of the past, lately cured bv history snpainful experiences. We are thus quitendisturbed to find it again in a writernof Mr. Grass’ caliber and influence.nEspeaaily in the light ot the latest, quitenalarmina. news from Germanv aboutnthe sinister revival oi Nazi mystiquenamong German youth—which wouldnindicate that the “psychologicallv” victoriousnGerman writers of Mr. Grass’nstripe are not as keenly attuned to thenideological and moral realities as thevnthink they are.nPolitical Instincts & EmotionsnThe Illinois Legislators’ Pav RaisenScheme—increasingly reminiscent otnthe first Great Train Robbery—doesnnot go away. Pros and cons, and allnother deliberations occupy the publicnconsciousness and prey upon each citizen’snmind. The press, unusually inntune with the general feeling and onnthe common man’s side, keeps presentingnit as a political issue, which givesnan opportunity to some columnists innperennial pursuit of originalitv to sidenwith the extortionists — politicians —nincreasingly reminiscent of the gentlemen-robbersnof centuries ago. However.nthe issue is not political, but moral.n-Men and women who profess to benL^lected on the merit of their moralnvirtues, among other things, should notnfleece those whom they pledge to serve.nTheir ethical feelings should compelnthem to restraint, especially in timesnof economic hardship, even if theynthemselves feel a pecuniary stress.nWhich is rarely the case in Illinois, asnthe majoritv of characters in this moralitynplay are well-off. white-collar professionals,nwhose financial revenues arenfar above the average incomes of theirnconstituents.nLet’s try to go beyond Illinois’ confinesnand ask: Should an elected officialnbe rewarded according to the generalnprinciples of the money market andnwage-price reality? We mused long overnthe problem, and finally came to thenconclusion that he should not.n26inChronicles of CulturenSince Its dawn, democracy has posednthe dilemria of the people’s representativesnimpudently lining their pocketsnit the expense ot those they are supposednto represent and govern. Thenobvious solution would be to make publicnoffice honorary, an occasion to exercisenidealistic propensities and personalnaltruism, to gather fame andnrespect. However, fears arose that suchnan arrangement would bring might tonwealthy power-seekers, and we all knownwhat that means. It was concluded thatnattracting able and talented men bynproperly rewarding their spirit, virtuenLind acumen would guarantee a betternpolity, promote personal brilliance, andnwould keep government from becomingnthe preserve of the rich.nIt did not work. The government hasnbecome a preserve of wealth, prestige,nand media age celebrity status. As ofntoday, there is no semblance of anynreal and serious social correlation betweennthe moneyed statesmen and thennot moneyed classes. The District ofnColumbia, the central situs of politiciansnand political bureaucrats innAmerica, has the second highest incomenper capita in the country (afternAlaska, which has only half as manynpeople’!. The defenders of the poor arennow verv rich legislators for and administratorsnof the poor, which makesne’erybody wonder whether they defendnthe poor for their money, or perhapsnfor other reasons which are not easy tonperceive. Under these circumstancesnthe most credible defender of the poor,nhis shrillness notwithstanding, becomesnSenator Kennedy, a multimillionaire.nAt least, we can be certain with himnthat he yearns for power, but certainlynnot for money.nHalf of the U.S. population does notnvote in elections for political offices,nand it appears more and more that thenabundantly evidenced greed of politiciansnhas something to do with it. Itnis beginning to dawn on the people ofnIllinois that the best answer to America’snpolitical ills may be to rebuild thencivil service as a vehicle for idealismnnn.md virtue, -vith the re^AnUS of dutynfulfilled and glorv for ; -uneration.nEspecially when they see -eir newlyelectedngovernor pocketi:.-: his raisenand taking otf for a Florida beach duringnthe worst winter blizzard in the historynof this state, .Moral attitudes anyone.-^nTwo CulturesnThe gap widens and it is not our fault.nThe liberals persist in ignoring thenfact of an intellectual effort in thisncountry which produces analyses,ncritiques and cognitive inferences innevery respect, but which is not theirs.nThese are nonliberal observations, conclusionsnand messages, and the liberals,nin their manipulation of the media, havendecided to pass over them in silence.nThe New York Times Book Reviewnannounced its list of the best books asnthe editors’ choice for 1978. All titles,nboth in fiction and nonfiction, belongnto authors and works with a distinctnliberal profile, vision, persuasion.nAmong the 25 books nominated by thenNational Book Critics Circle, made upnof 200 reviewers and editors fromnaround the country, for their annualnaward, there’s not one single name thatndeviates from the liberal orthodoxy innany area of writing, and many whosenonly desert consists of strict adherencento this orthodoxy.nMore than ever, America is split intontwo cultural spheres of eminence, influencenand imagery. The liberals dencided to eliminate the nonliberal intellectualnand literary activity by ignoringnit. This does not mean the victory willnbe theirs. More powerful bastions ofnopinion than the New York Times andnthe professional fraternities have witherednaway simply because they wereneither wrong, or immorally suppressive,nor both. We’ll wait.n