2018 | Week of October 8 | #1276
Frequently I’m asked, “How do bad laws get passed seemingly so easily, even in places where one wouldn’t necessarily think that would happen?” My answer to this question is the theme for this commentary: elections have consequences, very real consequences.
We are now a month from a major midterm election. In the midst of all the rhetoric it’s sometimes easy to forget the reality of that truth. Let’s review some recent examples of the very real consequences of elections.
Here in Wisconsin over the last two years, numerous municipalities and school boards have passed ordinances and policies that give special rights, privileges and protections to people who claim to be transgendered. In each situation, whether it is Sun Prairie, Appleton, De Pere, Wausau, Baraboo or some other municipality, the ordinances passed because at least one person devoted to the LGBTQ agenda, got elected. Seriously. Typically all it takes is for one person to get on a board or a council, who is willing to carry the water for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and questioning agenda to convince or to strong-arm a majority of the members to vote with him or her. I’ve literally seen it time and time again. The election of just one person can and often does sway an entire board or council. That’s a serious consequence of elections.
Recently, Milwaukee led the way in passing an ordinance that bans so-called “conversion therapy” for minors struggling with unwanted same-sex attraction or unwanted gender confusion. Shortly after Milwaukee took this bad plunge, Shorewood, a community just north of Milwaukee, followed Milwaukee’s lead; and just a couple of weeks ago, Eau Claire did the same. In all instances, it’s the same story. One person got elected whose main goal was to get this done—and they have used persuasive tactics and often slick procedural moves to make their goal, including keeping the proposals very quiet so that the public doesn’t find out about them until just before action is going to be taken, pretty much assuring they pass.
Another example of elections having consequences is clearly seen in judicial appointments, especially at the federal level. More conservative presidents nominate more conservative jurists to every level of the federal judiciary. A US Senate with more conservatives in it than moderates or liberals will confirm more conservative candidates. We’ve certainly seen that happen in dramatic form over the last couple of weeks.
Recently, we’ve had a couple of examples of the consequences of elections on pro-life issues. National pro-life groups alerted us to a contract the federal Department of Health and Human Services had authorized for the FDA—a contract that involved the sale of the body parts of aborted babies. When pro-life groups and individuals contacted HHS about this, the Department reversed course and cancelled the FDA contract. Think that would have happened with a liberal, progressive president? More conservative presidents appoint more conservative people to agencies—and those more conservative agency heads hire more conservative people to staff the agencies; and the opposite happens when liberal progressives are elected. Those are consequences of elections.
October is Down Syndrome Awareness month. Last week, President Trump spoke to this issue and soundly condemned down-syndrome selective abortions, saying, “I stand for life – in all of its beautiful manifestations – and I, and my Administration, will continue to condemn the prejudice and discrimination that Americans with Down syndrome too often endure….We will always support the dreams of those with Down syndrome, and respect and honor the sanctity of their lives, at every stage,”[1] A statement like that, my friends, is a consequence of an election.
And one last example. School choice has significantly expanded recently in Wisconsin as a direct result of the consequences of elections. Liberal progressives in our state generally despise school choice of any sort, declaring they will dismantle it if they are elected. They believe the only good school is a government school and want every education dollar to go directly to those schools.
Time prohibits me from giving examples related to taxes, welfare reform, deregulation of businesses, and freedom of religion. Suffice it to say, we vote more wisely when we remember elections have very real consequences.
This is Julaine Appling for Wisconsin Family Council reminding you the prophet Hosea said, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”
[1] https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/10/02/donald-trump-condemns-down-syndrome-selective-abortions/
