I voted this morning, despite strong misgivings about both major-party presidential candidates. I voted because good people have given their lives to grant me this right.

Hard as it may be to believe, I still didn’t know who I was going to vote for when I woke up this morning. As has been the case in all four presidential elections in which I’ve voted, I am once again fed up with the candidates’ behavior – in particular, their dishonesty.

Throughout the campaign, both candidates have spoken in obvious half-truths. In some cases, “half” is being generous. Why? I can only think of three possible explanations:

1. They think we’re too stupid to know we’re not being told the truth.
2. They think we’re too lazy to test the truthfulness of their statements.
3. They think we’re too stupid to discern the truth if we were to test their statements.

Whatever the case, this behavior demonstrates a lack of respect for the people the candidates hope to lead. Respect begets respect. No wonder we find it so easy to criticize our leaders.

I really don’t understand how so many people can tolerate being treated this way. Regardless of how enthusiastically a person may agree with a candidate’s policies and beliefs, how can he or she get behind a person so willing to use dishonesty to achieve his goals?

The end does not justify the means. A president should understand that.