Maybe the most frustrating change in life the past 40 years has been watching the demise of the behavioral standards once expected of the political parties.

On the one hand, we hate to see the mass trashing of the beautiful Butler County landscape with all the “vote for me and I’ll set you free” propaganda start this far in advance of the November election, but it is worse this year because some of the candidates in the last two elections have been so negligent in taking down their signs after the votes were counted.

It used to be an expected sign of respect and decency for candidates (more likely their supporters) to rush out as the polls closed and immediately take down all of the signs. That no longer happens as quickly or efficiently.

But much worse is the frequent destruction, theft or defacing of the opposition signs that has become a feature of every election cycle. Have the committees added a new position to the campaign staffs by adding an individual to counter the efforts of the candidates to gain public attention?

It is only mid-July and we are already getting reports to the police of vandalism of campaign signs. These particular ones were Joe Biden campaign signs, but which candidate was wronged isn’t important.

What is important is that the parties are not policing and enforcing any kind of respect from their supporters. Having opposition to a candidate is a good thing. That’s what has made the system work for many years.

But someone needs to make certain that laws and appropriate behavior are being followed. That hardly seems possible in today’s political world, but it at least needs to be a goal.

No one is saying that the Republican Party organized or approved anyone damaging the Biden campaign signs, but we are saying to both parties that someone needs to demand better practices than what we have witnessed of late. Election cycles have gotten just plain ugly with unsuccessful candidates ignoring the high road and instead mounting attacks against persons who were elected.

Sour grapes and bitterness won’t lead to future success in politics or life. Say your peace and move on to a new ideal or a positive angle for another try for election. And convince the community you are a person who can be and wants to be respected, not just somebody who tries to look good by making others look bad. That quit working in junior high school.

We have had too many elections decided by which candidate was worse, rather than which one was better.