Ron Williams

Pennsylvania Furnace

I have children and grandchildren. My deepest desire is for them to be healthy and able to lead happy, meaningful lives. Yet I worry about whether that is possible in an America where the value we place on qualities like civility, honesty and integrity has been diminished.

Lying has been normalized to the extent that it is making truth harder to discern, sometimes even negotiable. Verbally attacking and demeaning others because they hold different views is okay, too, even when it might lead to physical violence. Has disrespecting, misleading and mistreating people become an acceptable part of everyday life now?

I can’t tell if our politics is driving our beliefs or if what we believe is being reflected in our politics. One thing is for sure. If our politics are laying bare what is in our hearts, it isn’t pretty.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. I mean, the choices that have led us here, personal and political, have been just that…choices. And better choices would give us a better America.

So, in one of the most consequential elections in our nation’s history, why not prioritize the quality of a candidate’s character? Elect those who offer openness instead of deceit, civility instead of hostility, cooperation instead of division and integrity instead of corruption.

The choices we make in November will determine the character of this nation’s leadership. And the character of those leaders will determine the quality of life for your children and grandchildren as well as mine.