Engaged Citizenry in Iowa

When Iowa residents headed to candidate rallies on a New Year’s Day in single digit weather, I first thought they must have lost a bet of some kind, but in fact I was witnessing some of the most engaged citizenry in the nation.

These excited, rosy-cheeked citizens filled a high school gymnasium to the rafters for a rally for Sen. Obama. At one point, the senator asked members of the crowd to raise their hands if they planned to caucus, and of course, most of the members there raised their hands. He then asked all those who hadn’t yet made a decision to raise their hands; there were about twenty or so people who earnestly raised theirs, deeply wanting to hear Obama’s message.

I am certain that there are thousands of individuals across the state of Iowa, from both sides of the aisle, who have actually take the time to study the candidates, whether they have made their decision or not. For Louisiana and other states with a late primary date, it is pretty much solidly pre-determined who the candidates are going to be for each party, and soon everyone aligns with the party’s nominee, no matter who the candidate is. But what sets Iowa and other early primary states apart is their deep and thorough connection to the presidential campaign. The responsibility these residents must feel in the election process astounds me. But when asked about the gravity of their role in deciding the next leader of the free world, several caucus participants looked at me as though I was crazy. Their role is second nature to them, yet it blew me away. Louisianans would be so lucky to have half the chance of Iowans to earnestly study the candidates before deciding who best fits the mold of their president.

Additionally, I owe theses Iowans a huge compliment. Never in my life have I seen such active political engagement, where it’s not just peripheral-route campaigning, but dedicated, sincere discussions in order to reach a conclusion. And I can’t wait until Thursday evening to observe a caucus in action and witness a throwback to the old fashioned town hall meetings, reflective of our earliest democratic processes. The residents of Iowa and other early primary states should be proud of the energy they put into their votes.

Truthfully, the kind of dedication to the democratic process that I have seen in Iowa is exactly the type of dedication all citizens should practice before casting a vote. Researching candidates, discussing a decision with others, and thinking outside of an echo chamber are the practices to follow in this democracy of ours. We should all study our history and renew our appreciation of our ability to vote. Citizens who don’t own land, African-Americans, women, and everyone between the ages of 18 and 21 should have an increased appreciation for a vote, if only to honor those who came before them to fight for it. A vote is so precious and hallowed that it is deserving of the energy needed to make a well-researched decision.

And being that it is beginning of a brand new year, I feel that it would be in our best interest as American citizens to resolve to use prudent judgment when making a decision, and casting a vote only after the right preparations have gone into it. Iowa, thank you for opening my eyes to a truly engaged citizenry.