Should Iowa Matter?

The title is the real question, should Iowa matter this much in politics? Should a state with 1/2 the average population of US States, no significant minority representation, no real industrial base, and second and third tier urban areas be this important?

The answer is, of course, no. The only reason it is this important is the media has decided it should be. Due to that decision, nearly every other state has tried to move it's primary elections up, to maintain relevance.

Say Iowa's winners, Obama and Huckabee, end up with the nominations? Is that what we 'really' want? On the Democratic side it's possible, on the GOP side, I'd say no. In reality, neither is probably ready for the job. Of course, if voters actually looked at qualifications, not just commercials, Bill Richardson and John McCain would probably have wiped everyone off the map. But voters don't, we don't like to admit it, but we buy the sales pitch, and don't really kick the tires.

Some folks will drop out after today, hopefully Dennis Kucinich and Duncan Hunter (who's probably more qualified than both of the winners) take quick exits. But some folks who might actually be better qualified, and have a chance at winning may leave too. That's too bad; one small; really insignificant; state making that big a difference in how we select our leaders.