Politicians absolutely should be held to a higher moral standard. They are ultimately the face of our nation. Yes, they are human. Yes, they contain the same inclinations to slip as the rest of us. However, the phrase "I'm only human" has become the rallying call for excusing bad behavior. I say 'no more'!
Americans struggle every day with our reputation in the world. We pride ourselves in being the strongest, smartest, the most advanced country, yet so many fight daily for the right to be sub par and are proud of it. For every responsible citizen, there is a non-contributing member of society. We all expect the best from those around us, but also want a lifetime of second chances for ourselves. It is a double-standard that has spilled over into politics, and can cause us to be viewed in shame by our peers around the world.
Certainly, we do not have a monarchy of which we require moral responsibility. We have a say in our government and policies. This is an enormous freedom and equally, an enormous responsibility. How sad is it, then, that emails circulate listing the number of our political leaders who have done pot, served jail time, avoided taxes, been caught drunk driving, having an affair etc? What face have we put on our nation but one of lax acceptance and perhaps too much tolerance?
We are also living in an age where being religious is as offensive, or more so to some, than being a criminal. Politics has redefined so much in our search for political correctness that we are as a nation embracing pride in everything but faith and God. However, you do not have to be religious to be moral, and we should not shrink from holding politicians to a higher standard for fear of looking religious.
It is high time that we get serious about how we are being represented, no matter how much slack we wish to find in our personal lives. I was ashamed and embarrassed when we went through the very public sexual scandal in the white house; more so to realize there was no accountability required whatsoever. If the president, a public servant, can so humiliate our country, how can we expect to be taken seriously?
It is not just sexual indiscretion. There are tales of improper money handling; outright stealing... any of your basic crimes can be found in the lives of many of those in public office. What are we waiting for? Do we really need to turn a blind eye to political corruption so we can feel better about the same problems in our personal lives?
We must work to regain a national claim to dignity and integrity. Part of that is holding our chosen representatives to the highest of standards morally, legally and yes, publically. Let us back that up by proving the same quality traits in our own lives.