*

Jon K. Rust

Jon K. Rust is publisher of the Southeast Missourian and president of Rust Communications.

WASHINGTON WATCH: PAUL REVERE:WASN'T HE A ROCK SINGER?

Tuesday, November 1, 1994

WASHINGTON -- With the excesses of government the target of most Republican and many Democratic candidates this campaign season, Washington has been a basket case the past few months. It isn't hard to understand why. The excesses of government employ and give prestige to thousands of people here, including many senators, congressmen and their staffs, who have little idea of what life would be like without the largesse of being able to spend billions of other people's dollars. Not surprisingly, those within the beltway have devised a self-serving explanation for why government is under attack:: "The American people just don't appreciate the important things we do."This blame-the-citizens mentality became the beltway delusion-of-the-day when both the New York Times and Washington Post headlined it in their respective Sunday analysis sections two weeks ago. "Washington Really Is in Touch. We're the Problem," noted the Times' headline. While the Post opined, "You Think Congress Is Out of Touch? Look in the Mirror, Voters; the Trouble Starts With You."

To continue reading
For more than 115 years, the Southeast Missourian has written the first draft of local history. We have aspired to enrich, entertain, educate and inform. Our core values have remained firm: truth, service, quality, integrity and community. Support our mission.