latino bloc party?
06.09.05 // 11:50 p.m.

I agree with Elenamary that those who doubt the political power of Raza are full of bullshit. However, I know we have a long way to go. I finally got around to reading an article in the LA Times by Sam Qui�ones entitled Latino Bloc Has Far to Go.

Some things that struck me most about the article:

Latinos are a growing political force: Voter registration has risen steadily over the last decade, and turnout in the mayoral runoff election was higher than ever. A Newsweek cover story touted Villaraigosa's victory as proof that "Latinos are making their mark on politics as never before."

But their political punch in Los Angeles is not nearly what it could be...

Although many Latinos cannot vote because they are here illegally, about half a million � an eighth of the city's population � are eligible to become citizens but have not, according to a study by the National Assn. of Latino Elected Officials. This despite efforts by the U.S. government to make naturalization easier and quicker.

Low voter registration and turnout are hardly unique to Latinos.

What's more, there is no single "Latino community." There are many, with starkly different priorities and motivations: the illegal dayworker who just arrived from Oaxaca, the Zacatecan ranchero who has been here most of his life, the third-generation Mexican American lawyer. In the mix, as well, are Central Americans, Cubans, Argentines and their U.S.-born children. Not all even speak Spanish...

Many immigrants from Mexico believe that they will someday return there to live, so instead of getting involved politically in the United States, they visit their native country regularly, investing in houses and contributing to public works projects in their hometowns.

Because they remain so closely connected to Mexico, they don't easily shed negative attitudes they developed back home toward politics and politicians.

Through it all, he always intended to return to Mexico. "All of us think that way," he said of Mexican immigrants, "all of us."

"It's an illusion," Moreno said. "The reality is you never go back."

Qui�ones cited a few reasons for why we're voting at low rates and why we still have progress to make:

  1. Immigration status

  2. We're not becoming citizens even if we're eligible to because we have a dream of going back to Mexico.

  3. Socioeconomic status and age (poorer and younger).

  4. Frequently changing residence.

  5. Distrust of politics and the political system because experience in Mexico.

�Qu� piensan? For those of you who are the children of immigrants, do your parents plan to go back? Do you vote? Do your parents vote (if eligible)?

In my case, my parents are naturalized citizens. My grandparents became naturalized citizens a few years ago but are not registered voters. They also have two homes in Mexico, one in Tijuana and the other in el Cargadero, Zacatecas. They split their time between the three locations. My parents' families both emigrated when they were children, so they don't have experience with shady Mexican politicians. Still, like my siblings, they're not involved politically aside from voting. In fact, from my pre-teen days, my mom always asked me about my opinion regarding elections and will still vote the way I tell her.

Qui�ones has a point.

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