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OpinionAugust 21, 1996

To the editor: Among other things, the recent Republican convention was supposed to be a reassertion of the new conservatism by Barry Goldwater and carried to its ultimate acceptance and implementation by Ronald Reagan. It was that, but it also showed itself for what it really is: populist conservatism. It is a set of concepts merchandised as a conservatism disguising the popular notions of a self-seeking segment of society...

Gilbert Degenhardt

To the editor:

Among other things, the recent Republican convention was supposed to be a reassertion of the new conservatism by Barry Goldwater and carried to its ultimate acceptance and implementation by Ronald Reagan. It was that, but it also showed itself for what it really is: populist conservatism. It is a set of concepts merchandised as a conservatism disguising the popular notions of a self-seeking segment of society.

Conspicuously absent from all the rhetoric was the clarion call of genuine conservatism, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." Instead, there was the prevailing sop of eliminating the nemeses of populist conservatism: high taxes, big government, government regulations, undeserved welfare and the whole host of things that supposedly inhibit our great nation. Much of the time of the convention was taken invoking the nostalgia of the Reagan years. There was no truthful reminder that more than the entire increase of economic growth of those years was from borrowed money. We can't afford it another time. We probably will not be able to pay the indebtedness.

There was a brief, thin thread of a call to responsibility of the American people, but it was quickly and overwhelmingly eclipsed by the broad promise to reclaim the better times of the past, if elected.

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The upcoming Democratic convention promises to be much of the same. There will be the equivalent one-upmanship and the one-downmanship. Ross Perot will probably be seen as a spoiler. What's there to spoil? Third or additional parties are thought to be out of the question. Knowledgeable people see a likelihood if substantive direction continues to go begging in the two major parties. Whatever the case, it is a reality that additional political parties are displaying an increased prominence.

Is there hope? Yes there is. There is indeed an indomitable human spirit in America. However, it is usually awakened by a greater consciousness of crisis than now exists or even a cataclysm. If and when such a moment arises, I hope the choice of leaders will be such as FDR or Churchill, not some others that are unthinkable.

GILBERT DEGENHARDT

Cape Girardeau

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