Pubdate: Sun, 01 Oct 2000 Source: Ogdensburg Journal/Advance News (NY) Copyright: 2000 St. Lawrence County Newspapers Corp. Address: P.O. Box 409, Ogdensburg, New York 13669 Website: http://www.ogd.com/ Author: Lee Monnet, Ogdensburg NOTE: Accepts LTEs by mail only! Must be signed w/phone# AVOIDING DEBATES This letter is in response to Mr. Thomas Nichols 09/24/00 letter to the Editor "No more Gore Kisses". As far as I am concerned Al Gore and George Bush are equally guilty of avoiding debates and issues. Let's talk about debates. Why do the big two fear debating the third party candidates? Could it be they do not want to be drawn into controversial issues that have not been addressed in this campaign. Issues like the dismal failure of the drug war which is becoming a huge burden on taxpayers, is filling our prisons, allowing police around the country to brutalize citizens, and most important it is shredding the Bill of Rights. The encroachment of the Second Amendment by gun control laws which will eventually disarm law abiding citizens and merely inconvenience criminals. A much too powerful Government which is consistently taking the freedom of choice away from the people. I personally would like to hear what perspectives presidential candidates Harry Browne of the Libertarian Party, and Ralph Nader of the Green Party could bring to this lackluster election campaign. - --- MAP posted-by: John Chase