I was born in Iowa and the majority of my large extended family still lives in Iowa. When I was 7 years old, my family moved to Massachusetts. My cousins, young and unfiltered, and still in Iowa, kept me updated on how my perceptions of Iowa should have changed.
"You think we are all dumb hicks, chewing on hay and wearing straw hats."
I did? That's what I thought?
"But that's okay," my 11 year old cousin would add. "Because we think you are snobby Mayflower pilgrims."
I have never been ashamed of my Iowa roots. And I have never thought of my cousins as hicks. In fact, I always felt like they were far more stylish and knowledgeable than me. When their 4H projects won awards and they suddenly owned a week's worth of Z. Cavariccis, I was pretty firmly convinced that I was missing out.
I should clarify my earlier statement. I was never ashamed of my Iowa roots until 2016, when Iowa went red in the national election. My uncle said, "You just don't understand how badly people want change."
In December 2016, I was still disappointed enough that I skipped sending out Christmas/New Years cards to my Midwest relatives. I skipped again in 2017 and 2018. In 2019, I sent some cards.
There's a lot of reasons I'm not blogging very much lately, and the political situation is certainly one of them. I'm so discouraged by what I see; I don't like to be political; and yet I'm so horrified that I can't NOT say something when given access to a public forum. This is not a version of myself that I like, and it's not a place that I'm comfortable to be. I don't want to fight with anybody, actually. But I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW ANYONE'S VALUES HAVE SUNK SO LOW THAT THIS LEADERSHIP AND THEIR ACTIONS ARE ACCEPTABLE. THESE ARE NOT AMERICANS THAT I KNOW. Also: Iowa's caucus debacle is fresh in my mind, adding insult to injury.
Primary season, in general, frequently leaves me disappointed. I look for candidates who clearly articulate a VISION that I agree with. Then I want to know if that candidate can back it up. Its strange how little Vision we get during the primaries. Is that because we only have two parties and the candidates in the primaries are expected to adhere to the generally accepted party's Vision? In 2016, I liked Bernie Sanders because of his Vision. I think he's still got Vision. But after 4 years of watching him, I'm a little less convinced that he's got the support and the roadmaps he'll need to make his Vision happen. I like Elizabeth Warren's plans, but I worry that her Vision is basically to get rid of money in politics. It feels a little reactive, not proactive. I liked Pete Buttigieg a few months ago; lately I'm worried that his positions are more about crowd-pleasing and less about his Vision. I actually have no idea what his Vision is. And I have no idea if he can back it up...although I DO trust him to surround himself with really smart people - who will definitely have experience - but who may or may not support his undefined Vision. Amy Klobuchar got in that really great spiel about FDR and "I know you" at the New Hampshire debate. It was brilliant and Vision defining, we shall see if it continues and develops. One great spiel isn't enough yet for me to vote for her. I can't really take any of the other candidates seriously: not Biden (riding on Obama's coat tails, and otherwise with a track record that I find a little suspect), not Steyer (with no government experience), and not Bloomberg (although I very much appreciate Everytown and his humorous ads.)
After primary season, Visions seem to be more clearly articulated. Two major candidates make for more contrast and an easier decision about who to support. This primary season, which is looking like it will be long, is yet another unresolved and upsetting phase in the already disturbing spectacle of the last four years. I'm trying to be optimistic: the process will yield the best candidate! But I'm not so sure that's a reality that has played out in the past.
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