I am doing some business in Chicago and I have been passing by the remodeling of a ‘building-of-old-character’ as I walk each morning. I have included a picture of the reinforced facade, that hides the fact that the entire building interior has been demolished. These temporary stabilizing structures take up about one third of an already narrow street. Without the unfortunate stabilizers, the buildings strength and beauty would last about one month or possibly one bad storm before collapse. No citizen of Chicago would agree that this stabilized version of architecture was ‘good enough’ for the longer term.

So why in this election cycle do some people feel we can separate the behavior, decisions, and morality of any candidate from the facade of their presented character. Everyone I know in this city would not settle long term for the propped up appearance of even this attractive building being rebuilt. Why would we as a nation accept a propped up image of a candidate if we knew the person’s interior was demolished by contradictions to the extend the person’s presented character facade could only stand as this building stands. Only the forces of integrity, and the work of interior tensions can support the nature of character we need in stormy times like these. The propping supports of construction will preserve this Chicago facade until the disciplines of building and construction tie it all back together again. I don’t think that can work for human beings entering the office of the United State’s President. You get what is brought to the office door. I would hope in deciding our votes our Sense of Good requires the work of integrity and character is already in place.