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There are many things that people should have, but should NOT be issues in an election. Among them are family values. The candidates themselves should (or, rather, must) have these values: they are the most precious inheritance from one's parents. However, the candidates should never make these values an issue.

First, let's think about family values as an issue. What does this mean? It can mean two things: either whether a candidate has these values and utilizes them in problem solving, or that a candidate seeks to popularize his or her own set of family values to other families.

The first meaning is non-issue. How do you know if a person has values? Well, you don't listen to them bragging about their "values". Usually, someone only needs to try to remind you that he or she has such and such value only when that person fails to show that value to you in actions already. For example, if a candidate wants to say that he or she believes in saving money, he or she can show specific steps necessary to decrease the budget size, or propose a specific policy that helps tax-payers save money. That's real value. When a candidate says "My family value is to save money," then proceeds on to a king-size budget, then what is the meaning of "family value" but propaganda? Similarly, the best way to demonstrate honesty is to open all financial information of that candidate; the best way to show honor is a straight-forward and honorable campaign.

In short, if a candidate has some family values, that candidate's actions are the best indicators. As it is said, noisy dogs do not bite: trying to press for such and such value only serves to hide the fact that the candidate does NOT have the value. Remember, an action imprints more memory than a speech. Therefore, one only uses speeches when one cannot perform the action.

Thus, family values cannot be the issue in the first sense, how about the second: to spread a set of family values?

Realistically? That is an issue? To control other families' values? Frankly, I don't want my representative to tell me what is my family values. These are taught by my parents, or my grandparents, or my uncles and aunts. Above all, NOT my government, never the government. Remember, one's family is one's rock-bed, where one takes root and grows. If we ever, ever allow the government to control the family, it will soon assimilate us all. We can only fight as long as our conscience is free: we can understand why we fight, why we risk our time, our effort, our

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