This is not a political post…

This is not a political post…it’s about right & wrong; the oath that is taken to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic…”; the Constitution and being a democracy governed by the rule of law. These things matter and doing what is right, regardless of personal impact, matters.

Today we are confronted with:

1. The sitting President recorded asking a Republican Secretary of State to “find 11,780 votes”.
2. Republican members of the Senate and House advocating tossing out the certified Electoral College votes after running through all legal routes.
3. All 10 living former Defense Secretaries co-authoring a piece stating: “Involving the military in election disputes would cross into dangerous territory”

The fact that we are here and in this position is something we all must reflect upon as to the why and how, however, we are in a position where leaders who took an oath to our Republic and to our Constitution are shredding that oath and doing whatever they can to retain power…power at any cost. The ramifications of this are profound and impact every business and citizen. If you don’t think that your business will be impacted when the truth no longer matters; when nothing matters but winning at all costs, you are mistaken. It might not be tomorrow, but it will happen unless we all stand up and defend decency, integrity, and democracy.

We find ourselves in a time where it so often seems that doing what is right is not what gets you ahead and that our worth is defined by our title, our money, our influence & connections, our perceived wealth, and our material assets. None of that matters at the end of our days…what matters is leaving things better; striving to be the highest integrity individuals we each should despite our failures; being honest and humble and kind; and working on problems because they need to be worked on not because it makes us rich.

I have had a copy of the Declaration of Independence and The Constitution on my wall for over 20 years because I believe to my core the ideals enshrined within them, but most importantly of trying to become a “more perfect Union”. Doing so means acknowledging where we fall down, righting our wrongs, calling out, correcting and ensuring justice is served against those (individuals, business models, institutions) who and which damage us all. It is the duty of us all…citizens, business leaders, boards, public servants…all of us. We have a long way to go, but just as the courts were used to verify the results of this election, we must use the courts and every tool of the legal system to hold these individuals to account…period. In parallel, it is on all of us to reflect, to listen, and to understand what got us to this point and why we are so divided.

-E Pluribus Unum

“..for the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs.”

— George Elliot