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With the 2020 presidential election on the horizon, politics have begun to demand full control of our news cycle yet again. From countless ads plastered throughout social media to nonstop television coverage, it feels so hard to escape it. Every way we turn, we are confronted with political rhetoric - and it can be overwhelming. In the midst of trying to navigate who we plan to support and the changes we hope to see for our country, it is important to examine the character of our candidates. There have been glaring issues presented from both sides of the aisle in regards to major personal flaws seen in Presidential and Congressional candidates. Granted, every politician is human and allowed to be imperfect, but should there be a limitation enforced? Is there a line that shouldn't be crossed when it comes to the moral judgment of the leaders of the free world?
Political moralism has evolved over time. In the 243 years since the birth of the United States, we have faced an ugly history, harsh truths and countless redefining moments. The morals of this country and our leaders have been under scrutiny throughout this entire process, but it does not seem as if that benchmark has been permanently changed. Immoral acts have always been present; however, we have never seen such intense media coverage as there is now. We have evolved from presidents owning slaves and forcing Native Americans out of their homelands to seeing political leaders tweet racist sentiments and carry accusations of sexual assault without a single repercussion. The lack of integrity and accountability still rears its ugly head — just in different forms than years ago. It is evident that the standard for our elected officials is not nearly as high as it should be. The days of turning a blind eye to scandals and misconduct due to party loyalty must end for the greater good.
In this modern era, every few weeks another scandal is exposed, and then accordingly swept under the rug. Anything from the corruption escaping the White House to votes being tampered with, election interference, exploitation, etc. It feels as if before we have time to absorb one issue, another one pops up front and center. Decades ago, before having readily accessible technology and news at our fingertips, it seemed as if there were fewer distractions keeping people from addressing a single issue at a time.
It is imperative to not allow ourselves to get caught up in the notion of every matter being Democrat versus Republican. Naturally, there are fundamental differences and beliefs between the two groups in terms of policy and ideology, but that should not allow us to lose sight of what really matters. We need strong-willed and morally sound leaders if we hope to continue our evolution as a nation. It is crucial to get back to the basic fundamentals; it is not hard to treat others as you wish to be treated. You can disagree with someone all day, but that does not give the right to be hateful or nasty.
Furthermore, it has become blatantly obvious that the narrative of “left versus right” has become ingrained into political figures and Americans alike. Pitting these two parties against one another only furthers the mistrust, divisiveness, and lack of unity seen amongst the American public. At the end of the day, it is evident that corruption lies on both sides of the table. Deceptiveness, greed, and lack of morality cannot be attributed to only one party. There are terrible individuals and sentiments in both the Democratic and Republican parties; the idea that one group is holier-than-thou is false. In order to progress as a society and leading world power, we must rise above labels and start addressing these incidents as what they are. We must ignore the falsehoods presented to us and advocate for what we deserve: a set of fundamentally sound leaders.
This is no longer a partisan issue of left versus right, but one of right versus wrong. Superficial party ties should not keep voters from staying true to their moral compasses and beliefs. Individuals should not feel pressured by their party when in the voting booth and should stay true to their hearts. It is wrong for politicians and other leaders to drive a wedge between someone remaining loyal to a party and wanting what is best for themselves and their country. Unwavering “loyalty” to a certain group will in no way help catalyze the improvements that we so desperately need. To do so only hinders the progress that could be made when there is less emphasis placed on the two-party system. The United States deserves better at all levels of government in regard to having ethically sound leaders. Politics aside, we urgently need individuals who will conduct themselves with grace and poise in order to represent this nation to the best of their ability.
Despite being over a year away from Election Day, it is imperative to ask ourselves the important, and sometimes difficult questions. Are we fine with having candidates accept Super PAC finances? What is my candidate’s track record comprised of? What kind of tweets fill my candidate’s Twitter page? When will we as Americans reject bigotry and racism finally once and for all? Do we condemn violence and hate that dismantles our communities?
It would be incredibly dangerous to continuously allow history to repeat itself and not correct past mistakes. No matter where you may fall on the political spectrum, it is important to not feel limited to one box. It is crucial that we as a society rise above maintaining a two-party system in this nation and finally let go of the “lesser of two evils” approach. We must look toward the future and be cognizant of how our political choices of today will impact generations to come. Intestinal fortitude is truly the only option we have left. The days of maintaining the status quo and remaining politically stagnant must end. We deserve to have representatives that hold true to what this nation stands for and the ideals that it was founded upon. We should have representatives who are decent human beings and treat everyone with respect. It is okay to disagree with others and not see eye-to-eye on every issue, but it should not make us recalibrate our morals in doing so.
