ASK NOT FOR WHOM CLINTON'S TAX BELL TOLLS; IT TOLLS FOR THEE

Dave Dravecky's address at Friday morning's prayer breakfast was a remarkable event. Out of a lifetime of attending banquets in this town, I can recall nothing quite like it. I don't believe a crowd of anywhere near 1,350 people has ever sat down to a meal, at one hour, for which they paid money, in all the history of Cape Girardeau.

Dravecky is a walking inspiration. He delivered a remarkable, humor-laced message, in the process revealing himself as a truly a humble servant of God. I am sure I'm like many others when I say I will never forget his visit to Cape Girardeau. Well done to all who organized this fine event.

Audio tapes are available by calling Dr. Bill Terry at 334-4635.

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What will be the impact of President Bill Clinton's proposed BTU tax on energy? There are those of us who believe it can be nothing other than a body blow to American industry and to the American middle class. For some energy-intensive industries, it is clear, the effects will be catastrophic.

A fax letter from management to all employees of a major southeast Missouri industry fell into my hands Friday afternoon. This plant, which is one of southeast Missouri's largest employers, happens to be in an energy-intensive industry. What follows are important excerpts from that letter as it will impact just one plant in one industry.

"The proposed energy tax ... will be disastrous on the United States widgets industry. It will have the following effect on our plant: (See Table).

"There are other cost increases in the products we purchase that are not included in the above. We are not able to quantify these other increases at this time.

"Widgets are a commodity that sells worldwide like cotton, corn soybeans or wheat. Since we are selling a commodity (widgets) we cannot pass on any of the above cost increases to our customers. If we would increase our price above the market rate, then our customers would simply buy their widgets from another worldwide supplier. The result of the proposed energy tax is to put the entire USA primary widgets industry at a competitive disadvantage. Our plant is no exception.

"The tax increases will, during profit sharing years, reduce our average profit sharing check by approximately 4.8 percent, or $1,440. It will cost the company a tremendous amount of money, and it will cost each of us as individuals."

For the barge industry, the effects will be similarly devastating. Clinton proposes to hike the current 17 cents per gallon tax on diesel fuel for barge lines to $1.20 per gallon. That makes him the Dr. Kevorkian of river traffic.

"Devastating fallout ..." says Paul Werner, mid-continent vice president for the American Waterways Operators. "We would definitely have to shut down," says Roger Blaske, president of 37-employee Blaske Marine in Alton, Illinois. "Right now, we're competitive with rail. If we add another 45 percent to our operating costs, we just wouldn't get any business."

The entire river barge industry has profit margins of less than 5 percent, all observers agree.

"Commodity prices will increase, with farmers eating the biggest losses on increased shipping costs," says Chris Parsonage, president of Marine Equipment Management Corp. of St. Louis. "The difference in selling grain is calculated in fractions of a penny," said Werner. Take that, farmers!

"It will decrease the United States' competitiveness in world export markets," said Parsonage. "We view this as life-threatening."

Well, how about it? Can we tax our way to prosperity? How energy-intensive is your industry or occupation? How will these huge new taxes affect you and the prices of everything you buy? How much will your own gasoline bill rise, or that of your business? How about your utility bill, at home and work?

Now quick, a question for our new masters in Washington, D.C.: Just exactly how will this tax enhance American industry's competitiveness in the world economy? And while we're at it, precisely how does it represent "investment" to "create jobs"?

Looks like a job destroyer to me. What it will do is increase the dependency of people and businesses on our Permanent Political Class of governing elites in government. How? By forcing businesses to rush to Washington to be granted exemptions from having entire industries wiped out.

What the Clintonians reveal in this and so many other measures is their all-out faith in the absolute efficacy of government. This at a time when all the world is turning away from centralized bureaucracies and government-monopoly "solutions." But what should we have expected from people who have never run a business, people who have spent their entire lives in government?

Today, it's pistol-whipping the pharmaceutical companies and sticking it to energy-intensive industries. In six weeks, the First Lady rolls out Hillary Care, with more taxes to "fix" health care. Then, they'll have us that much closer to where they want us: in utter dependency.

"Ask not for whom the bell tolls, for it tolls for thee."