Our Bridge to the Future: Does Character Matter?

The other day my daughter and I were discussing a home improvment project. I asked her if she would recommend a contractor. She did, and added that her contractor was a little more expensive but he was honest. That is why she would recommend him.

She wanted me to swallow a little more expense in exchange of a charcater trait - honesty. Many of us would do that. Many of us would pay a little, or even a lot, more to a honest contractor than pay less to one whose honesty they weren't quite sure of.

What if the 'contractor' was the president of the country, a caretaker of our life experiences, a harbinger of our future? Would we pay him or her a little more, even a lot more, if we could be sure of his honesty?

Isn't it strange that much of the talk in these elections - polls, focus groups, and what have you - is about expense and not charcater? We are worried about the cost of milk and eggs, gas and toys, healthcare,  and so on, but not about humility, accountability, truthfulness, fairness in administrating justice, decency, obedience to rule of law? 

May be I wasn't paying attention, but this morning for the first time I saw a poll that asked about charcater preferences - perhaps an exception that proved the rule.

Think about it. Please read my preceding post: "Who Should I vote for? Here is a Thought".

Your comments are welcome!

POSTSCRIPT: In the past, have we ever considered character traits to be the overriding deciding factor in electing a president as we would surely consider in hiring a home improvement contractor, for example? Why not? Are they really that much different in their impact on our lives? Would you consider debating this issue?