RUST COMMENTARY: A PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE, CHARACTER AND THE MAN IN THE GLASS

I had a lot of favorable comments about some quotes I included in my column last week from the book, "The Edge." Here are a few more:

Thomas Jefferson -- A Philosophy of Life

In matters of principle, stand like a rock; in matters of taste, swim with the current. Give up money, give up fame, give up science, give up the earth itself and all it contains, rather than do an immoral act. And never suppose, that in any possible situation, or under any circumstances, it is best for you to do a dishonorable thing. Whenever you are to do a thing, though it can never be known but to yourself, ask yourself how you would act were all the world looking at you, and act accordingly.

He who permits himself to tell a lie once finds it much easier to do it a second and third time, till at length it becomes habitual; he tells a lie without attending to it, and truths without the world believing him.

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Helen Keller -- Character in Action

"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experiences of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired and success achieved."

You no doubt know the story of Helen Keller. Born perfectly healthy, she was left completely blind and deaf when she suffered an illness at the age of 18 months. For five years she was isolated from the world, alone in the darkness. Then, with the help of Anne Sullivan, a special teacher, Helen fought back against her handicap.

"Face your deficiencies and acknowledge them. But do not let them master you," she said.

Helen Keller didn't shut herself off. She learned to communicate. She graduated from Radcliffe University and went on to take an honored place in society. She never pitied herself; she never gave up. She explained:

"The marvelous richness of human experience would lose something of rewarding joy if there were no limitations to overcome. The hilltop hour would not be half so wonderful if there were no dark valleys to traverse."

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The Man in the Glass

When you get what you want in your struggle for self

And the world makes you king for a day,

Just go to the mirror and look at yourself

And see what that man has to say.

For it isn't your father or mother or wife

Whose judgment upon you must pass.

The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life

Is the one staring back from the glass.

You may be like Jack Horner and chisel a plum

And think you're a wonderful guy.

But the man in the glass says you're only a bum

If you can't look him straight in the eye.

He's the fellow to please-never mind all the rest,

For he's with you clear to the end.

And you've passed your most dangerous, difficult test

If the man in the glass is your friend.

You may fool the whole world down the pathway of years

And get pats on the back as you pass.

But your final reward will be heartache and tears

If you've cheated the man in the glass.

I have carried the above poem since I was a sophomore in high school. The meaning to me is that we must make the best of the ability God has given us. We have to do the things that are right rather than those that make us look good or make us popular. When all is said and done each day and we put our head on the pillow, it's just us and God, and we can't fool either one. -- Herb Score, major league pitcher and sports broadcaster

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Cash cornucopia: Although Jefferson City bickers over how much is to be returned under the Hancock Amendment, general-revenue collections continue to increase, despite the loss of food items from sales tax levies. The newly appointed revenue director, Quentin Wilson, says the state's general revenue totals went up 14.9 percent last month and are now 5.1 percent above the same period last year. Sales and use tax totals are up 14.4 percent and individual income tax collections increased 14 percent in March. Wow!

In other areas of Missouri government, the judiciary branch, including the Public Defender Service, has had a 27 percent payroll increase, while personnel budgets for six statewide offices have gone up 38 percent.

In the legislative branch, payrolls have climbed 21 percent, with most of the 10-year increase caused by a one-third hike in the House of Representatives.

The six statewide elected offices of governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer and attorney general have added 250 workers over the past decade, with highest number, 167, moving into the office of the attorney general (an 84 percent increase). Only one statewide office, state auditor, has registered a 10-year employment decline, having 35 fewer workers today than in fiscal year 1989. The second highest number of new workers, 91, moved into the office of secretary of state.

There are now 912 employees in the six statewide offices. -- Stapleton's Missouri Political Newsletter

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T.V. violence rampant: A three-year study of television violence conducted by researchers at four universities and released last Thursday shows that "glamorized" violence is more widespread than ever. The study found that 67 percent of all the programs shown during prime time contained violence in the 1996-97 season. This is up from 54 percent in 1994-95. This is in spite of continuing promises by spokesmen from the television industry that they will voluntarily address the problem. Jack Valenti, who represents TV producers and whom I have repeatedly debated, claims the industry is "moving actively to do something about reducing excessive gratuitous violence," but this study confirms what every parent in the country knows instinctively: The problem is worse!

Morality in foreign policy: More information was disclosed recently in the ongoing story of U.S. cooperation with China in its acquisition of sensitive missile guidance technology that can be used to increase the reliability of its nuclear arsenal. The Chinese obtained the technology through a business deal with two U.S. companies, Loral Space and Communications and Hughes Electronics, which contracted with the Chinese to launch satellites on which the companies' business depends. China apparently has excess launch capacity it markets to Western companies who cannot otherwise get their satellites into space.

The long and short of a very complicated story is that the Department of Justice was pressing hard for criminal sanctions against Loral and Hughes when President Clinton essentially mooted the prosecution by approving the export to China of the very technology in dispute. The approval came despite the DOJ's strong objections. The new wrinkle to the story: reports that Loral's chairman was the largest personal donor to the Democratic Party last year. One anonymous administration official called the satellite issue a "case study" of how U.S. policy on the spread of weapons and human rights "could be reversed by corporations." -- Washington Update

~Gary Rust is the president of Rust Communications, which owns the Southeast Missourian and other newspapers.