With apologies to Wiliam Shakespeare: To Trust or not to Trust: that is the Question.

Put more trust in nobility of character than in an oath.
~Solon~

While Hamlet may have been considering suicide and the damnation that might come after, so we, too, have an important choice to make.  As with every election I can remember, our choices seem to come down to the lesser of two evils.  The choices for this election seem to be particularly bad.  In this post, I am not going to endorse either candidate but I AM going to ask YOU some questions that I hope will give you some food for thought.


There are many concerns about the moral compass of both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton - and with good reason.  Information has been made public about both candidates that is disturbing on a good day. This is not that good day.  The choice we have to make is not only important, it's vital to the future of our country and its citizens.  The most important question is "who do you trust"?  Here are some others:


First question:  Instead of just listening, do you actually HEAR what the candidates are saying?  What about what they're NOT saying?  Do you blindly trust what they tell you or do you do your own research?  Do you listen to both candidates with the same fervor or do you listen to whatever will paint a particular candidate in a good or bad light?


Second question:  Do you base your vote on a single issue or do you consider all issues equally important?  Is there any issue that is a "deal-breaker" for you?  Can you forego your conscience and vote for the candidate who agrees with you on every issue except that one "deal-breaker"?


Third question: Is a code of ethics a consideration for you or do you prefer a candidate who will do what needs to be done even if it's unethical?  Can a person be morally bankrupt yet have the skills, intelligence, thoughtfulness and focus to be a good leader?  Is it important to you that we have a person of faith lead our country?


Fourth question:  Do you have discussions about the candidates and the issues with people of all opinions?  Do you seek information or do you wait for it to come to you?  Do you believe only what you hear on the news or in commercials or do you question what you hear?  Do you ever question yourself about what you really believe and why?  Have you considered all angles of an issue?


Fifth question:  Do you measure the value of a candidate based on outside forces?  Does physical appearance or behavior influence you?  Do you pay attention to body language and voice inflection?  Can you separate an honest mistake from what some deem a clue to a hidden agenda?


We each have only one vote and we need to use that vote to the best of our ability.  The above questions may help or maybe they won't.  Either way, we have to elect a new president.  Again, I ask:  who do you trust?


I don't know who our next president will be but we all need to pray for our country and our leaders.  And you know what?  Let's pray for our voters as well.


As always...  just my thoughts...

Strange Bedfellows

A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine.
~Thomas Jefferson~

I was challenged by a dear friend to do my own research on Donald Trump’s alleged sex crimes.  I accepted the challenge but took it one step farther.  In order to be fair and to make a better informed decision, I decided to research the Clintons as well.


Donald Trump has been accused of rape, attempted rape, inappropriate touching, groping, sexual misconduct and lewd comments concerning women.


Bill Clinton has been accused of rape, sexual misconduct, groping, exposing himself and sexual harassment.  It’s a fact that he has lied about his sexual exploits at least once.


Hillary Clinton has defended at least one man accused of raping a minor and has been accused of threatening that young girl as well several women who have made accusations against her husband.


Now, my first thought when all of this began was “Why bring Bill Clinton into this?  He’s not running for president”.  I have since decided that it’s not a bad idea.  After all, Bill was a president who had these accusations leveled at him both before and during his presidency.  This certainly gives us an indication of whether a person can be sexually immoral and still be an effective president.


I do find myself wondering how Hillary can call herself an advocate for women when she clearly has a double standard in her reactions to the women who accused Bill and Donald.  How can she condemn those who accused her husband while speaking in favor of those who accused her opponent?  I find myself thinking – no, BELIEVING – that the only woman Hillary cares about is Hillary.  Maybe she cares about her daughter.  Certainly I feel no kinship with her at all.


Somehow, all of the main issues have been lost in the midst all of these accusations.  I have to wonder if that was deliberate.  Does anyone remember where either candidate stands on any particular issue?  Who will do more to keep us safe?  Who will do more to get our economy moving again?  Who will choose the best person for the Supreme Court?  Those are some of the things on which I will base my decision – not who has the least amount of immorality.


As always… just my two cents.