As Iowans, our identity dissolves into Midwestern corn fields and synonyms for Idaho and Illinois; we have no Hollywood, Las Vegas or Disney World, and no strategic bases. The only real recognition the other 49 states grant us is our brief caucus every fourth year.

Now it appears that we may be losing that attention. We championed Rick Santorum only to see him marginalized in New Hampshire and South Carolina. Our indifference to Newt Gingrich made no difference to South Carolina.

Throughout history, Iowa’s top three candidates have generally won the party nomination. In 2008, we predicted Barack Obama’s nomination — he won our caucus with 38 percent of the vote. John Kerry also won the nomination in 2004 with 38 percent. And in 2000, George W. Bush won the Iowa caucuses with 41 percent.

However, this year, Jon Huntsman did not think Iowa mattered. He ignored the Iowa caucuses to focus on New Hampshire. All of this seems to indicate Iowa is losing prestige to pick winners.

Instead of this year’s Iowa winner continuing on to win other caucuses, we’ve seen the first three states claim different winners. As Santorum said in South Carolina, “Three states, three winners, what a great country.”

We could not agree more. After all, we are not 50 cloned states, but 50 separate states with separate preferences. The American strength that comes from our combination of 50 states lasts only so long as each state retains its own diversity.

The demand for unity destroys diversity. From the East Coast to the West Coast, Americans dress in Uggs, drink Starbucks and watch CNN or Fox News. While it may have an overall beneficial effect, popular culture undermines regional and local identities. We even want political unity.

Fifty different electorates from 50 different states balances out regional bias, private interests and politicized factions. It means our government body must debate and argue within itself to pass legislation.

Just as importantly, it means the president will not have unanimous support. Newt Gingrich or Mitt Romney may win the presidency, but they did not win every vote. The president is more a politician who must balance issues and states than he is a tyrant with uncontested policies.

Iowa may no longer serve as a presidential forecaster, but its dissenting opinion can be equally valuable. It reminds politicians that the states are all different and diverse, and despite popular support there are dissenters.

Iowa’s identity does not have to dissolve as our caucuses lose their prestige. Even though we have few major attractions, we can have major opinions, and that is all we need to define ourselves.