The `Motor-Voter' Bill as a Possible Solution to Low Voter

Regarding the Opinion page article " `Motor-Voter' Bill - A Solution in Search of a Problem," July 28: How can the author look at the statistics on voter participation in the United States and say there is no problem?

The vetoed "motor-voter" bill is just one step to improve the situation. As an elections inspector it is difficult explaining to parents how their voting-age children can register. The opportunity to become a registered voter should be required for students in their last year of high school. There also should be registration forms available at the polls where prospective voters can sign up for the next election. Anyone who sees the opening up of participation to a larger electorate as merely another chan ce for fraud is being cynical about what our democracy is based on - the innate good sense of the American people. Mary Dunham, Amsterdam, N.Y.

In the past few presidential elections less than 60 percent of the electorate has voted. Americans are tired of politics as usual and tired of the Democrats and the Republicans. Many polls this year show that a large percentage of Americans are undecided on Gov. Bill Clinton or President Bush. Others are asking for another choice. I would like to know more about third-party candidates. Please help me and other Americans become more informed voters. Mark Newsom, New York Liberals vs. conservatives

I will vote straight Democratic in the upcoming presidential election but am concerned about the new moderate stance the party is taking. I understand that Gov. Bill Clinton is only being realistic; the truth is that a "bleeding-heart liberal" just can't get elected.

There has been a traditional rivalry between Democrats and Republicans that is wholesome for our society, and I hope the moderate stance doesn't damage the image the Democratic Party has that so sharply contrasts with conservative Republicanism.

The country has to periodically switch directions between traditionalism and liberalism, and those changes should be clear to voters. Jim Tennis, Romeoville, Ill.

Should we wonder about political labels? Why are most politicians squeamish about being labeled a liberal? Liberal means unbigoted, tolerant, open-minded, humanitarian, generous, and enlightened. Aren't these virtuous attributes?

Then there's the label conservative - why are politicians so proud to wear it? Conservative means unprogressive, unchangeable, status quo, and old-line.

Perhaps we should stop labeling politicians. Instead, let's rate politicians on a scale from 1 to 10 for their achievements. Irving C. Lopour, Kimberling City, Mo.

In spite of the Democratic Party's attempt to portray itself as more conservative, the new, revitalized Democratic Party is neither "new" nor "revitalized" but is now the party of radical liberalism.

Liberalism is responsible for the moral decline in our nation, for the drug epidemic, for the soaring rate of illegitimate births among teenagers, and for the dismal showing of our educational system. Democrats should take a long, hard, analytical look at what their party has now become and ask themselves if it is still representative of them. Robert Wassman, Vancouver, Wash.