Gondola Gossip

Popularity Contest Season

October and November seem like popularity contest season every year now. From local politics to businesses everyone seems to want your vote. Best of this… Best of that… Vote for me… vote for that… get out and vote… vote early… vote daily… yada yada yada.  But do popularity contests really mean someone or place is really better… let alone be the "best of" anything? Probably not, but we still do it mindlessly year after year.

From the "Best of" in the newspapers to the local elections there is always more than meets the eye. Not that this is a bad thing, but it is important to realize that everything is not always as advertised let's just say. For example many simply want to influence policy in one way or another, not necessarily serve the community or the greater good. Mutually beneficial relationships is how the sausage is made… or so they say. Does that make backroom deals and pay to play access, the best choice for the community as a whole? Again, probably not.

On the other hand having owners and employees voting for themselves daily and then panhandling their families and friends to "help" them win… seems like they care more about being the best at online clicks… not their business perhaps. Does it really matter? Sure politics can impact funding and fairness, and bad choices can be costly. But, boasting the best of this or that is really an opinion of the individual customer not really employees and management. How many people are not going to vote for themselves, especially when everyone is encouraged to "vote" daily? How many people other than owners and staff could care enough about voting for best shoe laces or whatever day after day?

Wealth and personality play big roles in popularity contests. Name the last poor person who was in any general election… you can't. They need to be popular with donors first, and if that's the case why would they care about anyone before those with the means to move the financial needle? Anyone who went to high-school should be familiar with how these types of popularity contests work too. It wasn’t right then… and it still isn't right now, but that doesn't appear like it's changing anytime soon. So forget the best and brightest and settle for the rich and popular over and over. Just because you've been somewhere longer doesn't immediately make your business any better than another. But, location and who you know always play big roles in small towns.

Politicians who win popularity contests don’t always have the best ideas and policies. And big businesses who vote for their products and services doesn't make them better than single entrepreneurs and others with fewer locations and employees. Remember being rich funds both businesses and campaigns regardless if it's for yourself or for those who represent your interests. Neither of these seem to be honest or maybe at least appear as advertised… politicians who work for themselves and a privileged few big donors are often the business owners who get by on personality and glad handing people. They know how to use words to placate and patronize their constituents, while only taking meaningful action to protect and enhance the riches and control of their wealthiest supporters.

Back in the day children were taught to respect the position, not necessarily the person. Sadly, today, it's important to teach children to listen to the words… watch the actions… and question peoples motives. How people obtain their positions is now relevant to gauge the level of respect they have earned and deserve. Abundances of wealth, popularity and past family success doesn’t mean you are entitled to respect you haven't earned.