Good riddance, first-up caucuses

There is some debate as to whether Iowa losing its status as the first state to vote in the primaries is appropriate or not. For the Republicans, Iowa is as appropriate as any state to vote first. Iowa looks like the Republican Party; older, whiter and more rural than the nation as a whole. The Democratic Party is younger, more racially diverse and more urban, which is not reflected in the Iowa electorate. For Democrats, Iowa going first makes no sense (not to mention the anti-democratic nature of the caucuses).

I, for one, say good riddance to our first in the nation status. And the fact that we're less likely to have desperate politicians combing every inch of Iowa for two years looking for a hand to shake is just an added bonus.

Wes Shirley

Cedar Rapids