Dear Editor:
It was disheartening for me to hear the press coverage about the Iowa caucuses. The national media claimed the caucus was a disaster which is not true for the people who attended them. It may be true for the news agencies who are paying their staff to stay in Iowa causing additional expenses, but the media frenzy was not created by Iowans. We do say to those reporting just step back and take a deep breath. The results will be in and they will be accurate.
The people who attended the caucus came together Monday night to discuss issues and candidates while respecting each other’s opinions. The attendees were very well informed and many had heard the candidate speak numerous times. They had educated themselves about candidates and their stands on issues and had thoughtfully chosen a candidate to support. How many people around the country have spent time talking and listening to their neighbors about important issues facing our nation today? Wouldn’t America be a better place if we did?
The awarding of delegates in the caucus went smoothly, but the reporting technology did not. The Iowa Democratic Party had good intent. It hoped to have an inclusive and transparent system in place. The amount of data that needed to be reported and faulty technology resulted in a system overload. The system of reporting of data can be fixed, so in the future results will be given in a timely manner.
Our way of choosing candidates for the most important office in America is different from many other states. I have heard many candidates through the years say that Iowans are the most informed voters in the country. This is because Iowans take the time to talk to each other and listen to what the candidates have to say. It is true democracy in action. I truly hope the negative attention that is coming from the media does not affect the caucuses in the future.
Sue Richardson, Jefferson
