Wyoming must choose its future

In 1964, Ronald Reagan gave a speech that would launch his political career. It was titled “A Time for Choosing” and was given on behalf of then-presidential candidate Barry Goldwater. In the speech, Reagan decried big government and the erosion of freedoms in the face of top-down decisions. He framed the choice facing the American people as one not just between personalities, but between a path that preserved the ideals of the American founding and one that led to decline. Although his candidate was unsuccessful that year, this speech launched Reagan’s own political career and led to the rise of the conservative movement that would define American politics for the next 50 years.

Wyoming is facing our own time to choose. Although the motivating issues are different than in Reagan’s 1960s, we are at an inflection point as we choose what type of state we are going to be. Do we continue down the path of decline, letting our infrastructure crumble and opportunity slip away based on shortsightedness? Or do we choose a more vibrant future, based on our state’s needs and strengths?  

I hope that my fellow citizens will take this decision seriously. Elections have consequences, and the people we elevate into public office matter. The change in tone and direction of the last several years of Wyoming state government is a direct result of the choices voters made, wittingly or not. As we make these choices, we should all be reminded of what types of questions are important in deciding our political future.

With that in mind, I believe the most important questions we should be asking are not just about specific policies — although those are important — but about how the candidates see the world around them.  The first thing I look for in a candidate is a long-term vision. Sacrificing future well-being for instant convenience is the path to ruin, and we have seen too much of that in recent years. Too many of our elected officials are focused on tearing down so that they can reap temporary benefits instead of building a state that will succeed after their short time in office is done.

Second, we must find candidates who have good judgment. Specific policy proposals will tell you how a candidate will act on one or two issues, but elected officials are faced with hundreds or thousands of decisions. It is impossible to anticipate every topic a candidate will have to decide on, so we must trust their ability to exercise their own judgment. Those who have exhibited an inability to make good decisions, whether it be in office, in their public actions or in their personal life, should not be trusted to make decisions on behalf of the rest of us.  

This goes hand in hand with the need for independent thought. Our elected officials must be beholden to the voters of Wyoming, not to outside groups or influences. Critical thought and independence are how we make good laws. Tribalism and lockstep voting deprive us of the best part of an elected body — the diversity of views and fresh ideas that come from a group of different people. If our officials, and especially our legislators, depend on others to tell them how to vote, we are all worse for it.

We also must vote for candidates who are committed to actually solving problems, not just parroting ideology. There is nothing conservative about undercutting effective government. Conservatism isn’t anarchy, and it benefits no one to deprive those who perform legitimate, necessary government functions of the means to do so effectively. Our state and local governments are not infested with the same bloat and inefficiencies we see at the federal level. We are a frontier state with limited resources and low taxes. Our neighbors in government service already do more with less. We need candidates who can discern reality from talking points and are willing to speak honestly about what we need to have a functioning state. This means that the panderers and the ideologues are ill-suited to actually govern.  

Lastly, we need officials of good character and capability. Elected office is based on trust, both in the person and their work. Bad characters are not going to change just because they have been elevated in office. Similarly, those who simply lack the skill set to lead or communicate effectively are not going to magically develop those skills simply by winning an election. Instead, it is up to us to decide whether our officials are really the best we can do. Voting is the way we all can have a say in our government. With the primary elections looming, we must all recognize that now is our time to choose. What future do we want?