Attempting to delegitimize the election before the first vote is counted undermines one of the foundations of our democracy.

An equally troubling aspect of the Trump campaign is his threat to jail Clinton if elected. In America, we debate political opponents vigorously. We don’t jail them. That is the work of dictators and despots.

The lengthy campaign season has proven one point — Trump is temperamentally unfit for the office. Trump can be baited by a tweet, and by political satire, as he demonstrated when he called for "Saturday Night Live" to “retire” after it featured skits mocking him.

His inability to absorb even the slightest criticism or provocation shows that he would be a danger to domestic tranquility and world peace.

All of these things make Trump unworthy of the office — without considering his threats to stifle the free press.

We understand that Southern Illinois is losing jobs and resources. We understand it is easy to feel left behind by a political system in which it seems like no one fights for our interests. The idea to vote for change and to vote for a political outsider like Trump is tempting.

We do get it, but Trump isn’t that person.