We're taking our country back

Lamppost banners throughout our quaint little town read “character counts, everywhere, all the time.” Many Illinoisans and Americans across the fruited plain would laugh out loud at these messages recalling widespread corruption, malfeasance and self-serving rhetoric of countless elected officials, many of whom spend their days crafting license plates.

This November's midterm election places all those currently in positions of public trust on notice. No longer will Americans simply disregard your behavior, naively confident in your integrity bound by ordered principles of honor and commitment to do the right thing.

Against a poignant backdrop of that hallowed ground from Arlington National Cemetery to the Punch Bowl in Hawaii and scores of American military cemeteries around the globe, you elected officials will now be graded and judged on the degree to which you honor the last full measure of devotion and sacrifice of our fallen with your public service. Fall short of their total dedication and extraordinary selflessness with your performance and the next election cycle will find you updating your resume and stepping aside.

Too many have given far too much for us to accept anything less. Be advised that We the People are here to take our country back.

William G. Parrot

McHenry