Policy that's put on the ``fast track' - from trade to tobacco - favors those on the economic fast track and is antithetical to democracy.

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Ask the average American about ``fast track,' and you'll probably get a questioning response about dog races, stock cars or White House secretaries.

But in Washington, fast track is the name for President Clinton's new proposal requesting Congress to commit itself to look-but-don't-touch handling of White House trade legislation. It's shaping up as this fall's biggest debate on Capitol Hill, and the president announced recently that he'll be calling in chips to get it through. Ironically, most of the allies the Democratic president is relying on for this fight are Republicans.A clue: We're not talking about dog races here. We're talking about what Washington cherishes most: back-room deals, big campaign contributions and bigger favors. And orchestrating trade isn't the only example.

The notion that policy should be made by and for the elites, instead of democratically by and for the voters, is spreading like prairie fire. The insiders and experts are taking over. Often even Congress gets pushed aside.