Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, September 26, 1994 TAG: 9409260022
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The survey found hostility toward immigrants, suspicion of the media, disgust with both major political parties - and, above all, of course, cynicism about government.
Public disgust with Washington, according to the poll, has grown significantly since 1992 - when it wasn't exactly dormant. Even more voters now want to throw out D.C.'s political insiders and replace them with outsiders. A growing majority think elected officials don't care about citizens' beliefs and concerns.
Only 42 percent believe the government is run for the benefit of the people - down from 57 percent when Times-Mirror Center began sampling attitudes in 1987. And a whopping majority expressed contempt for the federal bureaucracy - with 70 percent saying dealing with a federal agency just isn't worth the trouble and frustration.
Amid such an atmosphere, what's a politician to do?
Lose office is one answer, of course, and early indications suggest numerous incumbents will do just that come November.
There are also other things, big and small, government could do to reconnect with voters. Among the big items: campaign finance reform, more honesty in political campaigns and rhetoric, reduction in the size of government and its debts, and development of policies - from reforming welfare and health care to promoting prosperity at home and peace and democracy abroad - that actually work.
If some of the smaller items for boosting public faith seem less dramatic, they are no less important, especially in the aggregate. As an example, on the same day last week that the Times-Mirror poll's results were released, President Clinton announced plans for rendering government more user-friendly.
He proposes such changes as: letting many taxpayers file their tax returns by telephone; having the FBI respond within two hours, instead of 21 days, when a local police department asks for its help; reducing paperwork for people seeking Small Business loans to a one-page application, with a decision due within three days; and reducing waiting time, and delivering more personal service, for Americans seeking care at veterans' hospitals.
The administration's efforts borrow a page from the private sector's play book, stressing themes of quality management that are paying dividends in business and industry. Implementing new standards, Clinton says, will ``force the government to respect the needs of ordinary Americans by requiring [that they] be treated as valued customers.'' A new respect for the government will be built, he promises, ``one customer at a time.''
Never has total quality management been put to such a challenge, but neither is there any organization that needs it as much as the federal bureaucracy. The modest steps under way and planned won't reverse citizen distrust and disgust overnight. Not even by November. But neither should the effort be dismissed too readily by Americans who are mad as hell at government and in no mood to take it anymore.
by CNB