The phrase “All that glitters is not gold…” comes from William Shakespeare’s play “The Merchant of Venice.” Simply put, just because something looks good doesn’t mean that it is good.
This is an election year. All the politicians want to look good and say things they hope will motivate people to vote for them. The question is, what is the truth about this person? Will he or she fulfill their campaign promises? Is it even in their power to do so? And would he or she actually do what they say they’ll do, or are they making empty promises meant to tickle your ears to get your support?
Even if they say all the right things, I also want to know about the person’s character and integrity. Are they honest? What values inform their decisions – the whim of public opinion, or firm principles? Is their goal the general welfare, or to further their own ambition? Do they seek wise counsel? On a personal level, how do they speak and conduct themselves? Personally, I’m tired of having to hold my nose and vote the person who is “the lesser of two evils.”
Let’s look below the surface, further than just getting what we want or promoting a particular agenda. Let’s look at the character and integrity of the candidates on the ballot. Do they walk the talk, or do they just talk?