How Much Does Character Matter?
 Royal Arch Trail, Boulder, CO Dear Restore the Balance Community, |
How Much Does Character Matter in Politics? Quite a bit, actually, especially when the "character" in the White House is pocketing your hard-earned cash. When we evaluate candidates, we tend to focus first on the policy positions of those who hold power. But even more important, perhaps, is the question of what kind of person we want holding power. The founders of our nation often opined on the importance of service, humility, and fairness in great leaders. Think about the bosses you have had who have engendered the most respect; did they lead by fear and ruthlessness, or did they lead by modeling "golden rule" values? A lack of "character" often leads to corruption; self-interest becomes paramount. It manifests in a willingness to bend the truth for advantage, to reward allies rather than admit mistakes, to treat public office as a tool for personal or political gain rather than for serving the common good. So what exactly is the "character" most Americans would like to bring back to all of our public servants? The RTB principles provide a pretty good roadmap. We need leaders who think critically, speak truthfully, and act lawfully. We also need leaders willing to speak truth to power in defense of our laws and our American dream. We have spoken extensively on the downsides of the two-party system in the US. It leads to polarization and blame games, not to real solutions to problems. And the behavior of those in party politics is dictated, to a large extent, by those at the top of the party. That is, unless we, the people, collectively decide to change leadership through voting. Neither political party, nor their party leaders, can escape some degree of culpability for where we find ourselves. Nor can we, the electorate, be considered faultless for our current predicament. There is a famous twist on a quote from a cartoon in the '70s: "We have met the enemy and he is us." (Pogo) The good news is we have met the solution, and it is us as well! Vote! |
Resources for Further Reading Jonathan Haidt, The Righteous Mind (on the moral psychology behind political judgment). Read a review here. Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index, a nonpartisan resource tracking corruption globally. View it here. "The Servant Leader: Adopting the We Mindset," Democracy Journal. Read it here. "Faith and Character in a Polarized Society," a discussion with John Kasich. Listen here. Shared for informational purposes only; does not constitute an endorsement of any religious, philosophical, or political viewpoint. |
Important Ballot Guide Update Following our email of October 3, we learned that the League of Women Voters has updated its 2026 Ballot Guide. You can read the latest version here: LWV Colorado 2026 Ballot Guide Shared for information purposes only; does not constitute RTB's endorsement. |
Upcoming Events October 6 — Courageous Colorado Social
October 7 — Election Reform and Ranked Choice Voting
October 14 — Fruita Candidate Meet-and-Greet: A Family-Friendly Social
Confirmed so far:
All candidates on the Mesa County ballot have been invited, and we'll update this list as more are confirmed. No tickets are needed, but seating is limited. Please RSVP by October 12 at 5:00 PM. RSVP here. October 18 — Depolarizing Ourselves
October 29 — Rick Taggart and the State Medicaid Commission **Rescheduled.
There are many pre-election events this month. We will do our best to get you timely information on all relevant happenings, but please also check our website calendar. |
On the Radar: Local Government Meetings
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Thank you to all who have submitted photos, podcasts, and video recommendations. We will publish a recommendation in each category every week. Please keep them coming! Want to Contribute to Our Weekly Newsletter? Our best recommendations come from you! Have you read a thought-provoking book? Listened to an insightful podcast? Found an article worth sharing? Captured a beautiful photo of Western Colorado? We want to feature your discoveries and perspectives in our Monday Update. You can share resources, suggest topics you'd like RTB to address, or submit photos from around our community. All submissions can be anonymous or attributed to you; it's your choice. Submit your recommendations here Let's learn from each other and build a more informed community together. Don't forget to vote in 2026: Ballots will be mailed on October 2. Vote Early. |
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