Consider what we've witnessed already: an assault on women by instituting a gag rule on family planning; walking away from a campaign promise to reduce air pollution and from a global responsibility to lead on global warming; plans to destroy some of the nation's last remaining acres of pristine wilderness in Alaska by drilling for oil that itself won't solve our energy needs; a surprise attack on workers by abandoning a 10-year bipartisan effort begun by Elizabeth Dole to prevent workplace injuries; and the reversal of another 10- year effort to establish protections to eliminate unsafe levels of arsenic in our drinking water.

In his campaign, President Bush talked about choosing a Cabinet and building an administration that would reflect his priorities. Unfortunately, judging by the way defenders of the environment like Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Christie Todd Whitman's thoughtful counsel on the environment has been ignored, at this early juncture it's Attorney General John Ashcroft, Interior Secretary Gale Norton and those whose nominations fed the carnivorous right wing who seem to best mirror the president's priorities for the nation.

President Bush promised to change the tone in Washington - sadly, the only tone that's changed seems to be his own. Aside from inviting Democrats to the White House for ceremony upon ceremony, there have been few meaningful efforts to build bipartisan compromise. Bipartisan governing is not just saying that Democrats and Republicans are good people, but that both can talk in good faith and do what's right for the nation.

One hundred days is too soon to judge an entire administration, but it's not too late to begin a thoughtful, honest dialogue to put the nation on the right course. With 1,360 days ahead for the Bush administration and critical issues in the balance, it's a responsible choice we share a responsibility to pursue.

There is a model for meaningful compromise in the making on the most pressing issue before our country - education.

In recent years a number of us spoke forcefully on education reform and led a bipartisan effort to change an education debate characterized by an instinct for the symbolic. The simple truth was that anyone who articulated the views of one political party wasn't coming up with real answers for our children. We embraced a critical mix of accountability, flexibility and investment - reaching across the aisle and acknowledging that while we can't afford to finance failure, reform will fail without the finances in place.

President Bush deserves credit for adding another voice for reform and backing away from his campaign pledge to insist on private school vouchers. Reform is in sight - provided that a shared commitment to accountability and local control is backed up by investment.

Progress on education reform wasn't easy, but it was essential - and it can be a harbinger for future victories if the Bush administration notes compromise was possible because both sides realized there was no Republican truth, no Democrat truth, no ideological silver bullet and, most of all, no quick fix.

President Bush on too many issues has pursued a different course - temporary solutions, quick fixes and an insistence on irresponsible policy that could ripple through future generations.

His tax cut proposal is the most striking example. Not only does Bush's proposal leave 29 million taxpaying Americans without a penny of tax relief and threaten eight years of fiscal discipline; it is structured to explode in size when the country will face tough choices to meet the retirement of the baby-boomers and the challenge of modernizing Medicare and Social Security for a very different country in a very different time. President Bush's rhetoric ignores these difficult decisions - and is an invitation not just for partisan politics, but for bad public policy.

It's time we insist on a better debate - and a wiser course for the country. We should have real tax relief that stimulates the economy immediately, but it must include all taxpayers and it should preserve the fiscal discipline that has kept the economy strong and interest rates low for the working Americans who pay car loans, student loans and home mortgages.

A more responsible approach on tax policy will leave room for the country to sensibly address pressing national priorities: delivering affordable health insurance for every American, including the 44 million without it and the 14 million senior citizens without prescription drug coverage; investing in clean-up, public-private partnerships, and commonsense energy policy so clean air, clean water and economic growth go hand in hand; and equipping and empowering citizens to make the most of the New Economy.

These are great debates we can have - within the context of balanced budgets, with the best interests of our citizens guiding public policy. But it takes real bipartisanship, not just bipartisan rhetoric. Serious dialogue would truly change the tone in our country - but it requires changing the tone of the first 100 days first. Sen. Kerry is a Democrat from Massachusetts.