THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, January 30, 1996 TAG: 9601300002
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines
At a recent gathering of 459 Americans meant to represent the whole country, many people changed their minds.
After three days of shooting the breeze with one another and listening to and questioning several presidential candidates, many of the participants flip-flopped on significant issues.
The event, held in Austin, Texas, and seen here on WHRO-TV, was called the National Issues Conference. The idea was for ordinary people from across the country to have a kind of national town meeting, with presidential candidates invited.
At the beginning of the conference, 42.5 percent of the participants supported the flat tax; at the end, 29.8 percent. Another big change of mind concerned foreign aid. Before, 26 percent said the United States is spending the right amount on it; after, 41 percent.
It was refreshing to see people change their minds, following civil discussions with one another and interviews of candidates. Too often today, intransigence is viewed as a virtue; thoughtfulness as feckless indecision.
The biggest lesson of the event may have been that Americans do not reside in two different political camps, one liberal, one conservative, with everyone's mind made up and sealed shut. The unending Washington battle between Democrats and Republicans might lead one to conclude that America has lost its political middle, along with its mind, but in fact the middle remains most Americans' political address, and thought is occurring there.
People in the middle have to think. They can't reflexively say government is good or bad; they have to consider individual issues. Government does some things well and some things badly, but which are which?
To avoid being a cipher, a person must have core beliefs, but even they should be examined from time to time.
The conference was the brainchild of James Fishkin, a University of Texas-Austin government professor. He said, ``If you believe in democracy, and some people don't, then you have to listen to the voice of the people.''
We believe in democracy and certainly want to listen to the voice of the people. But we much prefer to listen to people who change their minds from time to time, preferably after thinking.
The beauty of being in the middle is that thinking about and discussing issues is fun.
And it's good for the nation's health. by CNB