Two and a half questions to answer before voting

Over 40 percent of North Carolina’s 7.9 million registered voters have already cast their ballots, either by early voting or mail as of October 28th.
 
I will leave to analysts far smarter than I to dissect and figure out who has voted and why, but the number is surprisingly large. I suspect most folks are so fed up with this election they have cast their vote and hope to close their eyes and ears to the ever-present droning of negative ads and chatter until this election is over.
 
The final percentage of registered voters who cast ballots in the COVID 2020 election was 75.35 percent, a modern-day record. Since 2000, our average presidential year turnout has been 67.55 percent. Maybe most of those who plan to vote have already done so, but there is another 29 percent of our 7.9 million registered voters who have not cast their ballots.
 
I’m suspect we will hit 79 percent turnout when all is said and done. Most polls show about 6 percent of voters say they are undecided about a presidential candidate, and it is possible that another few percent could be persuaded to change their preference when they go into the voting booth. Whether you have, have voted there are two and one-half questions I want to pose because they are important to the outcome and our future. Here’s the first:
 
It’s 3 a.m. and the red phone is ringing in the White House. Somewhere there’s trouble in the world. Who do you want answering the phone?
 
This is the ultimate test for a president, when people’s lives are potentially at stake. Decisions must be made. Do you want a president who surrounds himself/herself with experienced, rational people who can assess the situation and can weigh how responses or actions will impact both those in our country and the rest of the world? A person who recognizes and can speak truth and act responsibly? Or do you want someone who neither seeks out nor listens to others, who prides himself on using his “gut” to make decisions? This won’t be circus time. It’s not time for blustering, boasting, blaming and berating.
 
Answering this question requires we put on our real-world reality glasses and make the decision best for all. And it’s o.k., as Liz and Dick Cheney, a legion of Republicans who worked for the first Trump administration and hundreds of well-known Republicans have said, to cross party lines and vote for Kamala, not because they are in step with her policies, but because Kamala is the best choice between the two we have.
 
The second question is how important is the rule of law to you and this country? We hear this phrase bandied often in political discussions but what does it really mean?
 
There are four main elements of rule of law as defined by the World Justice Project. They are accountability, just law, open government, and accessible and impartial justice.
 
 Let’s begin with accountability. It means that the government as well as leaders and ordinary citizens are accountable under the law. The rule of law doesn’t apply to some and exclude others. All are accountable.
 
A just law is one that is clear, publicized, stable and applied evenly. A just law ensures that human rights as well as property, contract and procedural rights are in conformity with what is morally right and good.
 
Open government means what it says. The processes by which the law is adopted, administered, adjudicated and enforced are accessible, fair and efficient. Each citizen has the reasonable opportunity to question laws and policies and to receive responses to their questions.
 
Finally, there is the imperative that justice be accessible and impartial. This means that judges and administrators are competent, ethical, independent and fair. It is neither vindictive nor does it favor one class over another.
 
Ask yourself which of our presidential candidates best exemplifies the rule of law and would uphold its elements? And once again my answer is plainly evident. Trump and the qualities of truth, fairness, accountability and impartiality are total strangers.
 
I’ve labeled the next one a half-question because it was posed by Liz Cheney, a Republican who has never voted for a Democrat but is going to vote for Harris. The question and the answer are pretty simple. Cheney asked which candidate would you trust to babysit your child?
 
This is a time to put duty to your country ahead of your political and personality preferences. Answer these questions not with just the next four years in mind, but with the future for your children, grandchildren and those yet unborn.
 
We will look back to this election as a turning point for our country. It’s that important.
 
Tom Campbell is a Hall of Fame North Carolina broadcaster and columnist who has covered North Carolina public policy issues since 1965.  Contact him at tomcamp@carolinabroadcasting.com