MISSOURI COMMENTARY: TIME FOR THE FLAT-EARTH SOCIETY, OR WHAT'S NEW?

The Republicans won big -- bigger than the normal gains of the party out of the White House. The GOP increase of at least 49 House seats (with 8 races still undecided) and 8 Senate seats (followed by Alabama Senator Shelby's switch to the Republicans) exceeds the landslide of 1974 when the Democrats increased their margin by 48 in the House and 5 in the Senate. Spin doctors for the Democrats will have to labor long and hard to put a pretty face on Tuesday's election.

There was much more at issue than one party prevailing over another, or even the historic shift to GOP control of both houses. America has developed attitudes different from the era of John Kennedy's New Frontier or Lyndon Johnson's Great Society. Those were days of hope and expectation. These are days of doubt and distrust.

Americans once were basically optimistic about their country and themselves. Americans knew they were good people and good neighbors willing to help one another toward a shared destiny of a better life. We even believed that we could export our values and improve the quality of life around the world.

We no longer share that sense of common purpose. Our neighbors are our immediate neighbors -- down the street, at our church -- not "those people" across town. Americans don't believe there will necessarily be a better life ahead. Today's refrain is that we better hand on to what we've got or else someone will take it from us. We are increasingly unwilling to take on the problems of the rest of the world.

Americans now despise government and those who serve in it. Some of this stems from failed programs. Some of it stems from corrupt politicians who demean the system. Some of it stems from a relentlessly cynical media. And some of it stems from the ugly tone of an electoral process where hostility and negativism prevail over decency and substance.

Now that we are in the depths of disillusion, what is being proposed to life ourselves out?

Term limits. This miraculous panacea is supposed to solve our problems.

The country likes term limits for two fundamental reasons. First, we can't trust ourselves to vote someone out of office. We need it done automatically to free ourselves from the burden of deliberation. Second, it doesn't cost anything. Today's remedies are expected to be free.

Balance the budget. The people have spoken: this should be done forthwith. Noted fiscal conservative Ronald Reagan, however, never submitted a balanced budget and never even though about doing so. As Jack Kemp said back then, "Republicans will no longer be crucified on the alter of a balanced budget." The order of the day during the Reagan years was cut taxes, massively increase defense spending and not worry about the budget shortfall. Unsurprisingly, the deficit soared by hundreds and hundreds of billions.

Like term limits, a balanced-budget amendment won't do a thing unless there is a commensurate will to make the necessary tough budget cuts. But there is no will to make those hard choices. For example, there is little real desire in Congress to cut public construction projects. In order to get the ones you want, you have to go along with other Congressmen on the ones they want.

How many members will sign up, no questions asked, to eliminate all federal spending in their districts? How many Congressmen will brag about how much construction and job money they took away from their constituents? The old saying is "Talk is cheap," and talk is especially cheap in a political campaign. Today it's cheap and mean. As someone recently said, we are seeing the resurgence of the Flat Earth Society and the Know Nothings.

The new Congressmen will assemble in Washington in January. They will make their opening speeches on term limits and the balanced budget amendment. Immediately they will begin the dance of "taking options off the table." This is old music with a familiar rhythm. Announcements are made as to items that are "off the table" (i.e., non-negotiable and un-cuttable) in the defense budget or in certain categories of domestic spending.

Some new Congressman will propose to cut the budget of the Legal Services Corporation or charge for parking at National Airport. The applause will be resounding, but the budget will not be balanced. The new members who campaigned on term limits will begin to contact PAC directors for contributions for their 1996 re-election campaigns. What's new?

Thomas Eagleton is a former U.S. Senator from Missouri and a columnist for the Pulitzer Publishing Co.