Liam HalawithMaroon Echoes Editor Editor's note: Due to a misstep on the following article, we apologize to Jeff Batty, for a mis characterization of his personal views, via his duties on the city council. We apologize for the mischaracterization.
At the annual Old Threshers parade, high school students Olivia Larson and Maggie Fitzpatrick marched with the Henry County Democrats. Adorned in pins supporting the Henry County Democrats and presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren, they walked the parade route giving candy to kids and spreading their message. Larson wanted to march in the parade to spread awareness even though she can’t vote in the next election. “I wanted to figure out how I can volunteer my time, energy, and support to a candidate that had attributes that I admired the most.” “I feel like I have a responsibility as a part of this community to speak my voice and make a change. Especially since this is the future I’m going to be growing up in,” says Fitzpatrick. This sense of responsibility is what drove her to march with the Henry County Democrats, last Wednesday. Larson offered a bit of advice for teens that want to get involved in politics. “If you find candidates you really like you can go to their campaign website, and find out if there are any campaign organizers in your county and get in touch.” Larson meet a campaign organizer while working at Paul Revere’s Pizza and became involved in local politics. Jeff Batty, is a Government teacher at a Mt. Pleasant Community High School and on the Mt. Pleasant City Council, representing Ward 4, which covers the Old Threshers and Linden Heights areas. “We are citizens not subjects,” says Batty. This comes from his understanding of our constitutional government. According to Batty, the founding fathers knew it wouldn’t be long until we became subjects again if we don’t participate in our democracy. Batty says, “It’s important for students to understand and participate in our government if future generations do not we will no longer be citizens but subjects.” According to Batty, the United States was the first nation to have a constitution, established after a revolt in the late 1700s. “Our constitution was an original,” says Batty. Our revolt lead the rest of the western world to revolt against British and Spanish rule. After their revolutions, they too established constitutions. Batty says, “Our founding fathers weren’t perfect, but the step that they took was huge for the time.” Batty is referring to the establishment of a constitutional government. Batty says, “there are lots of ways to get involved but a good way in Iowa, is to attend the caucuses.” In 2016, students at MPCHS in Batty’s Government classes were very involved at the caucuses. He had lots of students on both sides of the political divide that were involved in local political activism. According to Batty, to understand modern politics, and to choose a candidate that’s best for you, one must understand history and economics. You must understand the past to understand how to make the best decision for you.
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