People who run governments should be sensitive and caring human beings. They should be elected officials who are keenly aware that their decisions have consequences, and their policies are going to produce outcomes, including many that will be grave in nature. Leaders, with this depth of understanding and sensitivity, do not take the task of decision-making or policy implementation lightly. Instead, they look at problems from all perspectives. They consult with their supporters and their oppositions. They, with the help of their staff, role play the end-games, envision the negative consequences, and creatively construct the scenarios of the most likely outcomes their decisions and policies will produce. By performing these measures they are able to see the wide range of effects ― from happiness and prosperity to misery and starvation ― that their decisions and policies will create.
This, however, doesn’t mean that these leaders, who become aware of the negative consequences attached to their ideas, do not go ahead with their plans and procedures. Quite the contrary, if the decisions or policies are absolutely necessary, in these leaders’ judgment, they will proceed. But they will do so in sensitive, thoughtful ways that demonstrate compassion and empathy for those who are likely to experience pain and misery cause by the plans and procedures.
I thought about this a few days ago as I sat at home looking at a republican in the Wisconsin Assembly on television. A few minutes earlier the republicans in the assembly successfully passed Governor Walker’s 2011- ’13 budget plan. And this republican felt the need to brag and underscore their (perceived) achievement. So he stepped up to the podium and announced with pride that they had done the tough job of balancing the state budget for the first time in many years. “Moreover,” he continued, after pausing a moment for his statement to have its full affect, “we are going to have $300 million surplus in our account a couple of years from now!” he boasted.
As I sat there staring at this guy on my television, I found myself thinking “This idiot doesn’t get it! He doesn’t understand that cuts to local governments, cuts to tax credit programs for the working poor, cuts to health programs, and other similar drastic cuts are literally ― death sentences for some Americans. He doesn’t understand that his decision and the governor’s policy will cause some Americans to freeze to death, other Americans to die of heat exhaustion, several to die of starvation, and many to lose their lives because of unavailable health programs. He doesn’t get it: He doesn’t understand that the majority of Americans living in poverty are children. He doesn’t understand that children are the ones that are most likely to die when these cuts are made, and the deeper the cuts the greater the number of children whose lives will end. He doesn’t get it: He doesn’t understand that unnecessary budget cuts produce unnecessary deaths of children. He doesn’t get it: He doesn’t understand that his decision and the governor’s policy will result in more Americans committing suicide, many others turning to crime and substance abuse, and many others becoming permanent wards of the state. When budget cuts are necessary (and many of Walker’s cuts were not necessary!) moral, civil, and respectful Christian leaders show compassion and concern for those who will suffer from the results of the cuts. I saw American leaders in Viet Nam displaying more kindness and consideration for enemy combatants than Wisconsin republican leaders showed for the democrats.
I suspect that this republican speaker in the assembly is going to go home and look at his children and tell them that he has preserved the future for them ― completely unaware that he has ended the future for other children, including some that are the same age as his children. I suspect that on Sunday he is going to go to church to worship as a God-fearing Christian. Then he is going to leave his place of worship feeling spiritually rejuvenated ― but completely unaware that the Greatest and Wealthiest Human Being to walk the Earth didn’t balance a budget on the backs of the poor and the middle class, didn’t rob Peter to pay Paul, didn’t promote his own self-interests or the interests of His rich friends, didn’t come to Earth to take ― ANYTHING!. He came to Earth to GIVE the ultimate sacrifice ― HIS LIFE ― especially for the children!
God, help us!
