–Former US Senator Tom Harkin stopped in Algona on Sunday speaking inside the Wilcox Performing Arts Center. Harkin, who served 5 terms in the U Senate, was the featured guest at a Chautauqua talk hosted by the Kossuth County Democrats. The Senator spoke for nearly 45 minutes before taking questions, touching on policies that have garnered a lot of attention in recent years, like Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Harkin says efforts to include every American in all aspects of society didn’t really begin until the Civil Rights Act in the mid 1960’s.
Harkin also focused on the concentration of wealth in the country and the consequences that can bring.
During a question and answer session, Harkin discussed some agricultural issues, including the similarities between the 80’s farm crisis and today.
Harkin also took a moment to discuss Iowa’s reliance on Ethanol.
The 85-year-old Senator also shared information about the Harkin Institute located at Drake University in Des Moines, which features the most handicap accessible building int he country. You can learn more about the Harkin Institute by clicking the link below. This was the second Chautauqua talk held recently in Algona as former Iowa Governor Terry Branstad was the featured guest at the first event back in June.
www.harkininstitute.drake.edu/
