Shortly after the midterm elections, I said on this program that the voters had spoken loudly and clearly: Cut government spending! But then I wondered what would happen when the American people realize that theyare the ones who are going to have to sacrifice.
Will Americans respond like the citizens of Athens and Paris, taking to the streets, erecting barricades, rioting? Or will they buck up and realize we’ve got to cut back and get moving ourselves? Well, I see signs of both: ominous portents of civil unrest and signs that the true spirit of sacrifice may still be alive.
What we saw starting in Wisconsin over recent days, I’m sorry to say, is ominous and now spreading to other states. As I said yesterday on BreakPoint, in response to the state’s budget deficit Governor Walker proposed a bill that would require state workers to contribute 5.8% of their income towards their pensions and 12.6% towards health insurance. He also proposed to eliminate collective bargaining for benefits packages but kept it for salaries.
And let’s be clear. What the governor proposed in Wisconsin and what’s now being proposed in Ohio and Indiana is in no way draconian. I for one would say to the governors, “Stand firm! We’ve all got to make sacrifices, even state employees.”
But there are some people who understand we must all sacrifice together. Bill Armstrong of Colorado is a man of uncommon character who graced the halls of Congress as a representative and a senator and then term-limited himself out of office. Armstrong is now the president of Colorado Christian University. Last Saturday he received news that the House Republicans had taken the axe to Pell Grants, that is, grants to help low-income students pay for college.
Armstrong had every right to be dismayed, because Colorado Christian students benefit greatly from Pell Grants. But he didn’t fire off angry phone calls to House members. Instead, he contacted his faculty, staff and board and gave them the tough news. The staff were anxious. This was going to hurt. But Armstrong told them in times like these, all of us have to make sacrifices. It’s the only way for the country to get out of this economic mess.
When I told Bill on the phone this week that that was courageous, he immediately dismissed the notion. He said, “Oh, no. I was just doing the right thing.” The contrast between Armstrong’s reaction and the public servants in the Midwestern states who are mobbing their capitol with their demands is stark.
(Billy's Thoughts>>> The above is part of a radio commentary that Chuck Colson did. If you would like to read the whole commentary or listen to it click on the following link.)
(Buck Up or Lash Out?)
