.bodytext {float: left; } .floatimg-left-hort { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right: 10px; width:300px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-caption-hort { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:300px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-vert { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right:15px; width:200px;} .floatimg-left-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; font-size: 10px; width:200px;} .floatimg-right-hort { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px;} .floatimg-right-caption-hort { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px; font-size: 10px; } .floatimg-right-vert { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px;} .floatimg-right-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; font-size: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; border-top-style: double; border-top-color: black; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-color: black;} .floatimgright-sidebar p { line-height: 115%; text-indent: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar h4 { font-variant:small-caps; } .pullquote { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 150px; background: url(http://www.dmbusinessdaily.com/DAILY/editorial/extras/closequote.gif) no-repeat bottom right !important ; line-height: 150%; font-size: 125%; border-top: 1px solid; border-bottom: 1px solid;} .floatvidleft { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatvidright { float:right; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} When we were calling various groups to gather information for this week’s article about the Iowa Legislature’s 2008 agenda, the caucuses had not yet taken place. The frenzy was still growing. So when we asked a woman at the Iowa Democratic Party headquarters to shift gears and talk about the party’s state agenda for a moment, she said, “Are you serious?”

The devout members of both the Democratic and Republican parties have been understandably obsessed about the caucuses. The buildup was longer and more intense than ever before. They poured all of their energy into their parties and their candidates.

But, yes, the modest little Iowa Legislature is a serious matter, and let’s hope at least a few key political leaders kept their eye on the upcoming session even as those about them lost sleep over opinion polls and yard signs.

For most Iowans, the decisions made by our part-time legislators will have a more direct effect than all but a handful of the decisions made at the national level.

And if you’re serious about politics as a way to get things done, rather than as a blood sport, you’re much more likely to find satisfaction by getting involved at the Statehouse than at the White House.

So now is the time to refocus on issues close at hand. Many of our readers know very well how to influence the course of lawmaking through the lobbying process, but a true democracy needs more than that.

The great thing is, Iowa really is small enough to give you a voice. It’s not as exciting as showing up on network TV, but it’s important.

Prepare to do your part. Don’t bedevil your legislators with petty grudges and self-serving notions, but do your research and express your views.

Most of those candidates who just occupied so much of our time will barely make the history books. You can, in a small but important way, make history right here.