OPINION:
Through decades of observation and close study, I believe I know a great deal about politics and the way our government operates. One facet of it I do not understand despite struggling to is why such inordinate influence in the nomination of a presidential candidate is afforded to two of the least representative states of our nation: Iowa and New Hampshire.
The residents of these states seem to believe that it is their God-given right to meet each candidate at local establishments at least five times and to have the opportunity to shake their hands, speak with them and get them to pose for pictures with them and their family members.
What would preclude the United States from nominating presidential candidates the sensible way, with one national primary election day within a couple of months of the general election, instead of a seemingly perpetual race for the presidency in which candidates are forced to focus on certain small states to the exclusion of those that are more heavily populated?
The convoluted, bizarre, anachronistic presidential nomination process and caucuses in Iowa should be a lesson in how not to elect a president. I suppose we do it this way because we have always done it this way. However, this is a recipe for a lack of confidence in our government and our presidential nominees.
OREN M. SPIEGLER
Upper St. Clair, Pa.
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