I’ve watched in dismay, and now disgust, how those running for our highest public office have fallen to civil lows not publicly seen in this process for a long time. They’ve lost respect for their constituents and for each other and by doing so have diminished the value of the office and this country.
One might ask however, is it these candidates or are they simply a mirror of our society as a whole. Today, any one can sign up and comment on any newspaper article completely anonymous and impugn anyone and anything without a shred of accountability. When there is no accountability for words or actions there is no basis for fact or civility. Unfiltered, unverified pontifications are only for the self gratification of the author. When there is accountability civil discourse returns because, all the while you may disagree with the opinions expressed, you know exactly who is expressing them and who should be held accountable for false claims and incendiary hateful comments.
So, while the political process continues in our representative republic, maybe we are seeing a lot of ourselves in those trying to lead our country. A little too self-centered, a little to egotistical, a lot to opinionated, a little myopic, and maybe a little too afraid of change to embrace the differences in the world and use those differences to make the World Great Again, not just our little protected piece of it……
simplebender 