Most voters, I think, are ready for a campaign based on substance, not scapegoats, and a sober look at our nation, not more catering to bigotry and fear. I think both presidential candidates drew fervent initial support because they promised to be different. I think that, even now, if they dared to be different, if they dared to emerge from the swamp, they would find voters eager to engage. We the people aren’t the fools that an ugly primary season made us out to be. It is the ideologues who seek power through whining, blaming, hating and grasping. I think the rest of us are ready to grapple with reality. I hope our politicians have the courage to move on with us.

(Tom Ehrich is a writer, church consultant and Episcopal priest based in New York. He is the author of “Just Wondering, Jesus,” and the founder of the Church Wellness Project, http://www.churchwellness.com. His Web site is http://www.morningwalkmedia.com.)