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81 °F Forecast | Road Cams Monday, August 2, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend July 30, 2004 ‘Realistic idealism’ spurs political essays Tired of pols avoiding the real issues, author compiles speeches he’d like to hear By BILL VARBLE Mail Tribune With Democrats in Boston promising voters the moon and Republican attack ads targeting John Kerry in full swing, Jeff Golden imagines a different kind of political discourse. In his new book "As If We Were Grownups," (RiverWood Books, 147 pages, $12 — "not $11.95, because you’re grownups)" Golden takes issue with the current political wisdom, which holds that it’s political suicide for a politician to speak forthrightly about complex issues without regard to interest groups and let the chips fall as they may. Bucking the trend, Golden imagines 10 courageous pols telling 10 audiences exactly what they don’t want to hear. An imaginary presidential candidate tells Iowa farmers that he won’t support a federal ethanol subsidy because of a fatal flaw: It takes more energy to make a gallon of ethanol than the energy a gallon of ethanol provides. Another candidate tells the Anti-Drug Coalition of America that our decades-long war on drugs is like a famous definition of insanity: repeating the same action over and over and expecting different results. Advertisement Another tells the National Rights Abortion League to compromise with its right-to-life opponents on an issue in which the idea of compromise is anathema to both sides. Publisher Steve Scholl, of Ashland, says the official publication date is early 2005, but several thousand copies will go to stores by early September. "We wanted it out before the election," he says. In the satirical movie "Bulworth," Warren Beatty created a sleazy politician who, facing death, started just telling the truth. In real life, of course, campaigns aren’t run that way. They are managed by professionals who market candidates to specific audiences using sophisticated advertising techniques. Golden says his scenarios may be idealistic, but they’re not pipe dreams. "I think it’s realistic idealism," he says. "It’s making the case they could be more honest with good consequences." It is hard to think of real politicians making such utterances, but it happens. Republican John McCain did just that on the ethanol issue in 2000 in Iowa (and was soundly defeated). Democrat Walter Mondale did it in 1984 on the question of an income tax increase (and lost to George H.W. Bush, who made his famous "read my lips" promise not to raise taxes — and then raised taxes). It was the ethanol subsidy that led to the book. When Howard Dean, who cultivated a reputation as a plain talker in the primaries, seemed to pussyfoot on ethanol in Iowa, a New York Times editorial panned him for pandering. That led to a discussion on Golden’s radio show, Jefferson Public Radio’s call-in "Jefferson Exchange," heard from 8 to 10 a.m. weekdays on 1230 AM. "What if the consultants are wrong, and he could take a position with integrity?" Golden wondered. "I started thinking about the speeches leading politicians could make instead of the pabulum their consultants offer." He went home and drafted the ethanol speech, titled "Stripping the Nation for Parts." A billion dollars for ethanol may not be that bad, his pol says. But candidates visit states other than Iowa. In New Hampshire, they must favor lower gas taxes. In South Carolina, it’s necessary to be against further military base closures. In Missouri, it’s mandatory to support riverboat gambling. Oklahoma could use tax relief for oil drilling. North Dakota wants supports for wheat. Golden says a candidate winds up supporting a slew of expensive — and often mutually contradictory — things that may not be best for America as a whole. He applies his strictures to both parties. He says the record Bush deficits are the result of "talking to us like children." He says he is angry at Kerry for "not talking about Pentagon spending." He points to the millions of people who don’t normally vote but were drawn to Howard Dean as evidence of the potential of a new kind of straight talk. "I think a critical mass is ready," he says. "The current formulae are bankrupt. "I think we’re going to see enormous change. What are the alternatives?" If you go "As If We Were Grownups: A Collection of ‘Suicidal’ Political Speeches That Aren’t," is due in book stores in early September. Jeff Golden plans a reading from the book at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 28 at Bloomsbury Books in Ashland. For an early look, visit www.asifweweregrownups.org Reach reporter Bill Varble at 776-4478 or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? 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