I’m not happy that Vladimir Putin’s henchmen hacked their way into computer systems and facilitated anti-Hillary Clinton stories in the 24-hour-a-day so-called news cycle.

But it’s difficult to argue the impact of Putin’s involvement was any more or less significant than that of the director of the FBI. Both were reprehensible and unprecedented in U.S. elections going back to the election of President Kennedy in 1960. And those anti-Hillary efforts were no worse than what Trump’s campaign put out.

Notwithstanding that Trump lost the popular vote by nearly 2.9 million, it was wrong for U.S. Rep. John Lewis to characterize Trump’s election as illegitimate. It was not illegitimate; he won fair and square.

Although some might not like the outcome, complaining about it won’t change the fact that last Friday, Trump was sworn in as our 45th president. People need to move on; if they don’t like the outcome or the way things are, they should get involved and do something other than complain.

Some simple things that would help greatly if adopted by members of Congress:

• Be civil to one another. Cease politics of destruction, stop name-calling and be respectful to those with opposing views. They aren’t your enemies – merely your opponents.

• Learn from the past. Don’t be obsessed with scuttling Trump’s agenda. Cooperate proactively where you can.

• Work toward a balanced budget amendment – it’s the only way to keep our country from going down the tubes. You can work out the details later.

• Privately ask Trump to cancel his Twitter account. His impulsive behavior and lack of self-control are destructive and destabilizing – and they advertise to the world that he is insecure and lacks self-confidence.

Rick Kelley

Windham