It comes down to character

Two years ago, I paid a visit to a friend receiving medical treatment at St. Luke’s Hospital. I remember returning to my parked car on East Second Street in Duluth and noticing a citation envelope protruding from the driver’s side window. Dismayed by the sight, I first glanced at the meter I remembered stuffing with quarters. Plenty of time remained. Next I observed the distance between my car and the curb and saw both passenger side tires within 12 inches. In a perplexed state I finally opened the citation envelope to marvel at my unknown error. A parking enforcement officer had taken issue with my failure to display current license plate tabs to the tune of $24. Then it all came back to me in a hurry.

Several weeks before my excursion downtown, I stopped by the DMV at the county building in Cloquet to renew these very tabs in question. I remember how much dirt covered my car on that particular day, and I thought it wise to get the car washed before affixing those expensive rectangular stickers. I placed the license plate tabs in the glove box, and I drove to the car wash on Washington Avenue where I made my car look brand new again. Unfortunately, those license plate tabs never made it out of the glove box and onto my shiny, clean car. Disgusted with myself after my walk down memory lane, I went home that same afternoon, sat down at my desk, wrote out a check for $24, and walked it down to the mailbox.

We all make mistakes, and some of those mistakes get chalked up to silly, absent-minded forgetfulness. Even so, rules govern an organized society, and those who do not follow the rules for whatever reason suffer a consequence as they should. In my case, $24 promptly made its way from my checking account to the public coffers.

I share this story with you as your fellow citizen to make a point. Following the rules and laws in our country remains paramount to a successful society. Why do some people in our country feel they do not have to suffer the consequences of breaking the rules and laws? Why do people coming to this country think we should ignore the fact that they did not follow the rules when sneaking past our borders and somehow still benefit from all we offer to our citizens? Why do protesters feel they can block our highways and transportation routes and disrupt our city council meetings and feel entitled to a reward for their illegal behavior? If protesters want to effect change in a meaningful way, they can get involved, work with their elected officials and vote. Protests, demonstrations, and civil discourse remain valued in the United States of America. Criminal behavior does not.

Too many people do not respect the rules of our society. Apparently the rules exist for the rest of us to follow and for them to scoff at. What if all of our elected leaders disregarded the law this way? What kind of society would exist? Politicians, often supported by people with a business or personal agenda, too often lack the character, personal discipline, and moral code needed in an elected representative. We need to make sure the people we elect to run our government have the character, discipline, and morals to lead us honestly and honorably. We do not need politicians who flout the law or tax every dollar they can with the intent to spend it on personal agendas or to support those who refuse to support themselves. Remember this when you vote on Tuesday.