The dual federalism of the early period featured a national government of enumerated powers only, comprised of two equally sovereign centers of government which related in a  conflictive manner. Due to judicial interpretation, measures like the national income tax, the first and other block grants, the Federal Road Aid Act, and the Sheppard-Tanner Act , passed  around the turn of the century and the teens, the states increasingly loss their sovereignty. Up to the 1920's our federal government system was more or less intact. In 1927, total federal aid to the states amounted to a mere 2% of their revenue.  During the following 20 years funding to the states for various programs with the concurrent necessary taxation grew ‘til the 1950's when the apex of cooperative federalism was reached.  In real practice, the federal system had practically disappeared. All levels of government became one entity with all government employees working as colleagues, not adversaries. With each new administration, the aid in grants to the states totals became more exhorbitant. It is somewhat difficult to see the connection between this paragraph and what follows. What does this have to do with Elizabeth Dole being the perfect presidential candidate?

Well, both Bob and Elizabeth often speak about a gigantic bureaucracy that has developed through the years without the benefit of logical design. Robert Dole has made many speeches in defense of the the Tenth Amendment which addresses exactly this problem, the encroachment of state sovereignty by the federal entity. Elizabeth talks about a federal government that has become bloated and ineffective; a federal government that makes decisions for people thousands of miles away, who should be allowed to make their own decisions.

In a recent appearance at the Annual Farm Bureau's Convention, in North Carolina, Mrs. Dole said that it is unfortunate that these days only one in ten people asked, were satisfied with, or trusted the government to do the right thing. Mrs. Dole lamented the days when she started in government working for the public defender, are no longer with us. She added that  today if you say "'I'm from the government, and I'm here to help', you are guaranteed to get a laugh."

Unfortunately, her words ring true, don't they? What is the reason for this sentiment that pervades the American people? Who can we blame for this miserable government that we currently have? Those of you who happened to surf this way inadvertently, and are not fans of the Doles, will immediately scream, "YOUR HUSBAND, ROBERT DOLE!!!" ...And some people are upset enough about their dealings with the government to react just like that. "AFTER ALL... ISN'T HE A "WASHINGTON POLITICIAN? OR AT LEAST, THAT'S WHAT HIS TV ADS SAID". But of course, Robert Dole does not think "a Washington politician" is a bad thing. That is what he was for 30 years. He first served the people of Kansas, in the 89th Congress, and resigned after the conclusion of the 104th. There is something strange there. A large segment of the population would just dismiss this apparent difference in perception as the self serving, hypocritical words and deeds of the elected official. The public often blames the elected official entirely for government dysfunction because that is the one who's name they know. While campaigning and subsequently the elected official will make many efforts to make inexpensive contact with the electorate. After all, name recognition is an important ingredient of obtaining the vote, sometimes the only ingredient.

Most of us who surf the net regularly are aware, for instance that the IRS has been experiencing terrible trouble. A survey conducted by Money Magazine online, last year, revealed that 95+% of those answering the questions, were in favor of disbanding the IRS and substituting the IRS code with some other system of taxation. Therefore, one has to conclude that many people who surf the net know about the 10 year, $4 billion modernization program that the IRS had to scrap due to its complete dysfuction. Breaching the rules of confidentiality, seem unimportant all of the sudden, as they thought it best to contract the services to private providers.

The average person with a computer, was also aware, since it was widely publicized in a most promoted page by Harry Brown, Libertarian Party Presidential Candidate, that the IRS financial statements for 1996 "did not present fairly", due to the fact that they could not  produce 6000 magnetic tapes with accounts receivables that were lost.

All of the sudden the IRS was on the conventional media. Two senators, a democrat and a republican, were conducting an investigation of abuses committed by the IRS. There must have been plenty of those also. I read many pages to that effect. I never heard the conventional media mention the monumental problems I discussed before. Perhaps that is the reason why when Money Magazine conducted the same poll, not online, only roughly 50+% were in favor of throwing out the IRS Code.

The most detestable thing about this problem that I'm trying to describe is that, I am not talking exclusively about the IRS. That is a good example because it can be explained concisely, and it helps me to bring out the point I'm trying to make. Did your favorite elected official know about this great problems at the IRS? Or did the head of the organization and her underlinks keep stalling regarding the delivery of the $4 billion improvement? Was the head of this agency aware that these problems were developing? The average taxpayers would not blame anyone at the IRS for this problems. They would blame an elected official who's name is on their minds.

If you are not a fan of the Doles you are now upset. You are thinking that I'm a despicable type of person, attempting to whitewash the elected public official. Unfortunately, it is not true. The real problem in our government resides with the "unsung hero", as much, or more, than with any elected official.

2) Partly due to the above, but not necessarily exclusively because of those facts, the various entities that carry out government activities are often lacking. Due to any number of factors, such as affirmative action, poor management, political corruption, a decline in values, etc., the government agency runs ever more improperly. It is very sad to read at a site on the Internet where children post their stories, that a nine year old knows that policemen only tell the truth half the time; and that the victim is often treated like the criminal, because it is expedient.

3) It is obvious to me that the people who work for government's last thought some times, is to be public servants. They often want to be exclusively paper pushers, much too often "heavies", and once in a blue moon marginally helpful.

In my own personal experience, I have been able to observe those very same departments that Robert Dole wanted to disband, delivering such poor service, as to warrant it. For instance HUD. When I worked as a Realtor I sold a foreclosure from the Bank of America ( App. value $95.000) for $82,000. The buyer was thrilled, not only because of the purchase price but also because the bank was helpful with financing, and closing costs. He advised me shortly after the closing, that he had an interest in purchasing another similar property in the same area. Coincidentally there was a HUD home exactly like his purchase half a block away from his house. I, of course had had the foresight to obtain a HUD key and a package of their rather lengthy forms. We made an offer in a sealed bid, as required. ... And we waited. ...And we waited.. After one and a half months I managed to speak to someone there who knew about the property. By using its 9 digit ID alphanumeric code, the abrupt, curt, young man on the telephone was able to find the file. He informed me that there were two other applications before mine, which had yet to be reviewed. My clients and I went to see the house before we made the offer, and it was OK. The previous owners had also been foreclosed and they had done a small amount of damage to the doors, and cabinets. The worse damage was a leak on the roof in the center of the house. I wondered what the real deal was. I thought maybe they were denying me the sale. I resolved to stop by the property. Every thing was the same there, except the leak was now much larger. Three and a half months elapsed. I called again. After much trouble they told me the same thing. I reiterated that there was a huge leak on the roof and they should be thinking of reducing the price. After all, the bank foreclosure was in better condition and my client paid 2 or 3 thousand less. Two years later, long after I had lost touch with my client, I drove by the house. It still had the HUD sign on the door, just as before. I thought of going in, but doubted that I could since they are supposed to change the locks periodically. Guess what! The key worked. The leak was now a foot and half in diameter. Shouldn't this agency close its doors?