This coming week the country will be voting in the mid-term elections. I don’t know about you, but there is always a little uncertainty for me around the election cycle. How will the country vote? Who will assume the role of leadership for our country, state, and city? How will we respond when we hear the results? Those are all questions I wonder about each cycle.
This week I had a very kind lady stop me to say how much she enjoyed my book. During the conversation, she told me that she really liked the chapter on politics. Thus, she called this week to discuss the elections. As she spoke, she asked questions, shared ideas, and extolled her views on the current candidates.
Eventually, I called her by name and asked, “Exactly how can I help you with all of this?” Finally, she said, “I just want to understand how you come to the conclusion of who to vote for.”
As we spoke for the next several minutes, I explained to her that I don’t vote for a party, platform, policy, or issues. Those things change constantly. It’s not uncommon for a candidate to tell me/us what they are going to do for the country. As we’ve seen recently, sometimes they even pontificate about what they will do on day one. And yet, often those elected are unable to accomplish what was promised in the short term or long term.
As I explained to her, I tend to vote for character and values. In some cases, leaders have accomplished many of the things they promised, but their character was less than stellar. They did it in ways that devalued and dehumanized others or demonstrated a lack of character in accomplishing the task.
In full fairness, I am not a Republican or a Democrat. I’ve been a registered Independent for several decades, and I’ve voted for both major parties and smaller ones.
As an example, in the early 90s I often found myself agreeing with the policies and priorities of Bill Clinton, but I struggled with his character. He did good things for the country’s economy, and while he initiated military strikes on other countries, he kept us out of any major wars. All in all, his policies weren’t bad, but I just couldn’t trust his character.
On the reverse, I didn’t agree with all of George W. Bush’s policies and decisions regarding wars in other countries, but I trusted his character and values. He was a man of principle who tried his best to treat others with dignity and respect. Thus, I voted for him the first time.
In each case, I chose to vote with character and values. Now, I must admit it appears that the current group of politicians in office and on the ballot struggle with character and values, but I am committed to choosing people who treat others with respect, dignity, and kindness. I know there are no perfect candidates, and I’m not electing a friend or buddy, but I still think those in leadership should demonstrate the kind of values and character that can make our country and our children proud.
Whomever you choose to vote for, know that your vote matters. Have a great week. Choose the best!