From Campaign Mode to Governing Mode

By:  Dale Weckbacher   

James 2:20

But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

NKJV

Some have interpreted James 2:20 to mean that the doctrine of salvation by Grace is not entirely true and that we must work to earn our salvation.  However, the context of this verse is not salvation but faith.  In James 2:18b scripture says, “Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” (NKJV)  When we truly have faith in God, others will notice it by what we do.  When teaching His disciples about how to distinguish false prophets from Godly prophets Jesus said, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.  16 You will know them by their fruits.”  (Matthew 7:15-16, NKJV)  James 2:20 is about the fruits of faith in God which will result in good works. 

The recent sweeping victory by the GOP in the 2014 midterms has given the Republicans a mandate.  It is not a mandate based upon an agenda which the candidates campaigned on for the GOP basically ran on a hands off strategy letting the candidates campaign on what they believed in and letting the Democrats run on the policies of the Obama Administration.  The GOP mandate instead is a mandate to govern differently than the Democrats have governed the last six years.  This will require candidates to shift from campaign mode to governing mode.  Even though this may sound like an easy transition, we need look no further than President Obama to see how difficult this transition can be. 

The American People are expecting the GOP to govern more effectively on two main issues affecting everyone, the economy, and national security. 

1)      Effectively governing the economy – The government is putting the brakes on what could be a vibrant thriving growing economy.  The U.S. has the highest corporate tax rate in the world.  (1)  Many were alarmed when Burger King was considering moving its operations to Canada, something known as inversion.  (2)  The only reason tax inversion is a viable strategy for a business like Burger King is the high corporate tax rates of the United States in comparison to the rest of the world.  Excessive regulation also puts the brakes on what could be a vibrant economy and most importantly hampers innovation.  (3)  Lowering taxes, especially corporate taxes, and needless regulation will take the brakes off the economy, resulting in dynamic growth similar to what we experienced in the 1980’s.  In an article written by Peter Ferrara that appeared in Forbes, Mr. Ferrara made a contrast between Reaganomics and Obamanomics.  The numbers prove that the tax cuts and regulation reductions of the Reagan administration resulted in a 92-month economic expansion and set a new record for the longest peacetime economic expansion in history.  (4)  Obamanomics has left the nation with a 36-year low labor participation rate (5) and record numbers surviving on food stamps (6)  and disability.  (7)  President Reagan knew how to govern a thriving economy whereas Obama seems more interested in campaigning instead of governing where the economy is concerned. 

2)      Effectively governing national security – Under the Obama Administration our borders are wide open and our military has been reduced to pre-World War II levels.  (8)  The reason for this is that the Obama Administration is more interested in catering to its pro illegal immigration and anti-war constituents than it is in governing and protecting the citizens of the nation.  President Reagan campaigned on ridding our nation and the world of the evil soviet empire through a strong military.  (9)  After the campaign, President Reagan proceeded to govern according to his campaign promise by expanding the military, causing the Soviet Empire to implode trying to keep up.  Granted, President Obama is governing according to the campaign promises made to special interest groups that support him but the interests of these special interests are not in the best interest of the nation as a whole.  One of the issues that drove Democrats from power this past election was the feeling of insecurity of many in the nation.

Republicans successfully campaigned in 2014 and now have a majority in the U.S. Senate and an expanded majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.  However, to be effective and remain in power, they must now shift into governing mode.  They must develop and communicate a plan to take the brakes off the economy and unleash dynamic economic growth.  They too must secure the nation by confronting our enemies and securing the borders. 

Now is the time to demonstrate that conservatism is the most effective way to govern a nation.  We demonstrated this in the 1980’s under the leadership of President Reagan and I believe we are primed to demonstrate the effectiveness of conservatism to a whole new generation in the 2010’s. 

1. Heritage Foundation. U.S. Corporate Tax Rates Are the Highest in the Developed World. www.heritage.org. [Online] Heritage Foundation. [Cited: November 7, 2014.] http://www.heritage.org/federalbudget/corporate-tax-rate.

2. Hartley, Jon. Burger King's Tax Inversion and Canada's Favorable Corporate Tax Rates. www.forbes.com. [Online] Forbes, August 25, 2014. [Cited: November 7, 2014.] http://www.forbes.com/sites/jonhartley/2014/08/25/burger-kings-tax-inversion-and-canadas-favorable-corporate-tax-rates/.

3. Stewart, Luke A. The Impact of Regulation on Innovation in the United States: A Cross-Industry Literature Review*. www.iom.edu. [Online] Information Technology & Innovation Foundation, June 2010. [Cited: March 28, 2014.] http://www.iom.edu/~/media/Files/Report%20Files/2011/Health-IT/Commissioned-paper-Impact-of-Regulation-on-Innovation.pdf.

4. Ferrara, Peter. Reaganomics Vs. Obamanomics: Facts And Figures. www.forbes.com. [Online] Forbes, May 5, 2011. [Cited: November 7, 2014.] http://www.forbes.com/sites/peterferrara/2011/05/05/reaganomics-vs-obamanomics-facts-and-figures/.

5. Meyer, Ali. Record 92,584,000 Not in Labor Force; Participation Hits 36-Year Low. cnsnews.com. [Online] cnsnews.com, October 3, 2014. [Cited: November 7, 2014.] http://cnsnews.com/news/article/ali-meyer/record-92584000-not-labor-force-participation-hits-36-year-low.

6. —. Record 20% of Households on Food Stamps in 2013. cnsnews.com. [Online] cnsnews.com, January 21, 2014. [Cited: November 7, 2014.] http://cnsnews.com/news/article/ali-meyer/record-20-households-food-stamps-2013.

7. Jeffrey, Terence P. 10,996,447: Disability Beneficiaries Hit New Record. cnsnews.com. [Online] cnsnews.com, May 20, 2014. [Cited: November 7, 2014.] http://cnsnews.com/news/article/terence-p-jeffrey/10996447-disability-beneficiaries-hit-new-record.

8. Cooper, Thom Shanker and Helene. Pentagon Plans to Shrink Army to Pre-World War II Level. www.nytimes.com. [Online] The New York Times, February 23, 2014. [Cited: November 7, 2014.] http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/24/us/politics/pentagon-plans-to-shrink-army-to-pre-world-war-ii-level.html?_r=0.

9. 4president.org. Ronald Reagan for President 1980 Campaign Brochure. www.4president.org. [Online] 4president.org. [Cited: November 7, 2014.] http://www.4president.org/brochures/reagan1980brochure2.htm.