LETTERS: MINOR PARTIES REPRESENT INDIVIDUAL

To the editor:

Whoever thinks that a vote for Gore or Bush is a vote in his own interest is being misled by the hype of the media and the two major parties. Our government is controlled by the powerful organizations which take money from their constituents to support candidates who will allow them to craft legislation favorable to their interests. It doesn't make much difference to these organizations which party wins. Money talks, but only big money is heard.

The minor parties have no campaign funding except from the limited amounts individuals are allowed to give them. They truly express the political ideology of their members, and they can have a powerful influence on legislation.

Ralph Nader, leader of the Green Party, has made the issue of reducing money in politics his first priority. Al Gore said this is his first priority, but he has done nothing to limit his huge solicitations. Even though most congressmen abhor the huge amount of time they must spend raising money to assure a win in their next race, few refuse to accept the support of their party's soft money. A way to break this addiction to soft money is for an outside candidate to show that excessive money in politics is not acceptable to voters. Like Ross Perot in 1992, Nader does not have to win this election to further his agenda. He must only receive a sizable vote in November and then continue to push his issues thereafter.

Nader has long been a powerful advocate for consumers and voters against all the legal and personal obstacles that monied interests could throw against him. This may be the biggest fight of his life, and this may be our best chance, as voters, to help him secure our government for ourselves.

B. GATES GOODIER

Jackson, Mo.