i guess the common wisdom (as expressed, for example, by that acme of common wisdom gail collins, who last said something provocative or surprising before she could actually talk) is that the iowa caucuses are undemocratic because...iowa is too white, only 15% participate, no secret ballot, etc. well. on grounds like these the quaker meeting is undemocratic, the new england town meeting etc. i think it's amazing and cool that a rural state participates in this through face to face actual democratic procedure. deal with it. or jack it up.