Barb: We recently had a sign stolen from our property supporting a political candidate. It lasted less than a week before it was stolen.

We do our best to be respectful of those who do not agree with us and we take time to listen to their opinions and concerns. Our hope is that others would feel the same.

Growing up, we were taught that lying, cheating and stealing were wrong. Certainly, we would never consider stealing someone else’s property.

Have our values sunk so low that we no longer respect these attitudes of fairness, courtesy, honesty and kindness?

(Editor’s note: While the Dickinson County Road Commission and state workers can take down political signs that have been improperly placed or left past the election, it’s illegal otherwise to do so. Candidates and their supporters have a free speech right, upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, to declare who they back, even if opponents disagree. Theft of political signs is a crime in all 50 states. In Michigan, stealing or defacing signs is a misdemeanor that can carry a maximum penalty of a $500 fine or imprisonment of up to 90 days, according to state law.)