Debates Exclude Minor Parties

Now that the elites have decided to keep Ross Perot out of the presidential debates (Sept. 18), and have shown, thereby, that the system is a scam, it’s time for all the minor parties to form a coalition to break the stranglehold of the two elite parties.

One of the first things that the coalition should do is agree that, although they agree on virtually nothing and that they represent views from the very far right to the very far left, they will not let these differences break apart the coalition, whose single function is to ensure that all Americans of all political views be given their say in the direction of this country.

The coalition should then set up its own debates and have empty chairs representing Bob Dole and Bill Clinton and their empty promises and empty visions for America.

Hopefully, such a coalition will move this country toward a true democratic system whereby the smaller parties will be able to gain seats in Congress, as is the case in most other democracies in the world.

H. MILLARD

Costa Mesa

* In sports, when teams that don’t have the best records during the regular season want to get into the championship game, they may be invited to a wild-card playoff.

We could do the same for the presidential debates. Let four or five of the biggest minor parties have their own debate, and see if any of their poll figures increase enough to merit joining the major parties.

DAVID ROTHMAN

Hawthorne

* Keeping Perot out of the debates is unfair to the voting public. We paid out $30 million for his campaign. Let’s hear all three.

JACK MANN

Laguna Beach