3rd-Party Candidates

Third-party candidates should have some voice in the presidential debates. Pat Buchanan, Ralph Nader and others would add breadth and depth to what is arguably one of the most important stops on the way to the November election, but the Republican and Democratic parties want none of it.

The Presidential Debate Commission’s refusal to allow Nader to even be seated in the audience at the Oct. 3 debate was the act of a frightened child. The use of police to enforce the refusal was much more than childish. It was a chilling move smacking more of paranoia and bullying than mature disagreement. Americans should be concerned for our democracy when the two largest political parties will use the power of the state to eliminate the presence of distant competitors.

TERENCE YOUNG

South Pasadena

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The media tell us that the 10% of uncommitted voters are not paying attention yet to the presidential campaign, and they have not picked a favorite candidate. How does one pick a favorite candidate when one stands there and seems to wither under fire and cannot think on his feet and the other covers up his knowledge by blustering and pretending to know it all?

Al Gore continually talks about a “lockbox” for Social Security and Medicare and then in the next breath says he will pay off the national debt with its proceeds and use the saved interest to put back into those two systems. What kind of a lockbox is that?

And how can this country give $12 million toward the presidential campaign of the Reform Party and not have Buchanan appears on debates? And surely Nader deserves to be heard also.

FRED SCHENCK

Westminster