“You pick losers.” –Mitt Romney to Barack Obama

If there was no other reason to select Mitt Romney as the next president of the United States of America then just the choice of these three words are enough to rest assured he’s our man.

Words are amazing things. But words alone are not enough to explain meaning. There has to be context. For example, if this was a taunt from a playground bully over the choice of recess kickball teammates, we might nod in thoughtful memory.

But the context of Mitt’s pungent assessment was, however, much more than the stakes of a playground competition – it is the future of the country. Whether it has been mentors who disparage America or misguided “investment” in bankrupt energy companies or the selection of cabinet officials, or the empowerment of unelected czars to undermine free enterprise, or economic and social governing philosophies, or dangerous foreign policy, this President picks losers.

However, since he bears the mantel of the tortured souls who can’t stand to see anyone without a trophy or ribbon, trying to make the case of loser is a lost cause for, say, 47% of the population.

Who picks the winners and losers? We The People who choose elected representatives that exhibit proven faith in the guiding principles of our founding. Our Declaration declares: they are self-evident in their inherent truth.

Which brings us to another ingredient necessary to understanding the meaning of words: the spiritual, moral, emotional, and intellectual condition of the hearer. “Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a wise reprover to a listening ear.”  I once asked a son to put away some tools for me. It wasn’t till the next morning that I realized only half the tools had been stored. I called him down and said, “Son, I’m pretty sure I spoke to you in clear, English words. What part of ‘put away my tools’ did you not understand?” He sheepishly replied, “I was angry you asked me, so I did not finish.”

If a person has no interest in truth then they will not hear when the truth of a thing is described, whether it is self-evident or not. As another prominent Chicagoan once noted: “Truth always stands in judgement of us, we never stand in judgement of truth.” It was the preacher A.W. Tozer. Those who choose to order their lives by truth will hear the words of truth, those who don’t, won’t!

There are monumental shifts occurring in the world today: politically, culturally and economically. If we do not remain steadfast to the timeless principles outlined in our constitution, our Judeo-Christian foundation, and the lessons of history, we will be swallowed up in the tsunami of global governance.

Sadly, a discouraged, and perhaps cynical, American people are losing their grip on the power of these principles and are putting their hope in election cycles, or their guns. This election is a chance to regain our grip, but only if we are committed to educating ourselves on the essentials of liberty in order to hold officials accountable for them. At a townhall meeting a patriot asked a candidate for probate judge if she’d allow “sharia law” in her court. Who’d have imagined in their wildest dreams a few years ago that this question would be posed in a local county race? The good news is people are: 1) awakening to the grave dangers before us, 2) asking the right questions, and 3) preparing themselves to meet the challenges with the same resolve and commitment that is in our national DNA.

Is there enough of us?

Time will tell. But surely it is time for us to choose a winner!