Don’t be a hater

Welcome to this week’s Reno News & Review.

Time for the third and final installment—at least for a while—of a recurring feature in this column: Common Questions About the Best of Northern Nevada Readers’ Poll. This week’s question: “Isn’t it just a popularity contest?”

The answer, of course, is yes, it’s just a popularity contest. But what’s wrong with that? Popularity contests are the basis of democracy. Elections are also popularity contests. So, if you don’t like the Best of Northern Nevada contest, or if you don’t take the time to vote, you must hate America.

(Quick aside: Huge congrats to the U.S. women’s national soccer team for their win in the 2019 World Cup! If you don’t think this team is awesome—dominant on the field and outspoken in their views—or if you don’t think they deserve to be paid the same as their male colleagues, then you must hate America.)

And, here at the RN&R, we support some competitive campaigning. Now, we don’t allow ballotstuffing with hired foreign voters or bots or phony email addresses. But if you or your business—or your friend or a family member’s business—has been nominated, then that’s great news and feel free to start shouting it from the rooftops. Or the modern day equivalent, posting about it on social media.

In fact, if you’ve been nominated, please reach out to our office manager, Lisa Ryan, and request a social media graphic to enhance your campaign. She can be reached at 324 4440, ex. 3526, or at lisar@newsreview.com.

And hurry! This is the last week. Voting ends on July 18. So, do it now!

As much as we like fantasyland suggestions that reluctant rulers—maybe crippled children with mystic, psychedelic visions—might make the best leaders, in the real world, we like to root for those who fight to win. Like the U.S. women’s national soccer team.