I wouldn't say that I am a avid watcher of American Politics or a vocal person when it comes to serious discussion of government oversight and associated daily American political situations. But, every once and awhile, I have to question what the hell is going on -(Yes, that is a Political Science Technical term).
- Iowa Caucuses are, in my opinion, slightly ridiculous. Or more to the point, it is RIDICULOUS that the candidates and media place so much emphasis on the outcome of the "election results" coming from this state. Only 1% of our Nation's delegates are chosen by the Iowa State Convention and the winner of this caucus is most definitely NOT a proportional reflection on the views and voting weight of the rest of the country - example: In recent Iowa caucuses John Kerry, Al Gore And Huckabee have been obvious winners in this part of the election process. Not exactly a great indicator of a strong forerunner?
- I don't believe that a state that is predominately white (91%); has below national average unemployment (in the single digits); has a higher than national average older popualtion (15%); a state that is proudly conservative, religious and therefore reflects one minority of Americans - White and Conservative. How is this representative of America as a whole?
" They pick corn in Iowa. They actually pick the President in New Hampshire"
- The Iowa caucuses bring excitement and curiosity because they are the first, and in my opinion, that's about it. I would hesitate to say, " What is popular in Iowa will be indicative of what will popular in across the country" or " If it is popular here in (Iowa), it will be popular everywhere else, but it fails here in Iowa, it will fail across the country". WOW. Really. I'm sure about you, I'm certainly looking for other things in my candidate than a farmer in Iowa wouldn't be. My choice of Presidential candidate certainly isn't Michelle Bachmann or Old Newt or even this year's winner.....Romney.
Iowa, I'm sure, is a wonderful state with the right to express their political acumen in the same way as the rest of America. But do we really believe that the views expressed by this state and it's population truly reflect the mood of our people? In a country that is plagued with unemployment, poor education, a unprecedented poor economic status where the middle class is slowly disappearing; in a country that is facing public unrest and widespread poverty....we are looking to Iowa as our voice? Things must be worse than I thought.
But maybe that's the problem, folks. Maybe there are too many of us that scream for change and are grasping at anyone who tells us, " Look to me as your candidate and I will change the future....I will bring our country back from the brink.....I will give you jobs.....I will turn it around". And we as a nation are desperate to believe that they can. We vote with our checkbooks; we vote with our inability to provide for our families as we have in the past; we vote for more......
And yet, we have to remember that a president is just a PART of the equation. He or she can only do so much without the support and bipartisanship of our political parties in office. Our president, or in this case, or Presidential candidates can promise us the moon, but if, once in office, they fail to have the support of both parties and their respective elected officials.....their promises mean nothing.
I, for one, need to believe that our country will vote sensibly and with an educated understanding that the President is figure head that is powerless without the support of very people YOU elect to represent you.
What say you?
