Let's Raise the Communication Bar

There is always something very special about political campaigns and elections in our country. Free elections reinforce what was and is most unique about the United States: at designated intervals citizens gather to caste ballots without fear of retribution or harmful acts being taken against them. Voters determine who will represent the general population in matters ranging from national security and economics to international relations and creating opportunity for people to improve their station in life. More than any other in the world, our nation comes the closest to representing the best of pure democracy. This reality remains a constant source of pride. 


This, however, is not to suggest that our elections and how they are conducted can not and, yes, should not be improved. This begins with the candidates themselves. On the one hand, these men and women are well-intentioned and genuine in their desire to improve life in America. At the same time, they are also flawed, ambitious, and prone to narrow-minded thinking, pettiness, and levels of dishonesty. Their inconsistencies and desire to separate themselves from their competitors, though understandable, can take them and their followers down paths that do harm to the overall landscape of our country and the very process that is part of our greatness. 


Our current presidential election season, still at the beginning phase, is the latest example of this. Name calling, purposeful ignorance, false claims, misleading characterizations and mean-spirited assessments of others have been dominating far too much of many of the candidates communication efforts. Generally, voters seem to shrug-off this reality with the off-handed comment, "That's politics." That may be true but it does not have to be. Not only should we demand more from our candidates, we should also demand more from ourselves in terms of what we accept from them and ourselves. Being a great nation demands the best of its citizens and those wishing to represent them. The communication bar must be raised.