Hart learns youths’ views

In addition to answering Berg Middle School students’ questions about politics and the issues affecting Americans, Iowa Second Congressional District candidate Rita Hart decided she, too, would ask a question of her own:

"What do you think?" she asked frequently, even going as far as to return to a student she had forgotten to quiz directly after answering his question. The former educator early Wednesday morning seemed at home inside the Newton middle school classroom.

After expressing her views on the increased interest to legalize marijuana, humans’ affects on climate change and proposals to restore felons’ voting rights, to name a few, the former running mate of Fred Hubbell turned the issues around on the students to listen to their views.

Hart learned that even though there are medicinal boons to legalizing marijuana, a student still had reservations that the drug would still be misused and may need restrictions; she also found out that one student believes more things can be done to improve the environment and earth.

When discussing voting rights restored to felons who have paid their debt to society, Hart pushed back on a student’s opinion that those rights should not be given back. Should the rule be applied to every offender, she suggested, no matter the extent of the crime? The student shrugged his shoulders.

“Hmm?” Hart said, smiling. “Things you gotta think about — good question.”

Of the many candidates or elected
officials who have visited teacher Tyler Stewart's civics class in the past few years, few have really taken an active interest in the views of kids who are not even legally allowed to vote by asking what they think. Hart remained consistent to that effect.

Headline topics were also of interest to Berg students, like the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump and Hart’s thoughts were on the feud between candidates Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, particularly the former’s unsubstantiated claims that the latter said a woman cannot be president.

Hart was also prodded by students if she had decided on a candidate to support or endorse. The Democratic candidate vying for Congressman Dave Loeback’s seat upon his retirement acknowledged there is a lot to choose from but has not yet picked one, and likely will not until caucuses next month.

Most topics offered insight into Hart’s views on specific issues:

Death penalty

Keeping Americans — and, by extension, Iowans — safe is important to Hart. From the research she has seen, the death penalty does not seem to deter or limit crime. Therefore, it becomes “a situation of justice as far as retribution is concerned.” She is a person who believes in redemption and does not support the death penalty. The student who asked the question could not pick a side.

“It’s a tough one, isn’t it? It’s one that society has dealt with for a long, long time,” Hart said. “We’re one of very few industrialized nations that have the death penalty, so it’s certainly something to think about.”

Climate change

In regards to stopping the effects of climate change, Hart suggested it is going to take the work of more than one person. Outright stopping the effects will be difficult if not impossible, but Hart said people can slow it down and mitigate those effects. To do so requires collaboration and “all hands on deck.” The current president, she said, has not taken that kind of attitude.

“I’d like to see that kind of an attitude,” she said. “Again, I want to leave this world a better place for you. And you want to leave this place a better place for your children. And we know — the science is clear — what’s happening.”

Gun violence

This seems to be a common topic among students, who fear of more gun violence in schools. Hart is a person who “firmly” believes in the Constitution and the Second Amendment. But she also recognizes that people want to be safe in the United States. She said there are things lawmakers can do to make the country a safer place.

“I think it’s so unfortunate that we are raising a generation of kids like you who think about coming to school and what are you going to do if somebody walks in and starts shooting — that, to me, is unacceptable,” Hart said.

Immigration

The United States needs to have a secure border, Hart said. She also suggested that legislators need to work to reassure citizens that illegal activity is not taking place. The country has a longstanding tradition of being “a welcoming nation” with deep, historical ties to immigration. Hart is a proponent of immigration reform.

“That’s our heritage and we want to continue that — and we need to,” Hart said. “… Here in our local areas we have places that rely on immigrant labor in order to keep our food on the table and get our jobs done. So we have to have a reliable process to get there.”

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com