Columnist William Buckley drew an analogy between TV wrestling and political bribery. Buckley noted President Clinton’s frequent ribbon-cutting visits for federal spending on California projects during an election year. California is a key electoral state. Buckley’s point was that everyone knows wrestling is faked and that spreading pork in key states is bribery, yet both are accepted without much comment. Viewers watch wrestling despite the fakery and citizens expect political bribery because "that’s how politics works."

Taking this cynicism a step further, many citizens forsake the political process because they believe all politicians to be liars and swindlers. Given that, they ask, "Why bother?" Bellicose wrestlers swaggering in circus garb are hard to take seriously, just as it’s hard to trust politicians promising action someday for your vote today.

Some optimists hold onto the notion that diligent observation of wrestling will eventually payoff with a real fight rather than fakery. Others keep watching politics, certain that someday they’ll see truth consistently spoken and promises routinely kept. Hope springs eternal.

Like a wrestler, President Clinton exhibits formidable acting skills. He can spend three years attempting a federal takeover of health care and passing the largest tax increase in history and then pronounce "the era of big government is over" with a straight face.

The President’s defenders offer only the lamest excuse: "Everyone else does it." Perhaps so, but Clinton’s in a class by himself. They ask why we criticize habitual lying. I ask why we tolerate it.

Many politicians render words that are the rhetorical equivalent of boiled okra. They’re very slick and even if one chews on them, they slip by offering little in flavor or ideas. Is it the hypersensitive atmosphere of political correctness that compels them to serve such bland, idea-free speech? Must politicians lie or risk abbreviated careers?

Those politicians with the courage (seasoned pols would call it "foolishness") to state a firm position don’t often last long. Remember President Bush telling us to read his lips? Savvy pols always insert lawyerly escape clauses and qualifiers. Others deny their previous words or claim a misunderstanding. Those who keep promises are called "extremists."

I contend that we want to hear only what our government can do for us, not what government must confiscate or borrow to provide it. Numerous contradictions illustrate our self-delusion.

We yearn for truthfulness in our politicians yet we tend to shoot the messenger when the message isn’t rosy. We want welfare reform and two chickens in every pot. We want tax relief and Medicare benefit growth at three times inflation. We want deficits eliminated and stronger defense.

But realities thwart Utopian desires. Government cannot eliminate poverty nor create wealth. No nation on Earth has ever taxed itself to prosperity. When we reach our national credit limit, we’ll be forced to prioritize spending or declare bankruptcy.

Each beneficiary constituency squeals when we discuss separating it from the federal trough. Only those willing to endure the squealer’s wrath will seriously propose spending discipline. George Bernard Shaw once wrote that "A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always count on the support of Paul." As the Pauls grow in number, politicians must refine their subterfuge to retain Peter’s vote.

Columnist George Will described what he calls "the paradox of term limits." Supporters contend that term limits will bring the Congress closer to the people. Will argues that it’s already too close. Congress responds to almost every whim and breeze detected in opinion polls. Consequently, career strategies too often displace actions of conscience.

To recapture a functional self-government, the words of Plato remind us never to surrender to apathy: "One penalty for refusing to participate in politics is to be governed by your inferiors." We must be honest with ourselves before we can expect honest politicians. We must resolve that we want the unadorned truth and then elect leaders who will give it to us.

Copyright Ó1996 Steve Scroggins - All rights reserved.