The Need for High Character

10/19/22

As we embark on yet another chapter of our Republic, we would do well to step back from the media onslaught foisted on us by those who would represent us in government. While understanding how one may address the various issues of the day (policy) is critical, I submit that there is something more important to know before casting your lot with an individual. Will they look at how every action will affect we, the people and our natural rights? That something is their character.

The framers knew only too well that humans will be our representative and that being human, they have frailties and strengths. They could be noble and always look to the solution that best assures our natural rights or they can become despotic and seek to aggrandize their own position. The best way to understand which way the person might go is through understanding their character.

It is said that those who lie a little, lie a lot. There are no such things as a little lie but rather, are entrants to much larger deceptions. If done in public, one can surmise there are much grander prevarications taking place out of sight. Given that most of governance is done well out of the view of we citizens, it is incumbent upon us to insist on having representatives who exhibit true honesty. This would include giving bad news and admitting failures. Recognizing the good in others even when disagreeing with them. Resisting the temptation to pounce on minor missteps for personal gain. Each of us has our own tenets of high character but a basic understanding of right and wrong is universal.

There are no angels coming to save our republic from the trench we seem to find ourselves. We are left with selecting men and women who bring their frailties with them. Knowing how they have lived their lives thus far can be the single most telling means to understand how they will act when out of sight and supposed to be acting on our behalf. It’s nice to know if they will cut taxes or fight for money to build a park but will they be the person who will always put the issue up against how it affects our natural rights? Will they bow to the loudest faction when they are wrong or will they stand up for what’s right? Knowing a person’s character will answer that question.