Fellow columnist Tim Skubick wrote this week about the unfortunate reality that someone like former Lt. Gov. Brian Calley probably will never run for office again.

These days, Calley heads up the Small Business Association of Michigan.

Skubick’s column highlighted the unfortunate reality of today that moderate voices of reason have been abandoned in the carnage we call politics.

It is a sad and sobering observation, and one that has dramatically changed my perspective on political parties and their philosophies these days.

Brian Calley is about as nice a man as you will ever meet, and from everything I observed from him over the years as a politician, he was a fair and honest legislator, dedicated to pursuing the common good, regardless of which side of the aisle an idea first originated on.

Several years ago, Calley and I sat next to each other at a Michigan Press Association luncheon, and we enjoyed two hours of discussion and debate on a wide range of subjects, not all of which centered around politics. I left even more impressed with the man than when we sat down, as it was evident after talking with him that he was a man of principle and honor.

That observation was reinforced from a good friend of mine who I hold in high esteem. A veteran lobbyist for decades now, she is as big a fan of Calley. There is a saying that there are two things you never really want to see made — sausage and legislation — and she has seen a lot of the second over the years. Having interacted with Calley through it all, and in sometimes rather messy situations, to me, it says a lot that she holds so much respect today for the man.

Skubick, in his column on Tuesday, offered this quote from Calley about whether there is any future for him in politics: “Running for office is not even remotely attractive to me,” he said. “I don’t know if there is a place for people like me; people that want to work with both sides, and get things done with respect for other people and care for relationships, not to lob grenades into the system.”

And that is a sobering reality of the political world today. It is too easy to destroy thoughts that you disagree with than to sit down and debate them civilly. It is too easy to criticize than to compromise. It is too easy to find fault than to work toward resolving issues.

If we saw it only at one level of government, it would be bad enough, but, unfortunately it extends from the federal level down to the state and even trickles from there into local governmental issues, as well.

I am quite concerned about the future of our country so long as this new way of politics continues. We cannot survive when the extremists from both sides hijack a party and stifle the voice of those they disagree with. We need moderates from both sides of the aisle to rise up and take control and give the majority of Americans hope for the future again.

When we lose people like Calley, who would be a voice of reason in this world filled with hate, then we lose too much.

Since this past election, I have hoped to see new voices rise to the forefront of political discussions who would restore civility, respect, truth, and compromise into debates. I believe we need those voices quickly, or else we will be so far down a road of hate, dissent, and bullying that it will be too hard, if not impossible, to turn around from.

Sadly, I still am looking.

No one has really risen to the top.

And, even worse, those who might have offered real hope, like Calley, are but collateral damage in this war.