Greens as spoilers

* Regarding "Greens connect ecology with democracy" (NCR, Jan. 11): I certainly applaud the Green Party for its particular concern for our environment, but if it runs a candidate in the presidential race again it will only help the anti-environmental Republicans. flit were not for the Green Party candidate Ralph Nader in 2000, A1 Gore would have been president. No one doubts his environmental credentials. He lost because of the votes for Mr. Nader in Florida and we got George W. Bush who has rivaled Ronald Reagan as the worst environmental president we have ever had. Ironically, Ralph Nader has been known as a champion of consumer issues and not the environment.

The Green Party says that the Democrats have lost their way. Perhaps in some ways they have, but they advocate policies a lot closer to the Green Party than the Republicans do. The Green Party has no chance of electing their candidate to the presidency, but it can, once again, become the spoiler and put a conservative in the White House.

TOM HEFFERNAN

Montrose, Colo.

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