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January 3, 2008
Ugh. Iowa.
In a couple hours, the Iowa caucuses- or Hawkeye Caucii, if you prefer- will be starting, and that means we're off to the races for a new President.
Are we the only ones screaming WTF at this? Why on Earth does Iowa get to have such a crucial role in our electoral system. Why on Earth should a state with about a fourth of the people of L.A. County get the first say in who the nominees are? We'd really like someone to explain this to us.
But, oh, the history they'll say. It's always been done like this. Bullshit. This thing started in 1972. The Rolling Stones are more historic than the freaking Iowa Caucuses. Yes, while the fact remains is that while the whole primary system sucks (we should switch over to a regional system, but that's another post), but the Caucuses are especially horrible. Why? Because at least in the primaries, you can at least send in an absentee ballot. Not the Caucuses, no, they're far too elite for that. Nurses working the night shift? Fuck 'em. Single dads who can't get a day off from the plant? Fuck 'em. Soliders in Iraq or Afganistan? Fuck 'em.
It's like Patt Morrison said yesterday in the Times: this is like letting Glendale (whose, population, 200,000, is equal to what might be the turnout in Iowa today) decide who the nominees are for President. Of course, Glendale has greater diversity than Iowa, so that might not be such a bad idea.
So in conclusion- the nominees for President of the United States have a very good chance of being decided by around 200,000 white folks from the "Tall Corn State", while we, in the most populous state in the union, with the 6th largest economy in the world just sit tight and wait for them to decide. Yeah, we have a little more say this year due to our primary being in February, but let's be honest- we'll never have the influence that Iowans have. And is there a single good reason for it? No.
We need a stiff drink.
AP Photo by Dave Weaver
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there are plenty of places that articulate the answer to your question, "why iowa", better than i will, but the main reasons are:
-Iowans are better informed, and not to mention smarter (best graduation and testing rankings in the US)
-due to the rural dispersion, candidates are required to go out and meet with those who will be caucusing for them in person. that seems to be a better facilitator for decision making than airing a commercial on kcal.
-Iowans are diverse and really willing to consider all alternatives.
there are obviously others, but keep in mind this does not select the nominee, it's more of a political bellwether, and a good one at that.
my only concern was that last election only 6% of the iowa voting population participated in caucuses. i'm not sure how that matches up with other primaries, but it does seem a bit low. predictions say this year it will be higher.
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Iowans CAUCUS. Trust me, Californians (or those is LA) are flaky enough to get them to vote, let alone caucus which can take HOURS (for Dems especially!)
Yes the caucus system may be ancient, but it's intensity makes the candidates have to stand up early in the game, state their stance on the issue and see if they can take the heat.
This year other states DID try to beat out Iowa and New Hampshire, but moving their primaries up but then Iowa and NH just moved theirs up to January which is why we'll now have the longest political race for President ever.
I hear you about "Why Iowa" but the fault is the government, not the nice corn-bred folk of Iowa so I don't think they should take the brunt of your frustration.
Think of it like sports in New York - there is nothing like sports reporters there, and that's like political correspondents in Iowa.
If you want to make a change, or be involved in the change of the voting system, check out Why Tuesday. I've written about it here on LAist before and they are a passionate group looking to reform election policy.
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I've got nothing but respect for the people of Iowa who sit through this type of ordeal (just watching on C-SPAN bores me to death). But the fact is that the system of no absentee ballots heavily favors the elderly, college students and the wealthy. I'd hate to be a parent with a sick kid on the night of the Caucus. The Iowa Democratic and Republican Parties are the real subjects of my wrath.
I'd aruge that the political road to DC is intense enough, without these hoops to jump through.
Like I said in the post, I'd recommend that the two parties abolish the individual primaries all together and vote by regions. There'd be a lot more diversity, and it'd be a heckuva lot simpler.