November 10, 1976

Can't Deliver Campaign Promises

Once again promise has triumphed over performance, and it's pay-off time in Washington.

The Democrats have won unrestrained control of government in the pattern of Franklin Roosevelt and Lyndon Johnson.

Jimmy Carter coasted to victory with the support of a mismatched combination of special interests - rich unions and poor blacks.

These, and others, are waiting on the White House steps for early delivery of political goodies.  All of which puts the new regime between a rock and a hard place.  A pay-off in full would bankrupt the nation.  Anything less will anger the vote sharks and limit Carter to a one-term fly by.

The danger of arousing expectations and failing to fulfill them must be niggling Carter's memory of President Johnson.  The former chief executive did more for the unions and the blacks than any other president in history, but in the end they crucified him.

For the Democrats, its put up or shut up time.  It will no longer be possible to adopt grandiose Great Society proposals with assurances a hard-money Republican president will save them from themselves.

The monkey is on the Democrat back, and finally it may prove to be an 800-pound gorilla who sleeps wherever it wants.

On the surface, it appears that we now have a labor-socialist government in place ready to follow the catastrophic example of Great Britain.  And, indeed, a few heady radicals and a larger number of frightened conservatives may believe the die is cast.

Yet, we must not let our wish father the thought, nor our fears conjure up devils.  For the fact is Carter is unable - even if willing - to deliver on his promises.  There can not be an improvement in the unemployment rate without kicking off another large round of inflation.

There can not be a tax reduction, more spending, and a balanced budget within any reasonable time period.

There can not be a far-flung national health program while the Social Security System continues operating on borrowed money.

It is too early to predict how Carter will handle all his proposals.  We really don't know how he stands on the issues for he embraced all of the above which, in toto, are self-defeating.

Perhaps he is the conservative he portrayed in his early primary victories before he jumped into labor's back pocket.  For the moment, all partisans can hope the real Carter will turn out to be their man in the White House.

The United States has survived many bad presidents simply because the office is bigger than the man.  The real power of the executive branch of government is the bureaucracy which has a life of its own.  Presidents come and go, but the faceless bureaucracy survives relatively untouched by any one.

While the president whirls in the spotlight, the bureaucracy will administer the routine affairs of state, and the Congress will continue to experiment with economics.

We can do nothing about the bureaucracy, but the Congress is accountable.  We should keep our eye on Capitol Hill during the next four years for it is the problem, not the solution.

The temptation to rewrite the law of supply and demand and to redistribute the wealth of the nation into tiny, equal shares will be soul rattling.  But there are some compelling reasons for caution on the part of Congress.

The same excess of mass communication that enables image to prevail over substance, carries a message in two directions.  Mistakes and chicanery are known back home instantly.  And two years to the next election is short.

The folks back home are conservative, as the election results and public opinion polls make abundantly clear.  There is a feeling for some change, but-not for radical change.  The Congressman who goes too far will feel the displeasure of his constituency quickly.

The old coalition between Republicans and Southern Democrats declined somewhat in recent years under the influence of moderate polices.  However, if things start to get out of hand the old partnership can be expected to reform.

Responsibility now rests entirely on the shoulders of Congress, and all eyes are upon it.  Rash actions become risky.  There can be no more excuses or scapegoats.

With the national debt at a dangerous level, and the sate of taxation approaching confiscation, the old techniques of "gimme" politics are unavailable.

Under the circumstances it is hard to see how there will be any meaningful pay off to special interests this time around - which means the country wins after all.

Author: Lindsey Williams