Wednesday, June 6, 2012

June 7, 2012

"But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one." Matthew 5:37

In the midst of some very remarkable times, last night's Wisconsin recall election stands as a noteworthy event.

Governor Scott Walker's victory was by a larger margin than his original election in 2010. The Governor's win sends a message that reverberated through the mid-term 2010 elections and that is - character still counts and leadership matters.

As one who has committed all of my adult life developing and demonstrating both, I am heartened to see Americans in significant numbers still value those virtues in their leaders.

When Scott Walker ran for Governor of Wisconsin two years ago he ran on a very clear platform of reducing the size of government and restore fiscal responsibility. Our fellow citizens in the Dairy State voted him in on those promises. And once elected, he proceeded to keep both of those promises. In so doing, he turned a large state budget deficit into a surplus. He did this without raising taxes and actually lowered property taxes throughout the State.

Why would anyone object to those accomplishments? Only because he had to oppose the collective bargaining agreements with the public sector unions and required union members to contribute nominally to their own pensions and health plans. Perceiving those moves as a direct threat to their power and influence, the union leaders and members protested and obtained enough signatures to attempt a recall of Governor Scott.

Those are the events that led to yesterday's election.

We conservatives feel somewhat vindicated that a politician who actually did what he said he would do and in the ways he promised to do them AND was awarded for it by his citizens! Our hope is other Governors in other states such as Jindal, Louisiana and Kasich in Ohio, Daniels in my home state of Indiana, Governor Christie in New Jersey, and Governor Haley in South Carolina, should be emboldened by this outcome! While each of these aforementioned Governors have shown courageous leadership by implementing conservative reforms, they too, have come under strong opposition by the unions in their states. Seeing their fellow leader fight the fight and come out standing should strengthen their resolve to fight the for the conservative cause.

Oh, that Senators and Congressmen in DC would emulate these courageous Governors who put their political careers on the line to stand for the conservative principals they embrace.

And you, whether you are a leader or not, should take heart that courageous leadership still matters! In your day to day living you are called to stand for what you believe in rather than compromise your own values and damage your character.

Godly people say what they mean, mean what they say, and live like they mean it. When they say, "Yes", you know it is a yes! And when they say, "No" that is exactly what they mean - and they act like it in their behavior and decisions.

Are you a courageous Christian? Do you deliver on your promises and live what you believe? Can you stand true when others actively oppose you?

Will you ask God to help you do that today? His vote is the only one you really need to win!