Integrity is a Family Value

Some politicians talk all the time about family values, expressing a commitment to maintaining the standards of conduct and belief that form the bedrock of our families and communities. Despite what some might suggest, there are people across the political spectrum who believe deeply in the importance of these core values in our public and private discourse.

Prophets and apostles encourage us often to develop and practice these standards in our individual lives. They form the basis for our qualification and effectiveness in church service and temple worship. Fathers and mothers are often encouraged to teach values to their children by both precept and example.

The LDS Church, like most others, also encourages the public practice of such principles. As we choose those who will lead us, we are encouraged to place even greater emphasis on their moral qualities than on the positions they take on issues. In their oft-repeated statements on political participation, church leaders have made this duty clear: "Latter-day Saints as citizens are to seek out and then uphold leaders who will act with integrity and are wise, good, and honest."

Integrity is indeed an important and timeless family value, essential both to us as individuals and to those we choose to lead us. A search of the church's website reveals many references to integrity. Integrity is one of the eight essential Young Women values.  And it is at the heart of what we teach our young men in the Scout oath and law. In fact, the very first point of the Scout law is: A Scout is Trustworthy. Bishop Richard C. Edgley of the Presiding Bishopric has said: "As Latter-day Saints we have a sacred obligation to not only teach the principles of honesty, but also to live them...."

It is clear that we must strive to be examples of personal integrity in our communities, and we must seek leaders in our communities, in our states, and in our nation for whom the practice of this essential principle is fundamental to their public service. The latter part of this can be difficult to do. Contrary examples are prevalent in both major parties and across the spectrum. Frequent news reports remind us how difficult it can be to combine politics and honesty. And yet, I wonder, are politicians less honest than the rest of us, or are their transgressions just more public? I know that despite my efforts to be honest in all my dealings, I sometimes fall short. I think most of us do, which is why examples of people who don't are so striking to us. But in spite of our own personal failings, we remain obligated to hold our leaders to high standards of moral trustworthiness.

It is in this context that we examine Wisconsin's newly-elected governor, Scott Walker. Governor Walker's campaign website proclaims his belief in "small town values." He is the son of a preacher, an Eagle Scout who remains active in the Boy Scouts of America. And he talks of getting rid of corruption in government. He commits himself "to support policies that reflect the values and priorities of the people...." His words certainly reflect the values Latter-day Saints would seek in their leaders.

The question is: do his actions support his words? Here, we must look carefully at what he has said and done since taking office, with the goal of holding him to the standard he has set for himself, while not judging him unfairly. This is not an easy process. But we cannot shun the responsibility. And so, I choose today to discuss the relevance of some of Governor Walker's official activities to this issue of integrity. While my views might be clear, I leave it to my readers (if there are any) to judge the Governor's actions for themselves.

On Friday, February 11, 2011, saying, "We must take immediate action to ensure fiscal stability in our state," Governor Walker issued a press release announcing the introduction of his "budget repair bill."  The following Monday, the 144-page bill was introduced in the legislature. The bill would save the state $30 million by requiring most state employees to make larger contributions to pensions and health insurance premiums, but would also eliminate or severely restrict collective bargaining rights, grant unprecedented power to the Department of Health Services to enact emergency rules denying medical assistance to the needy, and authorize the governor to fire any workers who participate in a work stoppage or slowdown. 

Wisconsin residents know what happened next. Amid massive protests by union members and supporters, the Republican-led legislature sought to quickly pass the bill. Undaunted, leaders of the two largest affected state employee unions reiterated their position: they will give the governor the economic concessions he wants, if he will remove the collective bargaining restrictions from the bill. He can have budget repair, if he just won't break their unions. The leader of the teachers' union put it this way: "We want to say loud and clear — it is not about those concessions," Bell said. "For my members, it's about retaining a voice in their professions."

Governor Walker's response: no thank you. He went on Fox News Sunday, refusing to accept the union proposal, but continuing to insist that the bill's purpose is to balance the budget. In a humorous part of the interview, the governor accused the unions of having tried to "ram through" legislation they wanted. He also suggested that President Obama and people from outside the state should not have a voice in this issue. He did not mention that substantial funding and support for his proposal, including television advertising, are coming from political action groups outside the state, including the staunchly conservative Club for Growth.

In a radio interview, the governor claimed that under his bill, "Collective bargaining is fully intact." Others disagree. National commentators have weighed in on the governor's strategy. Here's one. Internet searches will find many others.

I guess the question we all must ask ourselves, regardless of where we come down on the overall debate, is whether the governor is living up to his promises. Is he being honest about his true goals? Even if you believe union-busting is a valid aim, if the governor continues to tell us this is about budget repair, what does that tell us about his character? Are his actions those of a "leader[] who will act with integrity and [is] wise, good, and honest?" Are we entitled to expect a higher standard from our elected officials? I'd like to know what you think.

This blog is written primarily for an audience of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS or Mormon). However, I welcome all readers and encourage respectful and sincere comments and questions, particularly from those who may be unfamiliar with Mormon practices and traditions. The views expressed here are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official position of the LDS Church or its leaders.

Happy Birthday, Glenn Beck!

Today is Glenn Beck's 47th birthday. Happy Birthday, Glenn! I would like to join with many other Americans in sincerely wishing for you an enjoyable and relaxing year ahead.

