[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 143 (Wednesday, October 22, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2051-E2052]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                          MOOD OF THE COUNTRY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LEE H. HAMILTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 22, 1997

  Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Speaker, I am inserting my Washington Report for 
Wednesday, October 22, 1997 into the Congressional Record:

                        The Mood Of The Country

       This is an unusual time in American politics. The Cold War 
     is over. Communism has been defeated. The federal budget is 
     basically in balance. Americans are feeling better about 
     themselves and upbeat about the economy. Politicians in 
     Washington are asking themselves what the American people 
     want us to do or not to do.


                        positive view of country

       Politicians are looking for issues and symbols to capture 
     the attention of voters. Most of us remember that only a few 
     years ago they were angry and wanted to take out revenge on 
     incumbents. Today voters seem much more content and their 
     mood more agreeable.
       Economic issues have always been the dominant feature of 
     American politics. Today those issues have not moved off the 
     minds of voters but their concerns are muted, due, I suspect, 
     in large measure to the strong economy and the agreement 
     between the Congress and the President to balance the budget 
     and to cut taxes. By a wide margin Americans feel that the 
     country is headed in the right director, and two thirds say 
     they are satisfied with the state of the U.S. economy--the 
     highest satisfaction levels we have seen in the 1990s.
       Most people I talk to across southern Indiana believe that 
     the economy is doing well, and many tell me their personal 
     situation has improved in recent years. The performance of 
     the economy has been impressive, with solid, noninflationary 
     growth, low unemployment, and stable inflation. Unemployment 
     in some southern Indiana counties is at 2%--the lowest in a 
     generation. All of this translates into a sense that people 
     want things to remain pretty much as they are, and they 
     aren't looking to Washington for major policy changes.


                           view of government

       There is also a strong level of satisfaction with the 
     political status quo in Washington. There is a feeling that 
     we are finally getting done what they wanted us to do, and 
     people are pleased that the nasty tone and partisan bickering 
     in Congress has subsided somewhat. Americans like the way 
     both parties worked together to balance the budget, and it is 
     clear to me that they are satisfied with divided government. 
     We have a Democratic President and a Republican Congress. 
     Republicans control 30 of the 50 state houses; the Democrats 
     control more of the court houses. More people identify 
     themselves as Democrats, but the balance is fairly even and 
     volatile.
       This general support for divided government seems to stem, 
     in part, from the desire to prevent either party from going 
     too far. The American people have made it clear that they 
     want us to govern from the center.
       At the same time, I get the sense that the American people 
     are increasingly disengaged from government, at least the 
     federal government. They now seem to have more important 
     things to do in their own lives than to follow every 
     development in Washington.


                                 Issues

       Politicians are always trying to determine what the mandate 
     of the voters is. No single issue dominates, but several 
     concerns do come through.
       I'm impressed that education has soared to the top of the 
     public policy concerns of Americans. It is remarkable to me 
     how often improving the quality of education comes up on the 
     conversations I have with voters. Parents, of course, are 
     particularly concerned because they see education as the 
     pathway

[[Page E2052]]

     to success for their children, and local business leaders 
     increasingly talk about their need for well-educated, skilled 
     workers. All the education issue--national testing, vouchers, 
     school choice--have become hot-button issues. Even so, I 
     think most Americans are satisfied with the schools in their 
     communities, which makes all of the interest in education a 
     little puzzling.
       Everyone thinks we need to look out for the middle class. 
     People often tell me they are concerned about their ability 
     to meet major health care and college costs, and they want to 
     make sure that the government helps promote opportunity. They 
     especially support efforts to promote education and skills 
     training, which they see as key to opportunity and a bright 
     future for their families. A large number of voters still 
     talk to me about declining moral values as the biggest 
     problem in the country. They want to make sure that 
     traditional values are promoted, and they are very concerned 
     about drug abuse in their communities.
       As always, the politician is receiving mixed signals today. 
     Many Americans want additional tax cuts; but they also want 
     us to begin to develop spending plans for the looming budget 
     surplus, and they opt for more spending on education and 
     health care.
       Although people feel positive about the economy, and 
     interest in reducing the deficit has declined sharply, it 
     would be a mistake to think that economic issues have 
     disappeared. In a recent public meeting, I spent three 
     quarters of the time talking about jobs and trade and other 
     economic issues. But it is also clear that people are focused 
     on health, education, crime, and the environment. They also 
     very much want to protect Social Security and Medicare. What 
     impresses the politician most, I think, is that no single 
     issue dominates the voters' ranking of concerns.


                               Conclusion

       Satisfaction with the economy and widespread support for 
     the balanced budget agreement reached this summer has meant 
     that the voters aren't looking for major changes. My own 
     impression is that American are rejecting politicians whom 
     they consider too extreme, and they want the politicians to 
     be compassionate and strongly supportive of the middle class. 
     They favor a mainstream, centrist approach that is based on 
     fiscal responsibility, opportunity, and traditional values. I 
     also think the views of voters are very fluid today, and that 
     things could easily change in the future, particularly if 
     there is a change in the outlook for the economy.

                          ____________________