Monday, August 1, 2016

Character Does Matter!

Warning: Bluntly honest political opinion.  You are under no obligation to read further.  But if you do I challenge you to engage with the essential question underlying this year’s election, and answer honestly:  What kind of leadership does my country really need, and where can it be found?
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I am fed up with disrespectful and un-American behavior on the part of some candidates for our highest office.  Just when you think Candidate Trump has violated every ethical standard he could possibly violate, he finds a way to sink to a lower level.  His disrespect for American hero John McCain several months ago was inexcusable, and now he has decided to pick a fight with the family of another American hero. 

Captain Humayun Khan, US Army, served in Iraq.  Captain Khan, son of immigrants from Pakistan, served honorably.  He was killed in action and received the Bronze Star for heroism.

Now Candidate Trump has publicly disrespected the family of this fallen hero.   He spoke against them because of their Moslem faith, and antagonized them because they had the courage to call him out for being divisive.

It doesn’t get any worse in America than disrespecting the family of a soldier who gave his life in defense of this country.

Many Republicans have disavowed Trump’s comments.  Some have apologized for him.   Some have expressed outrage.  But most continue to support his election to the office of President.  That is hypocritical.

It is time for Republicans with ethics and patriotism intact to disavow this demagogue.  Candidate Trump has no respect for anyone – not for American heroes, not for the American people, not for his own supporters, not for You.  In my opinion, an informed American who votes for Candidate Trump after the  disrespectful way he has treated these and other honorable Americans is not a  patriot.

The candidate of the other major party also is no patriot, no friend of our military, and not a virtuous person.  Both major political parties have nominated ethically flawed candidates.

Once, long ago, I was a Democrat.  I left that party when they began caring more  about winning elections than doing what was right for our country.  After many years as a dedicated Republican, I left that party for the same reason.  

Today both major parties have abandoned honor, virtue, and moral courage.  Their patriotism, such as it is, is hollow, worn for show and effect.  Their ‘courage’ is bravado and bluster.  Neither of the two major parties (or their candidates for president) shows any sign of putting the best interests of our nation ahead of the political party (or themselves).

It is time for Americans of honor and goodwill to look elsewhere for leaders of  competence and integrity, to leave the major parties, to regroup around a  candidate of character who shares many of the highest values of both right and  left.  I have come to this conclusion: the ethical choice this year is the Libertarian Party. 

Some of you will have issues with one or another part of the Libertarian platform.  That is to be expected.  After all, do you agree with every opinion of your preferred major political party?  Think about this.  The essential founding principle of the Libertarian Party is individual freedom.  The very name of the party is derived from the word “Liberty.”

Whether or not you agree with each and every Libertarian position, your vote for Libertarian candidates Gary Johnson and Bill Weld will be:
- a vote for experience, integrity, and ethical leadership; 
- a vote to disarm the most extreme partisans of left and right,
- a vote to stop cronyism and entrenched corruption; 
- a vote to end the culture of entitlement on display by the political and economic elite of both parties;
- a vote to terminate the reign of a dysfunctional two party duopoly that thinks  this year’s candidates are the best we can do.

A few of you may think voting for a third party candidate would be “throwing away” your vote.  Not true.  It is your prerogative to vote for a candidate you support.  To vote for someone you don’t support just because he or she is the lesser evil is throwing away your vote, particularly when there is another option.

What are you trying to accomplish with your vote?  Are you trying to save  America from Hillary Clinton?  At what price?  From Donald Trump?  To what end?   Either of the major party candidates will, if elected, be a political and ethical catastrophe. 

I do not choose to lend my support to either of the corrupt dysfunctional candidates headlining this election.  I will be voting for the only political party that is uncorrupted by power: the Libertarian Party.  I will be voting for the only presidential candidate on the ballot nationwide that can truthfully be described as a person of virtue:  Gary Johnson. 

Be honest with yourself, at least.  Are you truly satisfied with your choice of Republican or Democrat?  Are you planning to vote for someone, or against someone?  Before you make your final decision in this contest which might decide the essential character of America for generations to come, you owe it to your nation to give serious consideration to all your options.

Gryphem