Why are people so mean to candidates running for office?

Not everyone is mean to opposing candidates. There are reasonable people who ask thought provoking questions who are really fun to engage and learn from. Thank you for being you, this is how it should be.

The group I am referring to is a rabid group of people who will say anything, do anything to discredit someone who does not believe what they believe. They lie, spin stories, and do anything it takes to harm the opposing candidate who has a different opinion. They are there every election cycle.

How many great politicians have we missed because they did not want to jump into the ring of fire and expose themselves to the uglier side of running for office? What would our cities and states be like if we ran honest and authentic campaigns? Wow! I feel so much better hahahaha. Thank you for letting me vent dear positivity blog. I promise to make it up to you with more positivity in the near future.

The political landscape can be a harsh and unforgiving place. Candidates running for office are often subject to intense scrutiny and criticism from the public, media, and their opponents. But why are people so mean to candidates running for office?

One reason is that politics is a highly divisive and polarizing arena. People often have strong opinions and beliefs about political candidates and their policies. This can lead to heated debates and arguments, with people on both sides becoming entrenched in their positions and unwilling to listen to the other side.

Another reason is that politics is a high-stakes game. The decisions made by politicians have a direct impact on people’s lives, and people are passionate about making sure that the right person is in office. This can lead to intense competition among candidates and their supporters, with people becoming increasingly aggressive in their efforts to support or oppose a particular candidate.

Additionally, social media and the internet have amplified the negativity around political campaigns. The anonymity and lack of accountability provided by the internet has led to an increase in personal attacks, hate speech, and misinformation. People feel more emboldened to say things online that they would never say in person, leading to a toxic environment for candidates running for office.

It’s also important to note that some people’s intention is to use negative campaigning to discourage and demean the opponents, as a strategy to gain an advantage.

It’s important to remember that candidates running for office are human beings, with families, friends, and lives outside of politics. The constant negativity and hostility directed at them can take a toll on their mental and emotional well-being. As voters, we have a responsibility to engage in informed and respectful discussions about the issues and candidates, rather than resorting to personal attacks and hate speech.

When I first decided to run for office, I was treated like a martyr of sorts. I assume this was because of the potential attacks that political candidates face when running for office. We have all witnessed behavior that people display online and the irrelevant stories that are posted to shine a candidate in a negative light, etc. Imagine if we instead lifted up candidates and asked thought provoking questions, not to poke a hole in their character, but to truly vet them for the challenge of leading our prospective cities. Imagine the quality of candidates we would get if we spent our energy building our candidates up instead of attempting to tear them down. With better quality candidates, comes a better quality City Council, which ultimately benefits our city and all residents(win-win-win). None of us are under the obligation to be who we were 9 minutes ago, let’s do this!