In reply to Sarah Smiley’s column in the Aug. 14 North Kitsap Herald (“GOP debates: A crossroad in parenthood,” page A4):

As to whether a person is judged good or bad relative to their whole behavior is not a valid argument in politics. Such words are open to interpretation and are frequently based upon a particular person’s beliefs.

The important word here is integrity! Does he/she speak the truth based upon facts? Does he/she have good reasoning skills? This is a democracy: does he/she support democratic ideals? Does he/she consider the needs of the vast majority of the citizenry? How will his/her opinions, decisions, and actions effect most of the general population in the area which he/she is representing? We need jobs and a stable economy with everyone doing their share.

Democracy is not about moral judgments, it is about doing what is best for everybody or for as many people as possible.

Elizabeth Russell
Kingston