To the editor:

“Be quick to listen and slow to speak.” From the Good Book. I have been listening or reading your letters for the last 17 months. Recently a person sent a letter in asking all of us to be more diligent with the people we vote for. Of course I agree. Here is a little information I was given over 40 years ago that has served me well.

When I was a young man our pastor gave a sermon I have never forgotten. It had to deal with how to use the lessons from the Bible in your daily life. He talked about family, children, work and so on. Then he came to a passage the reads, “An elder or deacon in the Church should be upstanding in the community and the husband of but one wife.” He went on to say that you can apply this passage to the public servants you vote for. That’s what I have done my entire life.

Soon after that sermon, the contractor I was employed by had a job for our local state representative. The representative was getting ready to leave for the capitol one day. Before he left he gave his wife a kiss and told their children, “Now you mind your mother.” I voted for him, I could see he was a man of good character.

I ask you to tell me, is a person who sleeps with a porn star an upstanding person in the community? Can you consider a person who associates themselves with rich sex traffickers, upstanding in the community? Is a person who mocks handicapped reporters, Upstanding in the community?

Mr. Trump would praise his appointees, only to call them names when they would disagree with him. The passage from Proverbs rings true: “Whoever corrects a mocker brings on insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse.”

Don’t respond with “Judge not…” I’m talking about character, not sin. “Bad company corrupts good character.” The former president is bad company and has corrupted many a person of good character.

I can’t believe that there is no one under 70 qualified to run for president. I’m tired of these old people, and I’m old. I would like to see a ticket with someone like Paul Ryan and Nikki Haley. Someone, anyone with some character and vision.

Thank you. Drink your fluids with all this heat.

Lester Werner

Winthrop