IS IT AN ERA OF LIBERALISM? YEAR OF DISTORTED CAMPAIGNS

Former U.S. Senator and Democrat Presidential Candidate GEORGE McGOVERN (an honest man) had it right when he identified (in a speech Monday night in Cape) that it would begin a new era of LIBERALISM if BILL CLINTON is elected President of the U.S.

At a time when the majority of the people are conservative ... this has been too much of a non-issue campaign (with some exceptions) on the state and national level. It's a sorry reality that campaigns too often elect candidates ... not issues ... and this has been a year of poor, distorted campaigns.

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If Bush could manage to articulate the differences between his economic approach and Clinton's, he would close the gap. By a 55 per cent to 25 per cent margin, Americans believe that across-the-board tax cuts, along with corresponding cuts in federal spending, are a good idea, according to a CBS/New York Times poll. And by 60 per cent to 35 per cent, Americans oppose a tax increase to reduce the deficit. So far, Bush has failed to make the case.

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When the Gallup Organization asked Americans in 1987 if they favored a "voucher system" in which parents could use government funds to send their children to public, parochial or private school, only 44 per cent liked the idea. Now, however, Americans favor school choice by a margin of 70 per cent to 27 per cent, according to Gallup.

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The building of general aviation airplanes has almost come to a halt because of LIABILITY costs. As with medical malpractice insurance costs ... the consumer is having to pay too much for too many products and services because of non-capped litigation awards. You should be aware that trial lawyers know which political party and candidates will most likely let this practice continue.

The Democrats like to rail about PACs, but when it comes to the American Trial Lawyers Association PAC, their hands are out. Of the $1.4 million that the trial lawyers PAC has given to Congressional candidates this campaign, 96 per cent went to Democrats. Roll Call reports that ATLA PAC has given to 38 Democratic candidates for senator, and not one dollar to a Republican.

In addition to their PAC, the trial lawyers give lavishly as individuals. Roll Call analyzed the contributions of the 60 attorneys named by Forbes magazine as the wealthiest trial lawyers in this country. The 60 have made 400 contributions in this campaign, with Sen. Fritz Hollings (D.-S.C.) the largest single recipient with a total donation to date of $400,000. Last month Hollings returned the favor by singlehandedly blocking product liability reform legislation.

One of the major early financial big support groups of Bill Clinton was "TRIAL LAWYERS."

In Missouri, trial lawyers overwhelmingly support MEL CARNAHAN, JAY NIXON ... and BETTY HEARNES, who on Oct. 6 received a $5,000 contribution from the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys (MATA). When added to her original $1,000 MATA donation, this makes her top non-family contribution.

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PERSPECTIVE - an overview or bigger picture of what's important in life is needed as much during the final week of an election as anytime.

While in New York last week Wendy and I toured the MATISSE exhibit at the MUSEUM of MODERN ART. It was an exciting show displaying his many different styles and moods, during his 60 years of painting and sculpture (he was still painting and "cutting art" while in his 80s.).

We also toured the RUSSIAN art display in the GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM. It was fascinating to observe as their outstanding art of the early 1900s deteriorated, as it became the art of/for government under communism during later years... SAD!

You think our country has problems (during a campaign the emphasis is on the NEGATIVE)? Read this excerpt from a letter Wendy and I received from son Jon's girlfriend, who is studying in St. Petersburg, Russia. The letter is dated Oct. 6, 1992 --

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Rust

Hello! I've been thinking of you often, and I wanted to send you a special greeting from Russia.

Life here is exciting and difficult. Everyday I see parts of Russia falling to pieces, and simultaneously I see so many positive developments - it is a wonderful, crazy place!

Fortunately, through all the chaos and identity searching, the Russian people still cling to their hospitality, their faith in the future. Yet most Russians are also no longer content to wait for the life promised to them by the government. They are terribly frustrated - still, the sense of comradery dominates; I see "grandmothers" fixing the coats of school children, people walking arm in arm, mothers fixing their daughters bows and playing with them in the parks... There is a real sense of wonderful, polite familiarity here.

I have been especially lucky - And now even more so - I've met several Russian deaf people who delight in teaching me their language - It is thrilling to see where our languages connect. But it is also very draining - and time passes so quickly here.

I miss the States. Our group is very supportive - we help each other through the daily mishaps, the lack of telephones, meat, vegetables! But this is a wonderful experience and there are so many things for me to think about. I light lots of candles in a church nearby, sending prayers for Russia, wishes to my friends at school - I've sent you all a special wish, too.

Take care, Susan Moss

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The following is more like a wishful prayer that will be answered only if people back off from the clamor of the political battles ... and is the conclusion of a long article in the Tuesday Wall Street Journal by MARK HELPRIN on why he thinks Bush will win ...

"In the tranquility of the voting booth, social pressure subsides, and there, in secret, the choice will be made. I believe that the contest is not merely between political philosophies but between the ideals of different generations as expressed in the character of the candidates.

Experience vs. Ambition

If it is a contest between generations, it is a contest between long experience and feverish ambition; between one man who, after flying 58 combat missions in World War II, returned home to his bride on Christmas Eve, and another who abandoned solidarity with his country and led demonstrations against it abroad; between the generation of Ingrid Bergman and that of Madonna; between that of Frank Capra and that of Spike Lee; between someone who is so uncomfortable with the deceptions of politics that he carries them off transparently and with embarrassed awkwardness and someone who does it so beautifully you cannot see the seams and it is unlikely that he himself knows them; between President Bush, who is somewhat superficial, and Gov. Clinton, a man whose superficiality runs very deep.

If it is, indeed, a struggle between generations, then it is important for the nation that the older generation win. No confusion of policy can match the fundamental differences between the America that was and the America that is. Perhaps it is just my hope, or an illusion, but I believe, despite the avalanche of indications to the contrary, that when the country must make the choice, its heavy keel will guide it, and it will choose the old wood, the harder, slower way, the traditional virtues, and the quieter man."