The whole event is fascinating, and it’s especially interesting for me, as I live in one of the key “battleground” cities for the Iowa caucus. Having all of these caucus-related events going on around me, so to speak, has magnified the significance of the process.
Many have said (and I generally agree) that the Iowa caucus compares more favorably to classic, early-American politicking than other major political procedures in The States. I think the Founding Fathers would admire the process. This is a system where candidates must earn their keep on a personal level with the public – much more so than at other times. I know this sounds like a cliché! However, after watching all of this from the perspective of both an outsider (I’m not originally from Iowa) and a resident, I’ve become an advocate of the concept, even though I acknowledge it isn’t perfect.
In the lead-up to the caucuses, politicians must interact with people...real people who probably represent a better cross-section of motivated voters than those who just happen to be watching a television broadcast. Candidates can’t just rely on “soundbites.” They must prove themselves through actual conversations that are often unrehearsed. The ability to listen, learn, and connect with the public is of amplified importance here.
I think that’s part of why Obama has enjoyed this so much. Perhaps he’s a prime example of an American politician who could also thrive in the Europe. (I’m not talking about his campaign platform or his stances on various issues here; I’m just referring to his propensity to articulate his ideas in impromptu public forums. That’s a lost art among many American candidates.)
The process has also been interesting from a human-behavioral standpoint. Many have voiced their disapproval over the amount of attention that Iowa has received. Now, I’m okay with people wanting to improve the system, obviously. I have no way of knowing whether the current system is the best one. Still, I don’t approve of people wanting to completely change the process out of envy – or because they have some pre-conceived notion that Iowa isn’t an appropriate setting. In my opinion, this caucusing isn’t perfect, but it works in a way that very few other political procedures do. If we’re looking to improve our voting system, let’s overhaul the truly bad parts, rather than scrapping one that benefits us in a unique way.
