Puerto Rican Politics

         
                      We are the gatekeepers of Latino solidarity. The reason this is the case is because Puerto Ricans are prime prospects for the new Latino model minority. Puerto Ricans by liberty of Puerto Rico's status as a commonwealth, all have American citizenship. This reality is often ignored by political advisers who intend to lump the Latino vote as pro immigration reform and against immigration. It's not that simple, especially for Puerto Ricans. Puerto Ricans who only have Puerto Rican family truthfully have no bone to pick with immigration reform. It matters little to us. In fact, some Puerto Ricans are staunch opponents of immigration reform (as shown in this article) for the same reason many non-Latino Americans are against immigration reform, it threatens job security. However, when the NY Times begins releasing articles about how immigration reform might affect Republican policy, it becomes clear that there will be places where the Puerto Rican vote will matter. The GOP does not need to win the Latino vote, it needs to win enough of it. In solidarity the Latino block is strong in certain parts of the country, but in areas such as New York and Florida (places where there are high Puerto Rican populations) the Puerto Rican vote (mixed in with a smattering of Cuban votes who have been given asylum) can be enough to turn the tide, allowing Republicans to have their cake and eat it too.
                   We have a choice. We can side with the Republicans against our Latino cousins or we can remain unified in policy demands. This solidarity may cost Puerto Ricans politically in the short run. There are particular policy goals that are salient only to Puerto Ricans, such as the statehood/ national recognition of Puerto Rico. But these goals are far too particular for Puerto Ricans to expect the Latino block to make demands on, hobbled as it is. Long run political outlooks are far more promising. If we can insert ourselves into the bedrock of political influence in the country, then we can begin making good on unilateral goals that help all Latinos, including Puerto Ricans. We will not longer have to ask to be given a seat at the table we made, we will sit in the chairs we brought ourselves. But if we are to falter. If we begin to side with the Republicans in the ballot box, then we will forever be second class citizens, unable to decide our own fates because we have sided with a party that does not recognize us as equals. Do not let Marco Rubio fool you. Instead we need to supersede political alliances. We need to do what is right for Latinos, not what is right for Democrats and Republicans. What is clear is that the Democrats have our interests at a much higher priority than the Republicans. This article from Gallup confirms that there are more Latinos in the Democratic Party than there are in the mostly white Republican Party. We cannot trust any body of politic but ourselves. We can only depend on a Latino block that will not treat us as second class citizens. I cannot force any individual Puerto Rican to make a choice, I only hope that years from now you won't regret placing your children at the mercy of a political machine that doesn't respect them.