Tonight Show host Jay Leno does "Jay Walking." He quizzes people about what radio host Michael Feldman calls "things you should have learned in school if you'd been paying attention."

Most people, it turns out, didn’t pay attention.

Read the comments of undecided voters. None could pass Jay Leno's government quiz. Thirty percent of 18-24 year olds can’t name the two presidential candidates.

Our social studies teachers engage students in innovative projects. They study the issues, listen to candidates, encourage voter registration. Even in elementary schools.

There's student involvement in decisions that affect students’ lives -- in schools and the community. The practice, as well as study, of democracy.

But when it comes to public understanding of the political process, the current campaign, and the media's coverage of it, are relatively superficial.

Sadly, aside from a rare CIA briefing, candidates' political understanding has been shaped by the same public schools, mass media and political rhetoric as molded the rest of us.

In 1972 I was asked to host a TV program and interview all presidential candidates.

My standard questions only produced their well-rehearsed standard answers.

What to do?

Throw a ball to see if they could catch it?

Overturn their chair?

I settled on a question I have continued to put to many of the presidential candidates ever since.

"Assume (1) you are elected president, and (2) you are 'right on the issues.' Why will logging companies have less control of national forest policy? Broadcasters less sway over the FCC? Coal companies less control of miners' safety?"

With rare exception, they've had neither answer nor comprehension of the question.

Most of us have mastered the "there are three branches of government" level of political science.

We are aware that legislation is influenced, even written, by the 22,000 lobbyists in Washington, and their 9,000 political action committees (PACs).

We probably know that corporations and the wealthy contribute hundreds of millions of dollars to both major parties.

If we're really sophisticated we can define the difference between "hard" and "soft" money.

And if we've been paying very close attention we've calculated that for every million dollars in contributions the donor gets a billion in return. You and I pay for their tax breaks, defense contracts, monopoly privilege, and price supports with higher prices and increased taxes.

What has escaped even the candidates' notice (based on their responses to my question) is that decision-making in Washington involves sociology as well as the bribery called "soft money."

The government hands out billions in corporate welfare. The programs often have no economic, political or moral justification. How are they maintained? Why can't "good people in office" change them?

Because of "sub-governments." That's where the real power resides. Not the White House. Not Congress. Lobbyists and money aren't the whole explanation.
 
Consider broadcasting. Sub-governments include a trade association (National Association of Broadcasters) and the industry’s dominant firms. Lawyers who belong to a Federal Communications Bar Association. A trade publication, Broadcasting (mainstream media don't cover sub-governments). A congressional communications sub-committee staffer. An agency's staff (FCC). And often a private eating club (Broadcasting Club).

Sub-government members work together, play together, eat together -- and, yes, inter-marry. Their common bond is protecting the sub-government, maintaining the corporate welfare program and their jobs.

So what was the answer I was looking for?

Citizen empowerment. Funding, not frustration, for citizens willing to get involved. A more level playing field.

Campaigns, and classrooms, should focus on process, not promises. Without processes that are full all promises are empty.

Democracy is an everyday assignment, not a holiday outing every four years. We all need to learn that -- starting with the candidates themselves.

Nicholas Johnson is an Iowa City School Board member. More information is available on his Web site www.nicholasjohnson.org.