The state of Alabama is experiencing financial challenges
like our the federal government
and many other states. Our
leaders are saddled with the task of what to do in such a crisis.
In 1998, Governor Don Siegleman was elected Governor of the
state of Alabama on a pro-lottery platform and the following year it was
soundly defeated in a state-wide vote.
This year, Governor Bentley and others in the Senate and
House purposed a state-wide lottery to help raise revenue for Medicaid and
other state needs. He promised a
state-run lottery would be a "permanent solution" to the state's
financial problems.
We know this is not true.
When asked repeatedly why senators and representatives were
promoting this and the lottery legislation, the same line was given, "The
people want to vote on it."
While there may be truth in that statement, the overarching
truth is real leaders in the state of Alabama do not look to a lottery.
Leadership is not permitting the people to do whatever they
want to do. Leaders are not in our
place of government to simply poll the people to determine what they want and
then propose legislation to provide it.
The very purpose of a leader is they see problems other
people do not see, create solutions to those problems and then sell the people
on the problem and solution.
Leaders do not permit the people to lead, otherwise they vacate their role
as a leader.
In fact, if the majority of the people wanted something that
a leader knew was bad for them, he has a moral obligation to seek to show why
their way is wrong and propose a more suitable solution.
Even thought Governor Bentley was the one proposing this
lottery this year, at least last year he proposed tax increases to meet the
financial demands. That is
leadership.
No Alabamian wants to pay more taxes, but if the state is
having financial issues that demand more revenue; then it is the responsibility
of leaders to convince the people of Alabama of that need and convince them of
the best and right solution.
Since the lottery bill failed in August, I will not use this
space at this time to share why a lottery is a bad economic idea; other than to
say it is the worse form of taxation.
And for us who believe the lottery is a bad idea, let us
know the lottery did not fail in August due to our representatives having a
change of heart and voting it down.
It failed because the supporters of gambling did not get all they wanted
in this bill (casinos); thus they voted the lottery bill down so they can come
back at a later time and get the lottery plus more gambling.
But my point today is leadership.
The core of a leader is they see a better future for the
people they are leading and they must move to deliver it. The problem is the people do not see
it.
President John Adams was quoted in a book by his name
written by David McCollough as saying, "The people I lead may not know
what they need. But one thing I know, a man must be sensible of the errors of
the people, and upon his guard against them, and must run the risk of their
displeasure sometimes, or he will never do them any good in the long run."
Leaders lead against the tide of displeasure against them,
not the approval of people behind them.
Ronnie Floyd in his book "Forward"
says, "Leaders are able to lead people to go further than they would have
gone on their own."
They see a better future, they want a better future.
Whether it is Thom Rainer, Ronnie Floyd, John Maxwell, John
Kotter - leadership always take a people to a better future.
President Barak Obama was elected with the sun of a
"Hope and change" shining brightly in our faces. Even though I did not vote for him, I
still was hopeful in 2008 that he could deliver that for America.
That is partially what a leader does. He creates a brighter future in our
minds, but then delivers it.
To our elected officials in Alabama, be authentic leaders -
show us a better way and lead us there.
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