LETTERS: IT MIGHT BE BETTER IF DOLE STEPPED ASIDE

To the editor:

Recent polls show Bob Dole falling farther behind President Clinton in the contest for the presidency. Even though Clinton's numbers remain constant and well above Dole's falling fortunes, voters in both parties seem to be showing reluctant enthusiasm at best.

After a political upset and a strong showing in the 1994 elections, the new Republican Congress went to work on the Contract With America. Progressively, the voters' vigor began to pale. Congress began to tinker with populist programs such as Medicare, health care, welfare and even Social Security, and it is currently bantering over a few cents per hour of minimum wage. All this while high-rollers in industry and special interests are left to continue to stuff their pockets with loot. President Clinton, meanwhile, adroitly only softens the blow of what seem to be draconian measures of the seemingly villainous Republican Congress. Voters watch in bewilderment and disaffection. Dole doggedly struggles on, trying to wangle his way out of the Republican image to which he is hostage.

Americans have been coddled into still expecting a free lunch. But I am sure that they yet can, and will, respond to a call for austerity and sacrifice if all segments of society are seriously enlisted to participate in proportion to the respective capacity of each. However, there is yet no leader of distinction stepping forward with the credibility and courage to launch a realistic vision to recover our national equilibrium.

As it stands now, both major political parties offer their respective sop to the voters, along with parties of lesser stature, simply to get elected. Even though the election is months away and party conventions have not yet been held, it seems that Clinton will be re-elected by virtual default.

Even though the presidential primary results mandate Dole's nomination as the Republican presidential candidate, there seem to be rumblings to thwart the inevitability of a Dole loss and somehow field a Republican candidate with greater prospects for success. Even though it would be precipitous, it might be better for Dole to relinquish his mandate for the candidacy and dedicate his many talents to service in the public interest. As an elder statesman, he could be free at last to say who he really is and what he really thinks. It might make an interesting and beneficial memoir.

GILBERT DEGENHARDT

Cape Girardeau