And yet these successive governments have failed to afford political representation to the many diverse elements that make up South Vietnams population. more importantly. they have failed to respond to the needs of the people. Past governments as well as the present have made numerous and grandiose promises and proposed a myriad of programs. Yet in land reform. in refugee relief. in rural development. in curbing corruption and inflation. the record is clear. The challenges are unmet. Of all these deficiencies. none is more glaring than the failure of the Thieu government to broaden its base of support to include various neutralists who are not proCommunist. but pro peace.