Straw poll no more relevant than ‘Idol’

In the late 1980s, I spent three summers in Iowa City, two of those teaching summer school for the University of Iowa Upward Bound program. I enjoyed my time there and came to appreciate the land and people of Iowa. However, in recent years, my fondness for your state has declined as I have come to resent your disproportionate influence on presidential campaigns.

The recent Republican straw poll makes a mockery of the candidate selection process. Only 16,000 people participated - slightly more than the population of Boone. Yet two candidates use that to justify crowing (Michele Bachmann and Ron Paul) while another (Tim Pawlenty) ends his campaign without the opportunity to tell his message to other states.

The poll is meaningless, ridiculously exclusive and completely undemocratic. Really? Only one place in the entire state to vote? The vote counts for nothing? What is the point? It has no more relevance than voting in “American Idol.”

More of the country needs to be able to have a say rather than a select few who have the time and transportation to get to Ames. Please Iowa, stop usurping the process and allow candidates to appeal to other states. The straw poll was selfish at best and damaging to the process at worst.

Ronald Wall

Wichita, Kan.