Iowa: Three Questions

16/01/24 03:43
IMG_5581January 16, 2024 (Vol. 18 No. 3) - The 2024 presidential electoral process began in earnest last night with the Iowa Caucuses. As expected, former President Man-child won an easy victory, winning half of that state's 40 delegates to the Republican National Convention. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Governor Niki Haley ran a distant second and third, respectively. Now that this quadrennial ritual is behind us, I have three questions. Question 1: Why caucuses? This antiquated system is an anti-democratic vestige of English parliamentary elections that discourages voter participation. The 109,000-plus people who participated last night represented only 5.2 percent of Iowa's registered voters and only 15.2 percent of its registered Republicans. It's said Iowans cherish the caucus tradition. Apparently, most do not cherish it enough to brave sub-zero conditions on a winter's night. A traditional primary election would be more representative of the will of the people - and a heck of a lot more practical for the elderly, those who work at night and/or care for children. Question 2: Why Iowa? Starting the presidential nomination process in this lilly-white, ultra-conservative Midwestern enclave doesn't make any sense. Can you think of a state that is less representative of the diversity of America than Iowa? (OK, maybe New Hampshire. I'll save that for another day.) Regional multi-state primaries would force candidates to address a wider range of issues than farm subsidies, ethanol and the Butter Cow at the State Fair. Question 3: What the hell are these people thinking? Let's see if I got this straight: Iowa Republicans want a seditionist, rapist, tax-cheating, mentally ill, inarticulate, criminally stupid, Constitution-denying, wannabe dictator to be our next president. Really? That's the best we can do? In the movie Field of Dreams, Iowa is referred to as Heaven. But if this is the best Iowa Republicans can do when selecting a president, a more apt description of the place would be Hell. That's it for now. Fear the Turtle.