An adage declares: When the going gets tough, the tough get going.

So, with the economy in tough shape, whom should Wisconsin look to for leadership?

A. Russ Decker, powerful Democratic state senator from Weston.

B. Linda and Marvin DeGarmo, who run the Tippy Toe Inn in Chaseburg.

You might assume the answer would be Decker. After all, his title contains the word "leader," as in Senate Majority Leader Decker.

But that assumption would be wrong.

Consider this:

Decker last week was presented with the opportunity to set an example by forgoing the 5.3 percent pay raise lawmakers are scheduled to get.

But instead of seizing that leadership opportunity, Decker announced this week that he would take his pay increase.

In doing so, he followed Sen. Alan Lasee, R-De Pere, who became the first legislator to announce that he will take the pay hike.

The State Journal editorial board in September called for lawmakers to voluntarily freeze their pay to help cope with hard times.

Since then, a few lawmakers have tried to set an example by pledging not to accept the pay raise. They were: Sens. Jon Erpenbach, D-Waunakee, and Dan Kapanke, R-La Crosse, and Reps. Bob Ziegelbauer, D-Manitowoc, and Steve Hilgenberg, D-Dodgeville. In addition, Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, and Rep. Frederick Kessler, D-Milwaukee, indicated they would donate their raises to charity.

If all lawmakers refused the pay hike, their action would save $660,000 over the next two years, when the state is facing a budget shortfall estimated at $5.4 billion. More important, they would demonstrate their personal willingness to sacrifice before budget cuts require thousands of other Wisconsinites to sacrifice.

Decker, as majority leader, could have established a standard for all lawmakers. Instead, he and Lasee took the money.

In contrast, consider the DeGarmos.

Their Tippy Toe Inn was the official site for government-subsidized meals to the elderly in Chaseburg, a village of 300 in Vernon County southeast of La Crosse. Pinched budgets forced the county to contract the program. The folks from Chaseburg were going to be required to travel to a nearby town to get their meals, or go without.

It was one of those "What can you do?" situations -- until the DeGarmos did something. They created an unofficial meal program of their own.

Thanks to them, the elderly of Chaseburg can still get nutritious meals at the Tippy Toe for $3.50. If any subsidizing needs to be done, the DeGarmos will simply do it themselves.

That's leadership in tough times.

Are you listening, Sen. Decker?