Perot: Not a Wasted Vote

The article "Perot `Dirty tricks' Allegations May Dim His Rising Political Star," Oct. 27, leaves considerable room for improvement. Having watched the relevant sections of Ross Perot's Pittsburgh address and the 60 Minutes interview, I was left with the following impression: Mr. Perot appears to be acting honorably in this circumstance and throughout the entire campaign. Character attacks, innuendo, deceit, and blatant misrepresentation of facts have become standard tools in the political campaigns. Why

is it that by pointing this out, Perot is supposed to be hurting his own credibility? Michael S. Howard, Cobleskill, N.Y.

Suggestions that a vote for Ross Perot will be a wasted vote have crept into the voting public's thought. I cannot agree, even though it is nearly impossible for Mr. Perot to be elected. A large vote for Perot will signal a growing dissatisfaction with the politics of Washington. Perot has brought to the surface the fact that Americans don't like how our system has evolved. Government has become an entity unto itself, with no party or president able to control it. This is what Perot means when he says th at it is no longer a "government of the people" but has become a government over the people. Americans deserve the right to feel that their vote does count. A vote says something that will be heard at all levels of government, by both the winners as well as the loser. Betty Bradley, Franklin, N.C. A special prosecutor for Washington

Regarding the article "BNL Scandal Sets Justice, FBI Against Each Other," Oct. 19: From reading this article, I conclude that a coverup is going on. I am outraged that an independent special prosecutor was not appointed.

The public has a right to know what is going on. It is ludicrous to think that any serious effort will be made to uncover evidence of the Justice Department's wrongdoing by the special investigator appointed by President Bush's attorney general, especially since the BNL scandal is directly related to the campaign issue of Iraqgate. The intelligence community cannot be trusted to police itself. It is time these organizations be held accountable for their actions. Bryan T. Weber, Salem, Wis.