Anyone who reads this blog (DOES anyone read this blog??) knows that I have frequently commented on Glenn Beck, usually not in the most glowing of terms. Today is different. I will not criticize Glenn Beck today. Instead, with a recognition that entertainers like Glenn Beck exist in various forms and with different agendas in the American political arena, I would like to use this occasion as an opportunity to make a call for action that applies to all. I call upon myself first, and any others who would care to follow, to make changes in the way we educate ourselves and conduct our discourse. I know that I remain too arrogant and self-righteous to completely succeed in this effort, but I want to try, and I hope you will too.

I note in passing that our political environment is changing. Republicans now control the House of Representatives, many state legislatures and state houses. Some of the rhetoric that preceded the last election has subsided, but other forms have stepped up. President Obama's ratings are climbing. Keith Olbermann was fired by MSNBC despite having the highest rated program on the network. Glenn Beck has lost more than a third of his viewers in the past year, and his radio show has been canceled in New York and Philadelphia. It seems that Americans are taking a new and fresh look at who and what they want to see and hear.

With all of this in mind, may I suggest my own fresh look at how we could improve ourselves and our country? Here are 12 ideas; gifts, as it were, that we could offer to Glenn for his birthday:

• Let's be more civil. A recent tragedy in Arizona was used by people on both ends of the political spectrum to promote their agenda. This is wrong. But that doesn't mean we can't use the incident as an opportunity to re-examine our approach to politics. The truth is, we threaten too much. We attack people, not ideas. Our rhetoric is often filled with hatred and references to violence. We can do better. We can show more respect for people without abandoning principles. In fact, showing more respect for people will strengthen our principles.
• Let's avoid name-calling. This is an approach that belongs on the grade school playground, not in serious political discussion. I have called people hypocrites, liars, stupid, ugly, and lots of other naughty names, and all it produced was defensiveness and anger. It is not productive to call anyone who disagrees with you a Nazi. It is not fair to the accused, nor to the Nazis, and especially not to those who suffered at the hands of Nazis. The same is true of many other labels used by people from all parts of the political spectrum.
• Let's speak more softly. We can be calmer, less emotional, less strident, and still make our point. I have learned from the scriptures and from my own personal experience that people often listen more carefully to a still, small voice than to a screamer.
• Let's stick to the facts. Arguments often take place when participants are tied to a position without regard to what the facts really show. Instead of assuming we know what the truth is, let's investigate it, examine it, and then form our positions based on fact rather than perception. We still might not agree, but much more productive discussions will ensue.
• Let's avoid stereotypes. All conservatives are not this, and all liberals are not that. Every person has his or her own views and motivations. We should follow the Stephen Covey principle of seeking first to understand, then to be understood.
• Let's value education. Learning can come from taking classes, obtaining degrees, reading good books, surrounding ourselves with smart people, or simply from experiences that teach us valuable lessons. Education in all its forms enriches our lives and makes us more understanding and tolerant. There is too much ignorance in our society, too much distrust of the well-educated, and too much willingness to rely on uneducated views. Far too many of our political commentators lack the kind of formal or informal education that would qualify them to influence serious thought.
• Let's distinguish between entertainment and news. Television and radio succeed by making money. They make money by attracting viewers and listeners. They attract viewers and listeners primarily by entertaining, not informing. There once was a clear distinction between news and entertainment shows on television. That time is no more. The boundary has been breached, and it now falls to the viewer to distinguish fact from opinion, truth from persuasion. We often don't do that very well, and the purveyors don't do much to help us.
• Let's study history. There is no reason to repeat past mistakes, and while we may disagree on what lessons history teaches us, we can't learn any lessons from history without studying it.
• Let's be skeptical of conspiracy theories. I don't know if Oswald really acted alone, but I know there are some people out there who see a conspiracy in everything that happens. A healthy dose of skepticism is worthwhile. Communists and Muslims are very unlikely to work together to destroy the US government, and I strongly doubt that President Obama's mother and grandparents conspired when he was born to falsify his birth record so he could become president 40-some years later. Even though some of these ideas may support our political views, accepting them at face value weakens our society and the quality of our political discourse. That's not to say the theories can't be true, just that we should be very careful before we accept them, and equally careful before we believe someone who sees a conspiracy under every rock. 
• Let's be citizens of the world. I'm not talking about world government, but greater international understanding. The United States is a great nation, and we are a great people, but we do not have a corner on the goodness market. There is much we can teach other nations, but there is much we can learn from them as well. Our nation and our values would be more accepted and respected if we showed greater respect and acceptance of others. We would also enjoy greater prosperity and peace.
• Let's try to agree more. We can accomplish much more if we look for areas of common interest, instead of obstinately clinging to ideas that divide us all the time. Even on very divisive issues like abortion or gun control, there are many things that all but the most extreme among us can agree upon. Why not pursue those common values, and seek change that most could agree upon, instead of focusing all our attention on the things that divide us. Seeking unity where it is possible will strengthen us as a people.
• Let's be happier. With all that is going on in our nation, it's easy to get discouraged. We blame each other for causing problems, and dread what the other side will do next to make things worse. I don't know about you, but I need to remind myself more often of the good things in my own life and in our country. God is good, and through his grace we can make it through all our personal and national challenges.

This list is admittedly exhausting, but hardly exhaustive. There is much more we could do, but I think this is a start. I welcome your comments.