What were we promised?
When the two big political parties, Republicans and Democrats, hold their national conventions every four years, they both write a platform, with their promises for the next four years and for the president if their candidate wins. The last platforms are from 2008.
The Republicans offered immigrants nothing other than repression, saying that immigration “is a national security issue,” and, “Border security is essential to national security.”
In contrast, the Democrats made a specific promise: “We are committed to pursuing tough, practical and humane immigration reform in the first year of the next administration.” That was not only an offer of comprehensive immigration reform but within a specific time frame—by the end of 2009.
What did we get?
The Republicans urged more deportations and began a campaign to eliminate the ability of millions to vote by tightening ID requirements. There is no proof of significant past voter fraud, but the Republicans pretend that to combat voter fraud, everyone must have specific forms of identification. Such identification is largely not possessed by the young, poor people, minorities, the elderly etc.—who tend to vote Democratic. Unable to continue fooling people, the Republicans decided to prevent voting.
The Democrats, lead by President Obama, not only didn’t bring reform in the administration’s first year, but at all. Worse, since 2009, the annual average number of deportations has approached 400,000, according to the Department of Homeland Security. That’s double the annual average during President George W. Bush’s first term and 30 percent higher than the average when he left office.
Is there an alternative?
The Green Party nominated Jill Stein and Cheri Honkala for President and Vice President. The Green Party platform states: “Immigrant Rights: Support the rights of immigrants to housing, education, health care, jobs, and civil, legal, and political rights.”
Unlike the other two parties, the Green Party does not accept corporate donations. We need a broad based party like this, not just a Latino party, to put forward our interests in this election.
This is not the only third party to arise. In this time of rapid economic deterioration, third parties include the fascist Tea Party. The one thing the Tea Party never does is oppose corporate interests. They are largely funded by the billionaire Koch brothers, and they act in the interests of their corporate masters although many members may not consciously realize this.
A great deal—indeed, the future of the world—is at stake in this election, and many blocks have been thrown up to prevent full and informed Latino participation. While voting will not bring us the deep social change we need, voting and fighting for a true party to represent the 99% is a step in the direction we need to go.
What do the 2012 elections represent?
The polarizing economy creates political polarization, and the Green Party exemplifies this. We are only at the beginning of this process of political polarization. This is why the current elections are so important—because of the rapidly changing political and economic conditions in the US beginning with the destruction of the old parties.
Because of the economic destruction, there is a political awakening of the people, who are not satisfied with either of the two big parties, neither of which can put forth any meaningful solution. Millions are being destroyed for the sake of profit for the corporations—the same corporations that fund the Democrats and the Republicans. While the elections are not going to stop this in 2012, they are a start. The Green Party is raising issues that are in the interest of the unemployed, the foreclosed, and the dispossessed. This is the beginning of getting our voices heard, and we must fight for a party to represent us.
