gore's promise of a substantial expansion of that role. He is currently behind because, so far, a majority of voters are buying what Gore is selling, which are plans for an even more omnipresent and omniprovident government. Yet many conservatives cling to the comforting thought that the public either is being courted badly by Bush or has been rendered contemptible by addiction to government.
Voters know how to repay such insults.
This year some conservatives are exaggerating the ideological clarity of the choice. Consider economic policy. We stand for lower deficits and free trade and the bond market. Actually, it was, for conservatives. America's savings rate is negative, consumer debt is at a record high and unemployment is so low that across the nation there are new restaurants that cannot open because workers cannot be found.