By the time this column reaches your kitchen table, the national and local elections should be over. At least I hope so.

It is time for all of us to stop for a moment, take a deep breath, and look around. It has been a tough six months. The long campaign is over — finally. But is it?

Despite dire predictions of despair, devastation and death, the world didn’t come to an end with the election of a new president.

On the home front, the voters have decided the bitter dispute over a new design for one of our main streets.

We all know this election has strained families and friendships.

One of my favorite pals, a bright, rational gent, goes into a near rage when discussing the Democratic candidate for president.

Other friends, especially those of the female gender, approach the same state when discussing the Republican candidate.

We know others on both sides who claim they held their noses when they marked their ballot.

Many of us were disgusted by the interminable national campaign that seemed to be based on insults, innuendo, false statements and the rest of the phrases usually locked away in the nasty rhetorical tool box.

As the campaign rolled on we were subjected to threats suggesting if we voted for X we would be committing a sin, or, If we voted for Y we would be joining a criminal conspiracy to loot the national treasury. We were told the evil Russians were in league with Wikileaks to undermine our proud American election process.

Along the way, we heard very little discussion of the great issues of the day, like tax reform, infrastructure repairs, climate change, defense and monetary policy and future energy needs.

Instead of addressing the way our nation will respond to the needs of tomorrow’s economy, we saw candidates on all sides spend their time blaming others for “stealing” our industrial production and jobs.

The blame game replaced new ideas.

In its place, we watched Candidate A pledge to lock up Candidate B without a trial. Candidate B accused Candidate A of being a sexual predator (no trial needed either).

Despite our American tradition of fairness and the rule of law, we heard voices urging us to ignore our Constitution, including provisions that confer citizenship on persons born in the USA, not to mention the First Amendment’s protection of freedom of religion and a free press.

Candidates on both sides claimed to uphold our honored religious traditions, yet day after day they ignored the teachings of the Ninth Commandment.

Soaring political oratory designed to lift up our nation was replaced with hackneyed stock phrases born from focus group research.

Candidates questioned at public events answered with phrases from stump speeches. Woe be unto the reporter who tried to interrupt and steer the  candidate back to the question. He/she was quickly charged with bias.

Then, in the last week, we saw the FBI chime in on the campaign. For this they were charged with being either rigged, praised for their honesty, (or meddling), then accused again of being rigged.

What were they doing? 

Here on our little slice of the Maine coast, the chatter in our coffee shops and church basements was filled with folks arguing for and against change. Much of the ire has been pointed, not at a proposed highway construction project, but at one man who has invested a fortune in our community. Is he a benefactor or a bad guy?

Is he the reason our community has changed in recent years? Or has it always changed? That question is still on the table.

Dear friends, it is time for a time out. We have voted. They counted the ballots. The winners won and the losers lost.

Let’s step back for a moment and take a deep breath. Isn’t this a good time to remember who we are? We are Americans. We are neighbors. We are the inheritors of a 200-year-plus tradition of political compromise that tackles problems by working together.

Our leaders, from Washington to Reagan, found a way to put aside differences and work for the nation.

Here at home, we are blessed with a great tradition of working together.

Our watermen help their rivals every day. Neighbors help neighbors, youngsters help oldsters, strangers help those who are less fortunate.

Wouldn’t it be interesting to see our leaders take a cue from our region’s great volunteers?

And, I wonder what would happen if the money and energy spent on TV attack ads was put to productive use?

Just a few thoughts from an old news guy. What say you?