LETTER: Alexander has best vision, direction to lead America

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by Allen Lewis

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To the editor:

On Tues., March 12 (the second day back from break), Texas voters will go to the polls to choose the Republican nominee for president.

Voters in Iowa, New Hampshire and other early primaries have narrowed the field down to three men: Pat Buchanan, Bob Dole and Lamar Alexander.

I am of the opinion that the only man of these three that can unite the Republican Party, defeat President Clinton and lead the country into the 21st century with a renewed sense of optimism is former Tennessee Governor Lamar Alexander.

What makes Lamar Alexander stand head and shoulders above the other two candidates?

Bob Dole, the front-runner for the past year, is running on the premise that he has earned it and that it is his turn.

While Senator Dole has served his country admirably in both wartime and as the people's voice of reason in Congress, he should realize that one does not become president because it is "his turn."

In order to get elected and, more importantly, to be an effective leader for the most powerful and greatest nation on Earth, you have to have a vision.

The senator lacks this vision and is too decent a man to fake one.

On the other hand, we have television commentator Pat Buchanan. His views of high tariffs and protectionism of industries have not been the rallying cry of the Republi- can Party since the turn of the century.

In fact, his economic policy is possibly farther left than Bill Clinton's.

When you boil it down to the facts, a tariff is nothing more than a tax on consumer goods.

Anyone who has taken economics can tell you that the price increase will ultimately be passed on to the consumer.

Even domestic goods will see their prices increase as a result of tariffs.

America should pursue more free trade opportunities such as NAFTA so that our industries can expand into new markets where they can grow and prosper.

This will create more jobs for everyone, including the "peasants with pitchforks."

At least it can be said about Buchanan that he has ideas and a vision; alas, they are the wrong ideas and a pessimistic vision.

Despite his rhetoric about "America first," Buchanan's policies will hurt the most the same people who carry his banner today: higher taxes hurt everyone.

Lamar Alexander, unlike Dole, has a vision for America, and unlike Buchanan, has the right ideas about America's direction.

Economic growth, freedom from Washington and personal responsibility are the three overlying themes of Alexander's campaign.

Alexander advocates sending welfare and education back to the states, destroying the senseless Washington bureaucracies that now try to run things.

After all, does an education plan that is right for New York necessarily make sense for Texas children?

Alexander believes that we as communities know how best to spend our own money: We know what to do.

Alexander is also the only Republican candidate to address environmental issues, a topic that is of great importance to young people.

As governor of Tennessee, he appropriated over $1 billion to clean rivers and sources of drinking water in the state and was named Conservationist of the Year in 1985 for his efforts.

He is on record as an advocate of cleaning the environment, but not at the federal level.

Washington mandates too often tell not only what has to be done, but specifies the technology that must be used to do it.

While there was a time for wide-ranging federal regulation, the time has come for us, as communities and citizens, to carry the torch.

The Republican Party should realize that it is possible to be pro-business and pro-environment.

Again, we know what to do. You should vote for Lamar Alexan- der because he can beat Bill Clin-ton.

Clinton advisers have even said that of all the Republican candidates, the one that they would have the toughest time against is Lamar Alexander.

Doesn't it make sense to nominate the man who can actually win in November?

To learn more about Lamar Alexander the man, and his vision for America, visit his World Wide Web site at http://www.nashville. net/~lamar/ .

In the meantime, just remem- ber your ABCs: Alexander Beats Clinton.

Allen Lewis

Lovett '97

This item appeared in the Opinion section of the March 1, 1996 issue.

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