There has been a lot of loose talk about "family values" in recent months – on the campaign trail, in the newspapers, on the airwaves and in some of America's houses of worship. Little of it conforms to the values Purple was brought up to adhere to and respect.

Purple - as most Christians, and probably many of those of other faiths, was taught to "Love thy neighbor as thyself." He has been unsuccessfully searching the campaign statements of the contenders for a presidential nomination to find where they are practicing this commandment. Nor does he see those opposed to other faiths, or to non-traditional sexual orientation, willing to act in a loving way towards behaviors they do not agree with, but which may be deep-seated culturally or even embedded genetically in the individuals they scorn. "Neighbor" of course also applies to both genders, and so includes women wishing to plan their families and protect their health.

Purple was brought up to believe that "Thou shalt not bear false witness." The Koran also says "Do not veil the truth with falsehood, nor conceal the truth knowingly." Yet the campaign dialog is rife with accusations, both by candidates and their public mouthpieces, that are full of demonstrable untruths and misleading innuendo intended to excite and deceive the inattentive voter. And that dialog is often laden with statements that deny scientific evidence about how the planet works and should be protected. Today's America apparently values that misleading approach highly. One newspaper recently estimated that a prominent broadcaster of divisive innuendo is paid $50 million a year for his dis-services to the nation.

In short, tell 'em whatever lie you have to, in order to win.

Much of this campaign rhetoric is financed by institutions and individuals with very deep pockets, lined by financial manipulations using insider trading and privileged information to make financial killings over the last decade. They now resist legislation that would rein in these unethical practices. Their money did not come from productive enterprise; it came out of the pockets of those investors who did not have access to the same inside information. Purple remembers once hearing something to the effect that "Thou shalt not steal."

Unfortunately this culture of false values is now being exported. American soldiers sent to Afghanistan to rebuild that nation (in our image?) have gravely damaged their mission by defiling the corpses of dead Afghanis, burning many copies their holy Koran, and in one case gone on a rampage murdering innocent Afghan women and children.

If we are to survive as a great nation, let alone succeed, it is high time to reinstate the values of our past: respect for those who differ with us, willingness to listen to other views, civility, compassion, honesty, truthfulness, and –yes – love and forgiveness. Add to these true "family" values the belief that from those to whom much has been given, much is expected in return, and that individual freedom carries with it responsibility for community welfare, and you have the basis for a public ethic on which a great American nation can continue its leadership and prosperity.

Purple was brought up on a hymn called "America the Beautiful," written in 1893. Perhaps you remember it. The first line goes "O beautiful for spacious skies," and concludes with the words "And crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea."

Sadly, we are not back there yet.

But in November we have a chance to start moving in that direction. It is high time we did. Our nation must be bigger than any special interest or Party ideology . We must build an enduring America on a solid ethical foundation that does not shift to accommodate the personal interests of whoever is temporarily in the political driver's seat. The alternative is to leave a broken nation to our children.

What family values would that represent?