MINUS ONE, CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES SQUARE OFF

Missouri's 8th Congressional District challengers differed on drug laws, taxes, nuclear arms and foreign trade Sunday at a forum at Southeast Missouri State University.

Rep. Bill Emerson didn't attend the forum, sponsored by the Cape Girardeau County League of Women Voters.

A spokesman said he was in Washington working on congressional business.

Libertarian Greg Tlapek of Cape Girardeau and Democrat James L. "Jay" Thompson of Bourbon agreed there should be term limits for congressmen but disagreed on several key issues.

Tlapek, who decided to be a Libertarian 16 years ago, said his party believes people should be allowed to do what they want as long as it doesn't affect others adversely.

And, along with that principle, he believes drugs should be legalized, then taxed and regulated as is alcohol.

Thompson, who retired 2 1/2 years ago from the Department of Corrections, opposes legalizing drugs. He said he would put people behind bars who sell illegal drugs because dealers compromise the lives of youngsters.

Tlapek, a branch manager for a commodities brokerage firm, replied that he couldn't think of much good to say about drugs, just like he couldn't think of much good to say about alcohol or cholesterol.

But, he added, using items that may be dangerous to one's health are choices people make.

Illegal drugs are causing an epidemic of violence, corrupting police officers and causing law-abiding citizens to find ways to circumvent the law, he said. Drugs should be regulated as alcohol is.

On taxes, Thompson said he would look at each program to find ways to make substantial cuts and suggested some programs could be eliminated.

Government should stop stockpiling and change some of its military strategies to accommodate less spending, he said.

But Tlapek wants to abolish the federal income tax, made possible in 1913 by the 16th Amendment to the Constitution.

He said if the government could hold spending at 1988 levels, there would be no need for personal income tax. Tlapek also advocated the repeal of the corporate income tax. That tax, he said, costs jobs to foreign countries.

He would work to make job creation a priority.

On the issue of trade, Thompson said the General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs treaty should be considered before the farm bill.

It would be interesting to see how much money is returned to the United States with the proposed agreement, he said, adding that often the government uses taxpayers' money to supplement other country's enterprises.

But Tlapek favored working on the 1995 Farm Bill.

Farmers are one of this area's special interests, and he believes they should be persuaded to give up some things to help control federal spending.

There is no reason to pay people not to grow things, he said.

On nuclear weapons, Tlapek would do away with them; Thompson wouldn't be so hasty.

Thompson, who spent 22 years in the U.S. Navy, said he didn't think the need for nuclear weapons ended with the fall of the Soviet Union.

Tlapek said he favors eliminating nuclear weapons, even on a unilateral basis.

Because his party favors a strong national defense, he would spend whatever is required to protect the United States, but he preferred that tax dollars be spent on defensive measures.