THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, January 21, 1997 TAG: 9701210202
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Guy Friddell
LENGTH: 57 lines
In a jape 15 or so years ago, President Reagan defined government as being the problem, not the solution, for the nation's ills.
And then a light colonel and a rogue head of the CIA demonstrated it during his term when they ran the Iran Contra arms scam within a rifle shot of the White House.
Republicans picked up the saying as if they had found the philosopher's stone and used that tired line to make dull speeches worse.
Last year some GOP leaders put it into practice when they shut down parts of government to try to advance their agenda over Clinton's opposition, a GOP tactic that helps explain why Clinton instead of Bob Dole was on the platform Monday.
Clinton tried to redefine government in so much jabberwocky.
``And once again,'' he said, ``we have resolved for our time a great debate over the role of government. Today we can declare: Government is not the problem and government is not the solution.
``We, the American people, we are the solution. . . As times change, so government must change for a new century, a government humble enough not to try to solve all our problems, but strong enough to give us our tools to solve our problems for ourselves.''
And a little later Clinton said: ``The pre-eminent mission of our new government is to give all Americans an opportunity - not a guarantee - but a real opportunity to build better lives.''
The operative words in those prescriptions to improve our lives are ``tools'' and ``opportunities.'' They are verbal stand-ins for the ``means'' to make things better. And only the government can provide those means on a national scale.
Standing behind Clinton was the aptly named Resurrection Choir made up of voices from black churches set afire by racists. Their eloquent presence illustrated how effective government can be.
President Clinton used the bully pulpit by visiting burned-out churches, a sign of concern derided on talk radio as show-boating.
He also commissioned a task force of federal agents that lent their aid to local communities and, at last count, had brought 80 arsonists to justice. There was government at work. It took the chief executive's words backed by lots of money to break the lawbreakers.
In a bold bid, he said, ``Our schools will have the highest standards in the world, igniting the spark of possibility'' in the eyes of every child. ``And the doors of higher education will be open to all.''
That would require more funds than Harry Truman's GI Bill, and it would prove even more energizing.
Clinton urged an end to acrimony. Let it begin with today's rebuke to Newt Gingrich. The House should have him pay his full fine himself. Then Congress should move without harsh rhetoric to governing in earnest. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo by ASSOCIATED PRESS
President Clinton is reflected in the glass shield of the reviewing
stand as he watches the inaugural parade on Monday.