For more than 45 years, I’ve worked in the tire and retread industry, traveling in and out of markets around the globe. I’ve seen how decisions made at the national level don’t stay theoretical. They land on local businesses and real people, including my own.

I’ve served on the Board of Directors for the Tire Retread and Repair Information Bureau (TRIB), previously as President of the Tread Rubber and Tire Repair Manufacturers Group (TRMG), and with the Morristown Chamber of Commerce. And yes, there was also that time I decided to drive more than 1,000 miles on a Honda Monkey mini bike from Shelby County, Indiana, to Sarasota County, Florida.

Public service, at its best, is in the name. It’s listening, working together, and finding common ground in service of the people. That used to be the baseline. Somewhere along the way, we lost it.

What we’re living through right now is not normal. Constant conflict, local and national instability that hurts businesses and good people, and a loss of basic human decency shouldn’t be accepted as standard practice. I want my grandkids to be able to read the words of the President of the United States, and right now, that’s not something I can do responsibly.

We are neighbors first. Being a Hoosier isn’t about party. It’s about responsibility. When you know better, you do better.

It’s time we do.