RUST COMMENTARY: JACKSON CHAMBER HONORS LONGTIME PASTOR

In the words of soon-to-be-100-year-old the REV. WALTER KEISKER ... who was recognized at the JACKSON CHAMBER of COMMERCE installation banquet Monday night ...

"I am humbled. I am weak in the knees -- I find it hard to find the words suitable for the occasion. This was an installation banquet to hear a voice from Washington. Words don't come so easy when you get to the higher years of life. But from the bottom of my heart, from the inner recesses, I want to thank this group warmly for acknowledging the one who didn't deserve it more than others. I want to thank you."

Rev. Keisker is a little hard of hearing and doesn't see as well as he'd like, but has retained his quiet wit, grasp of a situation and ability to make his remarks fit the occasion.

He graduated from Concordia Seminary, has spent 76 years in the ministry ... 60 at St. Paul Lutheran Church ... and still brings inspiration to many at the Lutheran Home in Cape.

A Cardinal baseball fan, he was presented with an autographed memento of STAN MUSIAL, a Missouri Senate proclamation by state Sen. PETER KINDER, a copy of remarks entered into the Congressional Record by U.S. Rep. JO ANN EMERSON (via Greg Brannum), a proclamation read by Jackson Mayor PAUL SANDER making June 21 Walter Keisker Day etc.

In earlier remarks Rev. Keisker ... of whom it was remarked by his grandson, Mark Illers, that he'd never heard the reverend say an unkind word about anybody ... paid tribute to featured speaker U.S. Rep. JIM TALENT.

Keisker said TALENT'S remarks about state and federal issues "reminded him of the Firehole River in Yellowstone Park ... running, dashing, dynamic."

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Receiving the highly cherished R.A. FULENWIDER Community Service Award was JAMES NELSON ... a low-key leader for many years in an amazing number of community-service areas ... including 23 years as principal in the Jackson School District.

Congressman TALENT ... the Republican candidate for governor in Missouri, related some experiences as chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Small Business. He remarked, quite accurately, that, "Small businesses are the backbone of the economy and also the community" in which they reside.

He discussed the repressive IRS and its too often negative attitude toward small businesses and the harm of the estate tax.

In turning briefly to Missouri government, Talent observed that taxes per capita have grown more in Missouri than most any other state and that we have gone from a low-tax state to a high-tax state. He supported completing the 15-year highway plan and reminded us that Missouri was No. 2 in the country in the production of methamphetamine.

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The evening ended with the following thoughtful remarks written and delivered by the evening's master of ceremonies, past-president HOWARD ALEXANDER entitled "It Doesn't Hurt":

"It doesn't hurt if you do not become involved in the community and the organizations. When everyone says no to becoming involved -- then it hurts.

It doesn't hurt if our elected officials are constantly criticized. When the good leaders say no more -- then it hurts.

It doesn't hurt when the bad guy wins in the media and the use of profanity becomes commonplace. When our children grow up thinking it is OK -- then it hurts.

It doesn't hurt when role models lack the character and portray an attitude of being above the law. But when our children model after them -- then it hurts.

It doesn't hurt if young people have a total disrespect for one another and any form of authority. When they go into our schools and kill -- then it hurts.

It doesn't hurt for a driver to have a few drinks and then get behind the wheel of a car. When they kill your child -- then it hurts.

It doesn't hurt if a church is burned because of lack of respect. When it is your church -- then it hurts.

It doesn't hurt to discriminate against someone who is different. When you become the one who is different -- then it hurts.

There will always be hurts in life. Let's take the time necessary to cling to those ideals which have made this chamber, city, county, state and nation a great place to live. Let's all make a commitment to become involved and wipe out the hurts that we can conquer."

The Jackson chamber officers for 1999-2000 are President DARRELL AUFDENBERG, Vice-President ROBERT GOYETTE and Secretary-Treasurer VAL TUSCHOFF.

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Upper-incomers are paying an even larger share of income taxes than in the past, according to new IRS data from 1996 income tax returns, the latest year it has analyzed. What the figures show may surprise you.

The top 1 percent of filers paid 32 percent of all income taxes, up from 30 percent the year before. But they made just 16 percent of total adjusted gross income, the amount shown on Form 1040 before itemized deductions and exemptions.

The top 5 percent paid about half of all income taxes reported to IRS.

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