Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.comment From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Indicators of decline Date: Wed, 28 Oct 92 15:01:10 EST Message-ID: \SE E;COMMENTARY \SS (WS) \HD Indicators of decline \BY Georgie Anne Geyer George Bush has behind him substantive accomplishments in foreign policy, but he seems not to realize that there is also an American soul at home that desperately needs tending. Instead of running against economic fate, he is running against his pedigree. The George Bush we see in this campaign just doesn't "get it" that the American people like his aristocratic self but do not like the cynical, mean-spirited George Bush he is imposing upon us. It just isn't working, and the president doesn't know why. Bill Clinton sounds like a New Democrat who has left the fissiparous old party of grasping special interest groups behind, but is he not perhaps indeed a shill for all those groups whose selfish demands have for 20 years given us the destructive political divisions in this country? Instead of telling us the truth - that, if we want the country to change and straighten out, we must ourselves change and sacrifice - Mr. Clinton assures us it will all be OK, if only he and Hillary are elected. It still isn't scanning, and that is why we American people would vote for Mr. Clinton almost wholly as a reluctant first choice. Ross Perot has the best (the only?) economic program to reduce the debt and balance the budget, and one has to give him credit for his courage in saying the difficult, thankless things that need so desperately to be said. But he is such a quirky savior and such an imperfect vehicle for change that one must sadly conclude that while he's right, he's not right. He gave away our trust when he so arrogantly and cynically withdrew from the race, and even very rich men cannot get away with that. Economic problems, aside from Mr. Perot's honest appraisals, are addressed as something that can be dealt with magically, in terms of interest rates and stock-market tinkering. Why does no one mention the fact that we are in economic decline because our captains of industry threw away our crucial manufacturing base over the last 20 years? The vulgarization and sexual corruption of our culture, instead of being addressed as a dangerous sign of decadence, become the "family values" of an angry Dan Quayle right up against the "cultural elite" of the apologetic, pandering, cynical Democratic Party. The self-willed division of our American community, once unified by a universalist culture of Americanism, into basically selfish interest groups, simply proceeds apace. Why do none of the candidates offer even some armchair wisdom to the effect that a nation so divided will neither immediately prosper nor eventually stand? Are we not to expect even a few pointers from these men and women who would lead us? Is it really asking too much of them to suggest they might even once, in one speech, reach back in history to give us some context as to where we are today? I say this because I believe that the American nation is at an almost metaphysical moment of national change. We are no longer a country of open and abundant frontiers; instead, our frontiers are moving in upon us. We still inspire the world with our political institutions and our economic system, but we know in our own hearts that they are at best only creaking along here. We know there are no more all-powerful superpowers - not even us - but that is the only way we know how to behave. One of the most disquieting factors in American life today is that Americans know that they at great cost won the Cold War. Why, then, is everything not perfect? Our leaders have not explained to us that, when one problem is solved historically, the very solution causes new ones. Always. Our leaders ought to come clean with us. Our American society is in decline. All the indicators show it - from the low level of savings and investment to the appalling cultural decadence. One interesting indicator present at the decline of all empires throughout history, such as the Roman Empire and ninth-century Baghdad: In place of statesmen, military heroes and distinguished men of commerce, popular singers and actors become the heroes of society, and playful cynicism becomes the order of the day. Flawed Jeremiahs with the right ideas often arise, but are not capable of carrying their ideas through. The saddest thing about this election is that there really is still time to turn America around. We still have gargantuan strengths to draw upon. But the first step to action is correct analysis of the problem, and the second is pure will, and those are qualities we have yet to see in this campaign. Georgie Anne Geyer is a nationally syndicated columnist. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM