>From the PBS debate transcript at http://www.pbs.org/powergame/files/electedtrans.html SMITH: Let me ask you all, both practicing politicians and citizens, how do we encourage a political system and an election system that celebrates and encourages compromise? I've got to give credit to Congressman Orton, who gave an answer which lead me to believe he may be one of the few who actually has a bit of a clue: CONG. ORTON: It is and the Senator is absolutely right. Part of the problem and the lesson that we should have learned over the last several years in the Congress that we saw very vividly in your documentary is that, in fact, you cannot focus power and control in one person or one faction or one group. And if you try doing that with the political parties that is what has actually occurred. That is why the Republicans' revolution is now crumbling. Because it was the vision of a particular individual or a particular focal group that then wanted to push that forward. And the centrist, the compromise, the people in the country disagree with one particular vision. And, so, I believe that what we're seeing right now, rather than strengthening of parties, is the collapse of the two-party system. Nonetheless, we need to get more political scientists who actually understand what we are talking about speaking from authority and giving laymen's answers to these questions. --- Rob Lanphier [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.eskimo.com/~robla
