Be aware that, generally speaking the further you live from the heart of our state government, the less you really know about what goes on there. Really--nothing is more eye-opening when it comes to how our state government really operates than to watch a floor session of our state legislature, or to be an eye-witness to a public hearing on a bill, or to see the state supreme court in session. Seeing and hearing not only the process, but also our elected representatives in action, can be truly eye-opening. Suffice it to say things aren’t always as they appear when legislators are out in their districts seeking votes or when the media reports on legislative or judicial activities. However, the Wisconsin legislature is putting the green light on a new program that will help Wisconsin citizens, regardless of how far from Madison they live, keep an eye on their government and their elected representatives.

Wisconsin Eye is a not-for-profit organization that aims to provide the public with complete coverage of the happenings in the State Capitol building. For several years, we've had streaming video of State Assembly proceedings and a streaming audio-only feed for the Senate. The good news is that now, the legislature has agreed to allow Wisconsin Eye to give residents across the state unlimited access to Wisconsin government in a format similar to C-SPAN. And the best thing about it…it’s privately funded, no taxpayer dollars needed.

The organization is in the final stages of assembling its equipment and planning programming for the upcoming launch. Cameras and infrastructure have been installed throughout the Capitol and will eventually allow Wisconsin Eye to broadcast from the state Senate and Assembly chambers, from the governor’s office, the committee hearing rooms, the state attorney general’s office and the state Supreme Court chambers. At first, the programming will be available online from Wisconsin Eye’s Web Site, www.wiseye.org that’s w i s e y e. org; however, the organization is in the process of working out the details to get the program available through local access cable. The details of programming availability will be available on the Web Site.

John Chapter 3 Verse 20 tells us, “ Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.” And in a way, that’s what Wisconsin Eye is about. Wisconsin Eye is an excellent opportunity for the citizens of Wisconsin to get a first-hand look at our government in action from remote locations. We will not be seeing digested, edited, summaries, headlines, and 30-second sound bites. We will see the operation of the state agencies and state government in a very thorough way. It’s absolutely true that a government that operates in the light, under cameras, aware that people are watching, operates much better than a government that isn’t being closely scrutinized.

Wisconsin Eye doesn’t, however, remove the two-way responsibilities of our representative government. Our democratic republic requires citizen participation for it to operate properly. As Americans we are blessed to have a government of the people, by the people and for the people.

Through God’s infinite blessing and ordination, we have been given a form of government that has protected individual liberty, insured domestic tranquility, promoted justice and the general welfare like no other government in history, But our system has one key requirement: our participation. Our faith in God should influence our values in life, and that includes in the political arena. People of faith, grounded in moral truth, must be prepared to discern those candidates and policies best able to uphold moral values. As Christ's representatives on earth, we are under a mandate to be salt and light in our culture and our government. Imagine the impact that people of faith could have on the future of Wisconsin, the character of its leadership and the moral health of its people, if we all applied biblical principles to every aspect of our lives, including our participation in the democratic process.

Wisconsin Eye is yet another tool we will have at our disposal as we strive to be salt and light and to involve ourselves in our government. Through this recourse everyday Wisconsinites across the state can watch and listen as our lawmakers, executive officials and even the Justices on State Supreme Court go about the business of running the state. We will be able to listen to the debates, testimonies and proceedings on topics ranging from issues that have only local interest, to items that affect the entire state, issues such as protecting human life from conception to natural death, how your tax dollars will be spent and strengthening and preserving marriage and family. So make sure you bookmark www.wiseye.org and check the site for updates on where and when programming will be available in your area. Do your part and keep an eye on your government.

For Wisconsin Family Council, I’m Julaine Appling reminding you the Prophet Hosea said, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”