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Article: Taming the populist impulse.(Column)
- Article from:
- USA TODAY
- Article date:
- September 1, 1997
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1997 Society for the Advancement of Education. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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AS IT WAS DURING the 1980s Reagan boom, the American economy is the envy of the world. The forecasts are rosy; the Dow-Jones Average is breaking records; inflation is a mere two percent; and the budget deficit is diminishing at a rate few economists had predicted. With tax revenues pouring in, the Democratic president and the Republican Congress appear to have found common ground on a five-year budget and tax agreement despite the annoying contentiousness and pettiness of both sides.
The times are good, and perhaps even a bit boring. This condition spoils the fun for those who think democratic politics always should give the public a good fight over important ...