MISSOURI WATCH: AMERICA NEEDS A BETTER ALARM CLOCK

In a rare moment of historical trivia, let it be noted that both America and Missouri are being governed by second-term Democrats for the first time ever, a fact certain to bring smiles to Democratic faces and frowns to Republican visages. For those who display little or no interest in the fortunes of the two major partisan religions, whoever is occupying the Oval Office and the Executive Mansion at any moment is little more than someone to hang society's ills on, a societal scapegoat who is merely the easiest, most public person to blame.

And these days, there appears to be plenty of blame to go around. After having resolved the one great question that centered on the future not only of free, democratic systems but the existence of all mankind, society seems to have maintained its worrisome outlook by adopting a new agenda, one that includes a wide range of concerns, worries and tribulations. At both the national and state level, we are now concentrating on a crime problem that is far worse than is found in any other industrialized nation in the world, and an economic problem that runs the gamut from corporate downsizing to a growing income gap. We also seem to have the dumbest kids to be found anywhere.

When these problems, regardless of their tenacious nature, remain unresolved, the public begins to assess the blame not on a society that gives almost no thought to intelligent solutions but on political figures whose limited options make a permanent and workable solution almost impossible to reach. At least some observers of the American political landscape espouse on an almost daily basis either the removal or the neutering, or both, of duly elected officials, choosing to assess these persons with crimes as serious as treason and as trivial as littering. Elected and unelected officials remain the target of scorn, anger and threats of impeachment, as if the removal of a single chief executive would make our streets safer, our welfare systems workable and our economic system the sure-fire creation of millions of millionaires.

The wretched aftermath of the fall of the Evil Empire is the legacy of indifferent freedom, a right interpreted by far too many as the privilege to think nothing, do nothing and offer nothing. In our heart of hearts we wait for solutions to be offered by someone else, a political figure whose eagerness for recognition is far greater than a willingness of dedication. As for America's political parties, their principal occupation is the election of its leaders, not the solutions of the ills of the state.

America's malaise stems not only from a lack of leadership at the top and an abundance of lethargy at the bottom but from the unwillingness of citizens at every level to become involved in the process. Politics is considered by many as being ethically suspect, but the perception is faulty. It is not the political system that suffers from taint but those who have gained, if only for a moment, control of the system. The citizen who absolves himself of public participation is merely on an excursion of denial: don't involve me because I might become as evil as all the others. Thank heavens, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln didn't offer the same logic when gigantic problems presented themselves.

At his inauguration the other day, Bill Clinton got the most applause when he said, "The American people returned to office a president of one party and a Congress of another. Surely they did not do this to advance the politics of petty bickering and extreme partisanship they plainly deplore." Clinton seems to be saying that the electorate in 1996 actually wanted its government to be divided, but exit polls reveal that four out of five voters supported same-party candidates, which means that some 80 percent voted for same-party candidates for both president and the U.S. House. That doesn't sound like unreserved enthusiasm for Democrats in one corner of the ring and Republicans in the other. Rather it would seem to be a public revulsion of the extremism produced in today's climate.

The results of post-Cold War politics were predictable, but unfortunately there is no abundance of foresight. The one unifying theme of America after World War II until the destruction of the Berlin Wall was opposition to a terrifying military force that was neither humane nor civilized. When this focus point was no more, the country lurched forward in as many directions as there were voices, centering on such diverse, unrelated items as civil rights, immigration, abortion, welfare, health care and economic trade agreements.

None of these alone was important enough to bring national interest and attention into complete focus. The state and the nation began splintering at this point, unable to agree on compromises that served more than special interests. Even such state-related issues as crime prevention and educational enhancement were plagued with factional fratricide that to this day precludes unified planning and implementation. Indeed, far too many of the solutions offered---and unfortunately adopted---are knee-jerk and oxymoronic.

Too much crime? Lock 'em up and throw away the keys!

Too much drug abuse? Legalize it!

Too many dumb students? Privatize education!

Too much political bickering? Embrace it!

Too many abusing welfare programs? Abolish them!

Too many highway deaths? Increase the speed limits!

Too much crime in the streets? Give people more guns!

America is littered with manageable problems that are given fast, quick solutions that either don't work or can't work. This means the problems are still around.

No wonder we are disillusioned. Our politicians disappoint us by their corruption, cowardice or partisanship. Our leaders betray us by their moral turpitude or their agendas which they pursue to curry favor, not mend our divided nation.

America needs a better, louder alarm clock.

Jack Stapleton of Kennett is editor of the Missouri News and Editorial Service.