It has been hectic. So much going on!
First Groundhog Day, then the Iowa Caucus. Punxsutawney Phil predicted an early spring, and yet it’s Tuesday and we don’t know who won the Caucus.
Like many Americans, I’ll vote in November for any Democrat who wins the nomination. But I’m curious to see who won in Iowa, because it provides a basis for comparison in the months to come–at least in the midwest.
Politics has been stressful for the last three years, but I have been touched by the Democratic candidates’ talk of the need for empathy (a word rarely used by politicians), social justice (another forgotten concept), environmental justice (God, we need it!), equal pay for women (after all these years), protecting the right to choose (I am shocked by the erosion of Roe v Wade), and raising the minimum wage to $15 (a necessity).
If politicians don’t strive for high ideals, things go downhill fast. We’ve seen it many, many times. And so it is a pity about the malfunction of the Caucus app, which was supposed to ensure accuracy and prevent the cheating, or perhaps the errors, if one is being kind, that occurred during the 2016 caucuses, when Hillary was neck-and-neck with Bernie and declared the winner.
Today the app was fixed, they say, and they have slowly, painstakingly been computing the numbers. It has been frustrating and depressing for politicians and political junkies. But for the first time there is paper backup, photos of cards filled out by caucus-goers, in addition to the head count by precinct captains. Ironically, this slow vote-count may be more accurate than past caucuses. They’re probably counting on paper!
At least Punxsutawney Phil says it’s almost spring.