This is how Congressman David Schweikert described me and many of his CD6 constituents in a recent fundraising letter: “(They) inflict violence…mass arrests…light cars on fire…stop at no turn to clash with police.”

These are Facebook posts from very different constituents, directed at those in Mr. Schweikert’s targeted group: “Paint a happy tree and hang yourself from it.” “Someone needs to drive into their house with a truck.”

What do these have in common? We are all Fountain Hills community members, including the Congressman himself for many years, living right down the street from me.

Where is the statesmanship? The civility? Why are our “leaders” inciting fear and hate? Is the end game to stifle all dissent? This is from the Washington Post about the Arizona legislature’s effort to shut down our First Amendment rights: “You now have a situation where you have full-time, quasi-professional agent-provocateurs that attempt to create public disorder,” said Sen. John Kavanagh in support of a measure there that would bring racketeering charges against some protesters. Thankfully his effort failed, though the idea to criminalize demonstrations has not gone away. Indeed, one of our new federal officials complimented a Middle East country about the lack of protests during his visit, seemingly oblivious to the penalties assuring compliance and obedience.

There is a lack of self-control and accountability from the top down that is manifested in everyday behaviors; no one is immune or exempt, even us, in our home town. I hope that our expectations for respect and acceptance outweigh those with a more negative outlook.