ALL GOOD THINGS, MOST BAD THINGS COME TO END

I began writing this weekly column on Sunday, March 21, 1993, for the Daily Dunklin Democrat in Kennett. Oddly enough that first column concerned a preview of this year's U.S. Senate race. I have written 85 columns during that time, never missing a Sunday. The number of people who gave their valuable time to read the words of an untrained writer has flattered me greatly. I have received many kind words from readers, telephone calls and written notes. It is seldom that I have shopped at the grocery store, walked down the street or through the courthouse without someone mentioning my column, recalling a particular one that they liked or one with which they didn't agree. I found that people were interested in discussing politics, which, especially during the baseball strike, is our national pastime. People generally respected my right to state an opinion and resolve to take a stand. I've been accurate and called them like I saw them consistent with my belief in freedom. I hope that I was always courteous to my readers' comments and opinions.

Quite frankly, for an untrained writer a weekly column requires an element of dedication and is sometimes burdensome. I always took the time to document my opinions with the facts or statistics necessary to change my written opinions into credible statements. It was enjoyable discussing a wide range of subjects, sometimes with no conclusive opinion, hoping to challenge my readers to probe their minds and rethink their previous conclusions. Subjects of columns ranged from the corrupt gubernatorial candidates, Bill Webster, to whomever I thought was abusing the public trust.

When I wrote my column a week ago identifying the misinformation spread about the Hancock II Amendment, I felt peoples' attitude on this issue was somehow different. Most of the misinformation about the amendment was based upon a report by Jim Moody, whose report gave big government and high tax supporters the fallacies that they needed to make secure their taxpayer-supported fifedoms. Good, well-meaning, hard-working citizens were told that if the amendment passed, they would lose their jobs, their friends would lose their jobs, their children would go uneducated or criminals would run the streets. Moody's false premises unforgivably sent turbo-charged fear to thousands of good citizens. Seeing this fear makes me wish the proposal hadn't been put on the ballot despite my support of tax limits. My disgust for political misinformation has never been higher. Moody used the false statistical premises in Machiavellian style: "The ends justify the means."

I now believe that government has become so large, employs so many people and has too much money for the ordinary citizen to fight. I know how Davy Crockett felt at the Alamo: "There's just too many of them." I believe Missouri will survive with or without Hancock II. Many good people will vote against Hancock II, and I not only respect those voters' opinions, but I would if necessary, defend their right to state that opinion and to vote. I believe reasonable minds may differ on Hancock II.

This will be my last column. During my political life, I've gone nose-to-nose with Bill Webster despite threats that he would become governor and crush me. I never turned down a tough issue nor sought personal gain. For two years I was generally running on faith, knowing that "all that is necessary for evil to prosper is a few good men to do nothing." The holes in my faith were filled in with love of this country and its citizens' freedom. I end this column because it is time. I am reminded the lesson that every farm boy is taught: "Don't get between the hogs and the trough." I agreed to write this column as long as it was fun, and I have always tried to keep a sense of humor about politics. Politics should be enjoyable. When reaction to my column produces indignities, and not intelligent discussion, the column should end.

Recently my good friend, Delbert, complimented me about having been right "about Bill Webster and several other issues." I thanked Delbert but explained to him that sometimes it doesn't pay to be right. For 85 weeks I have had the privilege to have my opinions circulated and I have enjoyed the weekly attempt to send my message. My depression about the government we have created and our refusal to change it grows daily. It's time for others who are fresher, smarter and more determined to rally the cause.

Mark J. Pelts is a Kennett lawyer and a member of the Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents. This column, his last for the Daily Dunklin-Democrat, was published Sunday.