Saturday’s Washington
Post quotes a California citizen who supports Arnold Schwartzenegger’s
gubernatorial bid: "His eyes brightened behind his glasses as he
discussed how someone like Schwarzenegger would bring fresh ideas and
an eagerness to correct the state’s problems. "’I’m hopeful that
he will be independent enough in his thoughts that he thinks like a
citizen and not as an experienced politician,’ [the citizen] said, ‘so
that he can do the right thing." Echoing Schwarzenegger’s ‘Tonight
Show’ line that he could not be bought, [he added]: ‘Everyone who comes
to work with him knows that they’re going to get nothing in return except
the satisfaction. We know he’s not looking for money, and that’s a plus.’"
This quote perfectly exemplifies what Hibbing and Theiss-Morse call
review of their book.) According to them, Americans believe that
there is no need for debates about policy, because all reasonable people
share the same goals. The fact that heated debates actually take place
proves that professional politicians are trying to gain some kind of
advantage over each other in a competitive game. And the reason they
play this game is that they want to obtain personal wealth from holding
political office.
I have no doubt that some Americans believe all this (including some
highly sophisticated people whom I have met). We’ll
see from the California recall campaign whether it’s the dominant view
in that state.