tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10563856.post1318176749445804803..comments2023-10-23T11:10:05.945-04:00Comments on Karen Duncan: Life in the Time of Coronavirus: Is It Time To Dethrone Iowa?Karen Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13954405672195734097noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10563856.post-3971202640335566472008-01-01T19:07:00.000-05:002008-01-01T19:07:00.000-05:00Good points. On the other hand is it necessarily ...Good points. On the other hand is it necessarily more fair to simply feature small states because they are small to give them more clout or influence in a primary?<BR/><BR/>How much does that skew the outcome and actually hurt each party. <BR/><BR/>For me, one of the problems of having small states have such a large role in determining the candidate is that it leaves both sides' candidates untested in the more urban and populated regions that ultimately decide the general elections. So, it often leaves us with weaker candidates who may appeal to their base voters but not to the larger public.<BR/><BR/>I've always been a skeptic about the notion that a place which has plentiful land but few voters should have as much say as place that may look smaller on a map but have more people. <BR/><BR/>That may seem unfair but is it? The idea should be that people vote, not rocks or trees. The more democratic (small "d" here) way is to let the majority of people have the deciding influence.<BR/><BR/>I can see rotating regions so that the South is first in the nation in one cycle, the Northeast in another, and the Western states in still another. But all the major cities should be included in the region. Then, you get an accurate sense of which candidate appeals most effectively to the broadest demographic of the voting public.<BR/><BR/>I think we'd all get better, stronger and more representative candidates that way.Karen Duncanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13954405672195734097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10563856.post-66752484697842630452008-01-01T17:46:00.000-05:002008-01-01T17:46:00.000-05:00The region idea has merit in that it sure would sa...The region idea has merit in that it sure would save on travel expenses! However, if one candidate had a lot of strength in one secion of the country, the strength factor would multiply. <BR/><BR/>The other problem I have with the "region" approach is if there is a 900 pound gorilla in the region, like New York, Texas, or California. Maybe those states could always be left out.<BR/><BR/>I wonder how long you could keep a "fair" rotation going?Isophoronehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08941512224577901986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10563856.post-38593630444092972932008-01-01T13:43:00.000-05:002008-01-01T13:43:00.000-05:00That's an interesting idea. I've also heard a prop...That's an interesting idea. I've also heard a proposal to have regional primaries and each election cycle giving a specific region the chance to be first so that no one area has a monopoly on first in the nation status or has an inordinate influence that is permanently enshrined in the process.<BR/><BR/>Either your proposal or that makes more sense that what we do now. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.Karen Duncanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13954405672195734097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10563856.post-85543163966322641792007-12-31T19:52:00.000-05:002007-12-31T19:52:00.000-05:00I have to say that I agree with you. "When I beco...I have to say that I agree with you. "When I become king" (so to speak), my ideal view would have 5-6 states doing the opening primary. None of them big states. So you could have Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Arizona, and, say, Oregon or Alaska. Different candidates would have different strengths, or can concentrate wherever they want. In my view, the primaries would become more competitive. <BR/><BR/>After the initial week or two, the bigger states could get their primaries, or you can have a "Super" (or "Super Duper") Tuesday.Isophoronehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08941512224577901986noreply@blogger.com