To the editor:

Analysts of the political philosophy of Leo Strauss present an alarming view of this guru of the neoconservative Project for the New American Century. These analysts note that Strauss believed society should be hierarchical, with leadership imposed by superior elites on inferior masses. These governing elites need recognize no morality except the right of the superior to rule the inferior. With secrecy and deception elevated to legitimate tools of government, the masses are told only what they need to know.

Evidently, while Strauss held secular democracy in contempt and rejected the separation of church and state, he felt religion represents only a means for the elite to control the masses. Religion is not for the elite leaders who view religion as a pious fraud. They merely use it as a means of control.

Straussians reject individualism because this leads to questioning of their established order. The Strauss view, analysts argue, also sees mankind as inherently wicked. Furthermore, in order to maintain control, the elites should unite the populous in aggressive nationalistic fervor against other peoples.

Why is this important? Although Straussian philosophy never appeared in any campaign platform for which Americans voted, George Bush populated his White House and government with PNAC members: Cheney, Rumsfeld, Libby, Bolton, Wolfowitz, Perle, Armitage, Abrams, Feith. This cynical, authoritarian, anti-democratic Strauss philosophy governs the country. No wonder deception, secrecy, treason and corruption have become the order of the day in this White House. It's time for genuine conservatives to take back the Republican Party.

ALAN R.P. JOURNET, Cape Girardeau