Thought for the Day: Senora Smith Goes to Washington

Mr. Smith image courtesy of Wikimedia commons

I was raised in a family that valued the power of voting. I come from a family that values hard work and the working class. My grandfather was a miner and a union member. My grandmother tells stories of hard times during strikes and good times when there was work. She worked in the fields when she was little and was blessed to be able to work at the local movie theaters when she was a young teenager. Because she looked white and was quite stunning, they didn't force the whole theater segregation on her. I guess we all learn, at some point, how to play "the game". However, every election season leaves me feeling a little more like Jimmy Stewart's Mr. Smith. When is this "game" going to end?

We allow ourselves to believe that the candidates with the most money will win simply because that is what has become of our election process. Isn't it time to change that mentality? Am I just being naive? Perhaps I am.

While researching candidates I see that unions  are supporting candidates who have never set foot on a picket line or who have supported big business in exploiting workers. I see civil rights leaders, like Dolores Huerta, supporting a candidate whose family has exploited farm workers in California. Of course my cries for help with the Santa Rita have fallen on deaf ears for all who one would think would take an interest in such a landmark, so why would I think it would be any different in choosing which candidates to endorse?

True Mexican is about having pride in our culture. The way we do things is through word of mouth. Most Latinos shun the idea of throwing money at candidates and so most candidates ignore us. In America, money talks. However, in our culture, character is king and speaks volumes. As we come so close to the primary here in Arizona I beg each of you to think about which political leaders will represent you. More importantly, which candidates will stand for those who are voiceless? Don't look to the endorsement pages of candidate websites because they are bought with the blood money.

For me, in looking at who I want to take on McCain, I am looking at the guy who walks with union workers, who fought for the rights of field workers, who stood with Chavez and makes change rather than waiting for public opinion to dictate what he should do. I look to the man who ran because he is against SB1070 and saw that change and leadership was so desperately needed.  I'm for the candidate who believes marriage is a right for all couples and the term doesn't become "civil union" for some while heterosexuals get to call it marriage. I am looking at the only Latino running for senate in 2010.I support Parraz.

So, in the end, I guess money does talk. So, in looking for which candidates should earn your support ask where their money comes from. Did that candidate have to beg for money and scrape together the funds to buy signs? Are they using the power of grassroots organizing because, A.) It works and B.) It's free? How many endorsements do they have? Remember, "you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours" rarely benefits you and me.

Whether we like it or not, our country is run by elected officials. It's not fair that only democrats and republicans are heard, but that's the way it is. Someday change will come, but for right now I choose to work with the system we have so that I can ensure my husband, friends and family have jobs. We are all non-profit workers who fall at the mercy of Washington politics for up-keeping our funding.

We would love to know who you are supporting and who you want to call out. There is so little time left to GOTV and this is the election for Latinos to be heard.