ELECTION DAY NEARS; ECONOMIC FORECASTS ARE MIXED

Twenty-seven days until ELECTION DAY. Like an athletic event that changes leads on a regular basis, the polls have been as unreliable as long-term weather forecasts for predicting the outcome of many of the races. And ... for those whose emotions soar or descend on poll numbers ... this election cycle (again like an athletic game) has shown us it's not over until the closing of the polls on Election Day.

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I attended the 13th Annual Economic Forecast Conference in St. Louis over the weekend. It's sponsored by the Civic Entrepreneurs Organization, and over 1,000 people shared the comments of IRVINE R. LEVINE, STEVE FORBES, ALICE RIVLIN, JOSEPH BATTIPAGLIA and ALFRED GOLDMAN.

Basically, all of the speakers were optimistic about the U.S. economy in the long haul, but FORBES was bearish on the short-term future unless the Federal Reserve loosens up on interest rates. He also felt electing Gore as president would stifle the economy if he was able to pass the programs he was advocating. GOLDMAN (of A.G. Edwards) said the key to our short-term economy centers on the Four Es: EURO, ENERGY, ELECTION and EARNINGS.

BATTIPAGLIA (an investment banker) pointed out that global trade is "growing faster than any one society" and that "equities are the No. 2 asset of American households" (homes being No. 1).

RIVLIN predicted an 11,000 Dow one year from now. Battaglia and Goldman predicted 13,000, and Forbes predicted 9,800. So place your bets.

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Everything you need to know about government bureaucracy:

Pythagorean theorem: 24 words.

The Lord's Prayer: 66 words.

Archimedes' Principle: 67 words.

The Ten Commandments: 179 words.

The Gettysburg Address: 286 words.

The Declaration of Independence: 1,300 words.

U.S. Government regulations on the sale of cabbage: 26,911 words.

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Wendy and I took the opportunity to enjoy two plays while in St. Louis: "EVERYTHING'S DUCKY," a musical at Webster University's Loretta Hilton Theater (one of the best live theaters in the U.S.) and "THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL" at the FOX ... one of America's most attractive theaters.

We visited the BEST OF MISSOURI event at the Missouri Botanical Garden where WES KINSEY had a booth to share his MY DADDY'S CHEESECAKE samples with a large crowd ... over 100 booths of Missouri-produced foods, crafts, art and flowers. A waiting list exists for the limited number of selected vendors.

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We also visited the CREVE COEUR AIRPORT Historic Aircraft Restoration Museum in St. Louis County. It has two large hangars displaying one of the largest collections of flying antique, classic and sport aircraft in the country (including a Piper Vagabond tail wheeler that I learned to fly in over 40 years ago). The $5 admission will get you a guided tour of over 35 aircraft including a TIMM Collegiate flown by Charles Lindbergh, a 1917 Canadian Canuck and a 1916 Sopwith Pup.

Last weekend the airport was also host for one of only three WWI Fly-Ins in North America. Volunteers had assembled a collection of aircraft and automobiles of the period surrounding 1903 to 1929 ... from man's first flight to the Depression.

A number of replicas flew the pattern in this repeat of an annual event.

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The world remains a dangerous place. Any new president would do well to consider the words "Old Blood & Guts" George Patton uttered in July 1945 after the war in Europe was over: "It is certain that the two world wars in which I have participated would not have occurred had we been prepared. It is my belief that adequate preparation on our part would have prevented or materially shortened all our other wars beginning with that of 1812. Yet, after each of our wars, there has always been a great hue and cry to the effect that there will be no more wars, that disarmament is the sure road to health, happiness and peace, and that by removing the fire department, we will remove fires. These ideas spring from wishful thinking and from the erroneous belief that wars result from logical processes. There is no logic in wars. They are produced by madmen. No man can say when future madmen will reappear. I do not say that there will not be more wars. I devoutly hope that there will not, but I do say that the chances of avoiding future wars will be greatly enhanced if we are ready."

George Washington advised, "In time of peace, prepare for war." America would do well to heed the advice of its most revered Founding Father. -- Washington Update

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Organist GARY MILLER, assisted by Emeritus Professor of Art BILL NEEDLE, presented a crowd-pleasing BACH organ recital with slides of religious art by famous masters. Trinity Lutheran was the setting for this full-house event.

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Another musical note is the upcoming CITY OF ROSES MUSIC FESTIVAL this Friday and Saturday in downtown Cape from 7 p.m. to midnight.

Great bands, camaraderie, fun and food. One of the top musical events in Missouri. Country music, blues, jazz, Christian rock. Take your choice of one or all at multiple locations downtown.

About 50 musical acts will perform under a full moon (indoors and outdoors). Two special attractions featured at 11 p.m. on the Main Street Stage will be a St. Louis rock 'n' roll band named JUST ADD WATER on Friday, and renowned harmonica player SNOOKY PRYOR on Saturday.

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Minority's wants dominating majority: The Missouri Supreme Court is hearing testimony this week on a request from a self-described atheist to remove the words "So help me God" from the personal-property tax lists in Missouri. Were I a betting man, I'd bet Missouri's highest court agrees with the lawsuit and orders the words removed.

Robert Oliver, a Christian County atheist, brought the lawsuit when he was asked to sign his annual personal property tax assessment from the county. The county allowed his unsigned tax list, but Oliver still was not satisfied.

The law inserting the words "So help me God" has been around since 1855. The tax commission says the wording reminds taxpayers that they need to tell the truth on the tax forms. Judge Michael Wolff, a Carnahan appointee, raised a host of questions on the wording. His comments seem to indicate he favors removal of the wording.

The usual list of suspects is supporting the religious reference wording. The Religion Foundation, which represents atheists and agnostics, as well as the ever-popular ACLU have joined Oliver in requesting the religious wording removal.

I think the discussion is a waste of the court's time and the taxpayers' money. It offends many Missourians that the reference is under consideration for removal. As with many other aspects of modern society, a small minority continues to dominate the laws of the land. This is not the way it should be. -- Michael Jensen, Sikeston Standard Democrat

~Gary Rust is president of Rust Communications.