THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, January 24, 1996 TAG: 9601240432
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A8 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Analysis
SOURCE: BY MIKE KNEPLER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 87 lines
By describing our era as ``an age of possibility,'' President Bill Clinton picked up on an upbeat community theme popular in a nation weary of the rhetoric of anger, hopelessness and despair.
But it wasn't without numerous reminders that the American people - who have called for smaller, less intrusive government - must share in creating solutions.
The theme was clear from the outset of his speech Tuesday.
``My duty tonight,'' the president said, ``is to report on the state of the union, not the state of our government, but of our American community, and to set forth our responsibilities - in the words of our founders - to form a `more perfect union.' ''
Clinton went on to issue seven challenges, not just to Congress and governments, but to parents, schools, businesses, charities, religious institutions and civic associations.
He used the word ``challenge'' at least 40 times and declared ``the era of big government is over.''
Yet, he described the trade-off: ``To improve the state of our union, we must all ask more of ourselves; we must expect more of each other; and we must face our challenges together.''
For example, ``to reduce crime and violence, we must reduce the drug problem,'' Clinton said. ``The challenge begins at home, with parents talking to their children, openly and firmly.''
And, he contended, a smaller government should not mean going ``back to the time when our citizens were left to fend for themselves.''
``Self-reliance and teamwork are not opposing virtues - we must have both,'' he said. ``None of this will work unless all of you, every person in America, reach across the lines that divide us and try to find common ground. We must reject any atmosphere of division, discrimination and rancor. We must work together.''
Most of the challenges issued by Clinton concerned domestic issues, such as strengthening families, education at all levels, economic security for the American work force and retirees, crime and the environment.
In some cases, the president cited grass-roots activities such as community policing to lower crime rates and turn children away from joining youth gangs.
He announced a campaign to ``support grass-roots community efforts in a national campaign against teen pregnancy.''
Clinton also built on some themes he advanced in last January's State of the Union address, that ``opportunity and responsibility go hand-in-hand.''
And, as he did last year, the president drew on the ideas of a growing body of academicians and social researchers who have warned that traditional American values - such as community organizations - are coming apart.
One such researcher, Robert Putnam of Harvard University, has reported numerous examples of membership decline in fraternal and other social organizations in the past two decades.
Another, Richard Harwood, of the Harwood Group in Maryland, recently reported on a deep public ambivalence on many issues.
``People are clear on their common concerns, but they are unsure about how to act on them or are torn over what to do,'' Harwood reported in ``America's Struggle Within: Citizens Talk about the State of the Union.''
On Tuesday night, Harwood said Clinton's speech was a good start at reengaging more Americans in public problem solving.
``The president hit a high note that people wanted to hear,'' Harwood said in an interview.
But Harwood added the warning: ``The question is, will he pursue that opportunity actively or will we return to the politics we've come to know - in which case people will forget what was in the message? . . . ''
``If we continue to practice the same old politics seen year after year, then despite the State of the Union message, people's sense of frustration and exasperation will continue.''
Americans are ready for such leadership, but they are still not trusting of their leaders or, in many cases, themselves.
``People are stuck in sort of a stalemate, They want to break out. They're looking for leadership. The president and other political leaders have the opportunity to do that right now,'' Harwood said.
Clinton's speech may begin to ``shift the public debate so that it leaves more room for parents, neighbors and civic groups to feel they really have a role to play . . . . But a lot of political rhetoric comes and goes. The real test in what the president said will be in the extent to which we stay focused and how we demonstrate what we mean. . . . They don't have to be large deeds,
KEYWORDS: STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS ANALYSIS REACTION by CNB