I know it’s a common criticism- people think the world revolves around them.

What if, instead of revolving around me, I just think it revolves around my state?

When you live in an area long enough and don’t take many significant trips, it can be easy to feel out of place in a new environment.What I have noticed here in Charlotte, though, is that more than feeling out of place, I just feel like I’m in Florida.Which I’m not.Right?

There are a few reasons I bring this up.Some of them are even related to the convention.

But the fun reason is how I really thought of this in the first place.The last few days here it has started raining on and off, sometimes heavily, in the later afternoon.Being a Floridian, I see absolutely nothing groundbreaking about this because we see the same summer storms day after day.

But as I sit in various coffee shops and convention halls around Charlotte, hearing all the other delegations from different states talking, I come to realize that’s just not the case.Some don’t see this much rain in a year!

Harmful as that story is, in politics- especially in Florida- I think this state-centric view of things (thinking that if it happens in my state it must happen everywhere, or that my state for some reason is more important than others) can be tricky.

We all know that Florida is an important state in the upcoming election.With polls showing only the slimmest of differences between the presidential candidates, many politicians view Florida as up for grabs.This can have a lot of benefits for us- with notable names making campaign stops or openly advocating important issues in the state.But when we become unable to see a situation through the eyes of another state it can be dangerous.

In another of my random interactions on the LYNX this week, I spoke with two men out of New Hampshire.We chatted for a while, and then for my own curiosity I asked them how they felt about Florida continuing to move up its primary date, battling New Hampshire for that coveted first role.With not a single glimpse of doubt in any of their words they emphatically and passionately told me that would not happen.The spot was theirs, and would always be theirs.

In New Hampshire, it’s about tradition.Having that primary is a big part of their identity.For Florida, it’s about influence.We want to be an early decider in the race and maybe sway the public in some way.

Both positions are reasonable.Neither one is wrong.Inflexibility between the two is dangerous.

The New Hampshire men were happy Florida was penalized for changing its date and hoped if the state didn’t learn its lesson there would be even more consequences.

Is it worth it?

Possibly, but is it important to step outside of your state’s perspective when deciding?

Absolutely.