Have we lost our integrity?

Have we now rejected those qualities by electing a man who is in opposite?

What is obvious now is there are a rather large number of people in our land who seemly disregard integrity and lying for their own narrow-minded goals. Whether it is religious groups or anti-immigrant groups or, sad to say, openly racists, they approve of a president who has a difficult time speaking complete sentences without lying.

The latest toll shows in the months as president he makes false statements on average between three and five times a day, a total that has reached well over 3,000.

What is really outrageous is the lies are so easily proven. These are not mistaken words or confusing statements; they are outright lies. At first I blamed it on ignorance or the lack of understanding the facts. Now, as the lies are so pronounced, so evident and easily proven, I see a more sinister situation.

No longer are the national debates over policies about ideas; they are more about whose facts you believe or want to believe.

What is even more disturbing is the fact that his followers seemly do not care, do not question and seem to say as long as we get what we want he can say or do anything he wants. They openly tolerate vulgarity, immoral activity, dereliction of responsibility and marvel at a man who constantly heaps praise on himself with no facts to back up his pomposity.

While not the first president who had problems with integrity, this one has raised the bar so high it will be difficult for anyone to ever come close and still get elected. In the long run, I can only hope that somehow integrity will seep back into the oval office.

However, the damage continues to mount. How can the so-called religious groups, like the evangelicals, the holier-than-thou sanctimonious groups not go forward without being branded as stone cold hypocrites? How can they in the future try to speak for the morals of the country?

This moral decay can be stopped. This country was founded by imperfect men who strived for integrity, respected integrity and set in motion a country that was proud of integrity.

By the way, Washington did get rid of his slaves and denounced slavery. Can we not use his example and denounce this president? I believe the great majority of us can and will succeed.

Richard W. Carrell

Morrisville