Interaction between citizens and the officials they elect to represent them is crucial to a democracy.

Citizens must be able to tell the officials what they want and what they don’t want. They must also be able to hold the officials responsible for their actions.

The elected officials must explain to the citizens why they take the actions they do.

In Fort Dodge there has been an event in place for at least 20 years that brings state, and sometimes federal, legislators, together with citizens. It’s called Eggs and Issues.

Eggs and Issues is a forum that is held once a month while the Iowa legislature is in session. It’s typically held on the fourth Saturday of January, Feburary, March and April. It’s held on the campus of Iowa Central Community College.

During the forum, the legislators give opening statements about issues and bills they are working on. Then it is the audience’s turn. Anyone in the room who has a question is free to ask it.

The give and take between the legislators and the citizens is democracy at work.

It is something that everyone should want to be part of.

Eggs and Issues is sponsored by the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance and Iowa Central Community College.

The 2020 series of Eggs and Issues forums will begin at 8:30 a.m. Saturday in the Bioscience and Health Sciences Building on the Fort Dodge campus.

U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Kiron, is expected to attend. Also expected to attend are state Sen. Tim Kraayenbrink, R-Fort Dodge; state Rep. Ann Meyer, R-Fort Dodge; and state Rep. Mike Sexton, R-Rockwell City.

We encourage everyone to participate in their democracy by attending Eggs and Issues.