| "Professor, you must admit that last November | | | | parties could not have been more different. |
| mid term elections have been characterized by | | | | In the 1850's the Democrats were generally |
| a sewer aroma. Not only the abusive use of | | | | pro-slavery and also favored liberal economic |
| negative ads, bordering on defamation and | | | | policies that had a strong populist accent. |
| indefensible vulgarity, but the prostitution | | | | The Republicans on the other hand were |
| of those concepts and ideals that have guided | | | | generally anti-slavery and supported economic |
| this country for many years" | | | | policies of a conservative nature." |
| | | | |
| "Sad but true. Civilized dialogue seems to | | | | We honored Antoine's offer, made the expected |
| have been olympically ignored. I just hope | | | | praises and then the Professor continued: |
| that now that we have a different voice in | | | | |
| Congress some civility will prevail" | | | | "After the Civil War, the two parties |
| | | | exhibited clear tendencies that accentuated |
| "What is causing this serious division among | | | | their differences. The Democratic Party was |
| Americans? You hear so many labels that it is | | | | pro-white, pro-settler party, and the |
| difficult to keep track on what is what, or | | | | Republicans were decidedly pro-black, |
| seems to be. We have Democrats and | | | | pro-rancher party. A popular perception at |
| Republicans, then liberals and conservatives, | | | | the time portrayed Democrats as the farmers |
| leftists, centrists, moderates on the left, | | | | and the dominating owners as Republicans." |
| moderates on the right whatever those | | | | |
| extremes mean, radicals on both sides plus | | | | "How long did this last?" |
| some in the middle or thereabouts, then the | | | | |
| neo-conservatives, neo-liberals, theocrats, | | | | "Not very long. By the end of the century, |
| libertarians, fundamentalists, fiscal | | | | both parties were pro-white. Their major |
| conservatives, ultraconservatives, | | | | differences concerned budgets and public |
| independents, traditionalists, etc." | | | | expenditures; the democrats favored a liberal |
| | | | approach while the Republicans were in favor |
| I had to pause to catch my breath. Besides, I | | | | of limited expenditures. By the time we |
| did not wish for my pre-breakfast "colemono" | | | | entered the Second World War, the roles were |
| or Monkey Tail (coffe, milk and Pisco) to get | | | | reversed. Northern Democrats became pro civil |
| cold, I continued: | | | | rights although Southern Democrats opposed |
| | | | this while Republicans were unclear on the |
| "Then there are the Christian Rightists, | | | | issue. This led to a split in the Democratic |
| which would lead one to suspect that there | | | | Party that lasted twenty years and even |
| are also Christian Leftists and, naturally, | | | | caused some Southern Democrats to make a |
| an Independent Christian Movement, plus a | | | | separate run for the presidency to protest |
| Southern Christian Movement and a Northern | | | | pro civil rights policies of the Northern |
| Coalition. What about the West? The | | | | Democrats - Strom Thurmond and the Dixiecrats |
| Northeast? The Southwest? The Southeast? | | | | in 1948 and George Wallace in 1968." |
| Puerto Rico, Hawaii and Alaska?" | | | | |
| | | | "It seems to me that at present, the roles of |
| It has been a long time since I have posed a | | | | both parties with respect to economic |
| question using so many words. Reminds me of | | | | policies are pretty much the same as they |
| those White House reporters and others that | | | | always have been.. The good thing is that |
| take about 20 minutes to pose the question | | | | their love for the country is real. They |
| that by the time they are through asking, | | | | might disagree on some issues but they |
| everyone has forgotten why they are there and | | | | generally in agreement issues such as strong |
| it is lunchtime. The Professor noticed it and | | | | national defense; good education for our |
| smiled as he sentenced: | | | | children and high standards of excellence in |
| | | | government." |
| "Think of it as the price for having the kind | | | | |
| of freedoms we enjoy; in theory those | | | | The Professor smiled and said: |
| freedoms encourage you to create whatever | | | | |
| comforts, whether abstract or material, suit | | | | "One thing we must not ignore is that all the |
| you. In a nutshell I can assure you that | | | | political currents and domestic and foreign |
| behind every one of those labels there is a | | | | policies in government are affected by the |
| personal agenda, personal interests and | | | | fellow driving the cart." |
| occasionally an honest concern for the rest | | | | |
| of the herd" | | | | "So, Professor, we are at a moment when |
| | | | policies are vague, visions do not exist and |
| "You'll have to explain such lofty | | | | problems abound in almost every area of life |
| descriptions to me. It is too early in the | | | | in the country, beginning with Immigration, |
| morning for me to operate on all cylinders" | | | | Health Care, increased threats from other |
| | | | countries, invented wars and poor relations |
| "Fine but first let us have breakfast" At | | | | with other countries. What should be done?" |
| that precise moment Antoine, the professor's | | | | |
| valet and operations manager, appeared to | | | | He replied: "You know what Perry Mason said?" |
| announce that breakfast was ready. | | | | |
| | | | I didn't. He answered: |
| Once seated at the tempting breakfast table, | | | | |
| the Professor continued: | | | | "The culprit is not always the valet. Look |
| | | | for him under the roof of a big White House! |
| "If we look at history we find that the | | | | |