The Put-Down

When I was in grade school, I always heard the advice to not compare myself to others. I didn't really understand at the time, but as an adult, I get it. My success is not measured by how much better I did than someone else. (Although when teachers graded on a curve in college, it felt like it sometimes.) If I must compare, I should compare myself to how I was.

I think we all understand this. So why, then, do politicians try to convince us to vote for them by putting down the competition?

Does this really convince anyone? I mean, do we even believe them?

It kind of makes me think of a girl trying to convince a guy that he should choose her. Just listen to this voice: "You should choose me because I wear designer perfume. I can parallel park. What do you see in her? She dyes her hair funny. Her shoes are out of style. She didn't even get an A in Geometry. It should be really obvious to you that my sparkling shoes and great grades make me the better option."

Um, whatever happened to just being yourself? Letting that sparkling personality or great campaign speak for you?

Or maybe the campaign is so bad that you hope to win by default? You've got nothing else to stand on?

Stop whining and quit putting people down. It's a total turn-off.

Oh, and I'm on my way to Florida as we speak, so posts might be a bit erratic this coming week.

Today's stop on the blog tour: Ann Best!