Moral Decline

Recently I was asked by a professor as an assignment (as if they ask for any other reason) to take a poll of five of my peers. This poll was to consist of them reading over 34 character strengths (finding five peers who could read did prove a little difficult) and picking five that they felt were necessary for a good elected official to possess. The results were quite intriguing.

With strengths like Communication, Commander, and Woo (the ability to win people over) there was quite a bit to consider. However, there was one strength that was only scored a couple times (yes I realize this is forty per cent, but be patient). That strength was Belief.

This trait is defined as someone who believes in doing the right thing. In retrospect it would appear that this is actually the most essential trait of them all. With my curiosity piqued I questioned those who did not score this trait as to why they felt it was not essential. Their answers, in my mind, could not be more horrid. What they responded with was, “I really do not care what they do when they go home at night.

The mindset displayed by these individuals gave evidence (though this population is way below acceptable standards) that people are beginning to care less about who they vote for. Do we honestly believe that if a man is immoral at night he will be moral during the day?

With corruption rampant in our government and the moral fabric of our country being whisked away by television one would think it was time to take charge. We need to look towards our past and utilize the rules of our grandparents as a yardstick to measure ourselves. Yes, I understand that the ways of yesteryear are outdated, but are not the moral standings needed just as much?

In conclusion I suppose I am trying to say that I feel as if our moral threads are degrading in every way and before long we will live in an anything goes society. It will be in this society that we will truly acknowledge the faults of the preceding generations. I present to all people that it is our duty to be morally minded and that we must hold all leaders to a higher moral standing than we may even hold ourselves. After all a man that leads me into the ditch of my own hand is no leader at all.