Is a Recall Really What's Best For Wisconsin?

I'm For Scott Walker. I'm against Scott Walker. I'm for Walker as a person, but against his policies. I hate Walker and his policies, and I'm for the recall, where do I sign? I'm against the recall - get over it.

It seems we've heard it all.

I've talked to teachers and heard about principals that support and applaud his efforts to get the state's fiscal house in order (even though it affects them in a financially negative way), and I've talked to people who are angry and taking action just because it seems to be the popular thing to do. There are even those that believe the Governor has crossed moral and ethical lines and justify a recall effort on those grounds...hmmm.
 
With all the recent media swirl and twirl concerning the Walker recall effort, there's at least one question that has been going back and forth in my mind ever since last spring's volcanic erruption at our state capitol.

I don't consider myself a super politically savy individual, I just believe we have a responsiblity to be involved in public policy. I try and understand what's being done (if anything), why it's being done, and how it will affect us both in the now, and in the long term, and vote accordingly.

The question I've been pondering since the last recall effort and elections is this:

Is a recall effort really the best thing for our state at this point? 

Now I'm not under the delusion that everyone is going to agree on everything, nor should we. Dialogue on opposing views is important, that's why we have elections and debates. But I am of the persuasion that once people have made their choice known, and an official has been elected, he or she moves from the status of your candidate or my candidate to our Governor, our Senator, our President, etc., whether I cast my vote in their favor or not.

I understand that people are concerned that if they don't fire the Governor soon, irrepairable damage could be done concerning balance of power, and some other important issues. But with those concerns words like tyrant and dictator are being thrown around, and I wonder if it's really fair, on any of our elected officials, to be putting labels on them of that magnitude. 

People may not like a person's policies or ideologies, but do they really believe that men like Scott Walker are sitting up there in the executive mansion plotting for the weakening and overthrow of Wisconsin? I've heard similar concerns being raised over President Obama's agenda for the nation, and whether you are in favor of or against what they've done I think you run into a lot more problems when you demonize them as people just because you are opposed to their policies and the way they're implementing them.

Did people not understand what they were getting when Mr. Walker was hired? I listened to those campaigning for the job of Governor at the time and felt all the candidates were pretty articulate when it came to stating their vision for the direction our state ought to be going in. I also thought they were upfront when asked how they were going to fix the fiscal crisis we were in and how they were going to attract business to our state. Walker got the job because a larger number of people in this state decided they liked his vision and plan better than his opponents.

So the question remains, is a recall effort really the best thing for our state at this time? Is the recall effort (and possible recall election) merely an expensive tax-payer financed "poor performance review" by those who didn't get their particular candidate in office? And they have an opportunity to reorganize and try and get someone else in?

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 10:23 "All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me but not all things edify." He wrote that in the context of asking what was best for everyone involved. He had a right to exercise his freedom, but took a broader view of the situation and came to the conclusion that exercising his freedom in that particular instance was not the expedient thing to do given the circumstances.

Do people have a right to organize and attempt a recall? Absolutely. Is it the expedient thing to do at this time? I don't believe so. I believe election cycles and term limits are the better answer. Those that are not in favor of Walker's policies could be planning, strategizing, and using all of the energy and finances being expended towards the next race, and a candidate that they want to get behind.

I can only speak for myself, but I'd rather have people identify me more with what I am for and in favor of, than constantly emphasizing what I'm against and who I'm opposed to. Carried into the political arena, I believe we'd have a much more positive atmosphere in our state, civil elections and campaigns based on people, ideas, and solutions, rather than name calling, fear, and anger, and a better image of Wisconsin presented to our nation. Most importantly, I think we'd see positive results that would ultimately benefit everyone, even when our candidate isn't the one who was hired.