LETTERS: U.S. JUDGES TOO LIBERAL

To the editor:

More than anything else, I hear people talking about how hard it is to raise kids in today's violent, immoral society. Almost as often, I hear people expressing frustration, dissatisfaction and cynicism about the way the court system in this country works. These two things are closely connected -- the court system is the primary reason these changes have been allowed. And they've been allowed despite the fact that most Americans abhor the things that have been permitted to permeate our children.

There are, no doubt, incompetent municipal, county and state judges, but their power is considerably less than that of judges appointed at the federal level. Federal district judges and judges sitting on the 13 circuit courts of appeals, along with justices of the Supreme Court, have been responsible for more of the changes that have been detrimental to our society than have all legislators combined, primarily because of the liberal philosophy embraced by so many of these judges.

Bill Clinton claims to be tough on crime and tough on sex and violence on TV, in print and in music. The record proves exactly the opposite. Clinton-appointed judges have consistently ruled in favor of violent criminals and other sleaze-bag defendants over the rights of victims and the rights of society. At the same time, people who don't want to be surrounded by social deviants at home, work or play have been forced to put up with them and/or pay steep fines for trying to keep these people from having easy access to them and their children. Nearly two-thirds of Clinton's appellate-court judges have issued or joined activist opinions sympathizing with criminal defendants at the expense of legitimate law enforcement interest or have issued opinions substituting the judge's own personal policy preferences for the preferences of the American people and their elected representatives. These decisions have precedent-setting effects that ripple through the legal system with absurdity upon absurdity. The number of judges who are interested in doing what is right is dwindling rapidly.

Bob Dole has stated that his litmus test for judges is that they intolerant of outrage, that their passion is not to amend but to interpret the Constitution and that they are restrained in regard to those who live within the law and strict with those who break it.

It's time for us to wake up to what's being done to us. Don't give Bill Clinton one extra day to appoint liberal-leaning cronies to positions of power and authority over the rest of us. On Nov. 5, I urge you to go to the polls and throw out the man who is responsible for so many of these terrible federal judges. Voter for Bob Dole.

PEGGY MEYER

Ste. Genevieve