Minority leader Peter Schmitt's embarrassing column, "Republicans Demand Action on Quality of Life Legislation" demands comment. The spending programs he and his cohorts propose betrays a blindness as to why their party has declined to minority status in Nassau County.

The current legislature is wrestling with the difficult measures needed to salvage the county's credit worthiness from decades of Republican fiscal irresponsibility. They are not looking to raise the payroll, increase benefits or reduce revenues. A sales tax exemption on the purchase of American flags? Please, Mr. Schmitt. Such proposals are so clueless that to call them political opportunism would be to dignify them.

With "visionary" proposals like these the current minority can anticipate a long, long time in the wilderness.

George E. Miller