Some people forget that the term is "good vs. evil", not "perfect vs. evil."

[Tommy_Carcetti]

And while I don't fall into the trap of labeling human beings as evil incarnate (one of the reasons I strongly oppose the death penalty), I still do think many times the totality of their actions, motivations and words fall within a sliding spectrum of evil. And as such, you end up with people like Hitler and Stalin, who while maybe not actually pure evil (they say Hitler loved dogs, after all) fall pretty much near the extreme end of the evil scale.

The problem is, when someone's actions fall on the far end of the evil scale, there becomes a flawed expectation that the person to counteract that evil must be perfect. They must be pure light to the darkness. They must have no visible flaws of their own.

And if that person who is expected to counteract that evil does have some flaws, too many times that person is unjustly labeled as a "lesser evil." And when that person is deemed only to be the "lesser evil", it blinds us to the fact that such a person in many times is still a very good person. Not a perfect person, not an ideal person, but still a good person. And writing that person off as a "lesser evil" too often demeans them and what they stand for as a whole.

Looking at the two main choices in this upcoming election, you have one candidate who stands for rational thought, intelligence, inclusiveness, bridge building, restraint against impulse and yet still maintaining a proper sense of right and wrong throughout. She may not have been everyone's first choice or ideal choice, but if you take a step back you'll realize she has her priorities straight, for herself and for others. On the other hand, you have another candidate who stands only for name-calling, demonization of people based on their identity, personal enrichment and greed, shameless selfish pride and vanity, disruption of existing relationships, and exclusivity to the detriment of others.

Hillary Clinton vs. Donald Trump is not a case of perfect vs. evil.

It is not a case of lesser evil vs. greater evil.

Looking at the juxtaposed choices, however, it is most definitely a case of good vs. evil. And we know which way we ought to follow.

[MadDAsHell]

1. This is very well written. I worry about our overuse of the terms evil, Nazi, etc.

For the last 70 years kids going through school knew what "evil" meant. They knew what "Nazi" meant. It meant mass executions, gas chambers, extreme mechanisms of gruesome torture, concentration camps, etc.

Today, "evil" and "Nazi" are being thrown around as words of political convenience, for "effect." In 20 years kids are going to think "evil" is what? Saying insulting words on your Twitter account? "Nazis" are people who cheat on their taxes?

Kids are going to lose perspective of real, terrible evil that once existed in this world, all because we in today's society want to gain a political edge with our speech.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

3. The evil that manifested itself in torture and gas chambers was born from a more primal evil.

The demonization of others. The glorification of one's self and those that one perceives to be like them to the detriment of others. Deceitful rhetoric meant to inflame and anger and divide. Those things, those thoughts, those actions are all evil. And those things are all on display front and center in the Trump campaign.

A few months ago Donald Trump came to my hometown for a campaign event. He held it a mile from my house, in the park where I take my kids to play. I did not go to the event. I did drive by and saw the glowing lights of the rally in the distance. I had seen on the news exactly what was going on at those rallies--shouts to "Build a wall!", ejecting reporters, assaulting protestors, language that was racist, sexist and bigoted. I saw those glowing lights and I couldn't help but shiver to know that was going on in my own town. There was indeed evil over there.

Now, the words and actions of Donald Trump and his supporters, as repulsive as they are, still pale significantly to the likes of the words and actions of someone like Adolph Hitler and his supporters. But they are still evil. And left unchallenged and allowed to grow into a place of power and strength, there's no saying what could become of it. And who knows in 20 years what we will say of all of it, because we have no idea of how far it will grow in its current nascent state. But even as it stands now, the types of things that this man and his supporters are propagating in our communities and in our country are indeed evil.

[world wide wally]

2. But Trump is as close to "evil" as I have seen in my lifetime.

The way les just roll off his tongue should be alarming to anyne

[cheapdate]

4. An important (and overlooked) aspect of the "lesser evil" problem

is that it's entirely interchangeable with "greater good". The question can be posed as a choice of greater good without changing the meaning or stakes of the debate in any way.

[MicaelS]

5. The perfect is the enemy of the good. n/t