From: IN%"attila@primenet.com" "attila" 5-MAY-1996 21:36:54.93

how many _truly_ "populist" presidents have we elected?

Given the numbers of times that a democracy has done more harm than good to civil liberties (Prohibition, the election of Islamic Fundamentalists in Algeria, etcetera), we don't _want_ a "populist"/demagogue president. We want someone in charge (to whatever degree that someone has to be in charge) who will respect civil liberties. The masses aren't going to elect such a person; they prefer protection to liberty and always will.

"They that give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." --Ben Franklin (Historical Review of PA -1759)

and, the bottom line is:

"It is not the function of our Government to keep the citizen from falling into error; it is the function of the citizen to keep the Government from falling into error." --Robert H. Jackson (1892-1954), U.S. Judge

Quite. -Allen