This year, 2024 is an election year that promises game-changing events both in the political and legal sphere of American life.
Last year, 2023 has crystallized many of the associated concerns that have begun to identify the positions the country will take as we drive toward the November elections.
The four principle themes revealed in our commentary in 2023 were democracy, immigration, the Ukraine-Israel wars and cultural heritage as it applies to the Latino community. There were other important topics like China as we look toward the future and Trump past legacy that the former President created in and out of office and what he is running on in 2024.
Normally, presidential elections are predominantly about the economy and the personal pocket book issues of the voters. Related to his was the famous phrase coined by James Carville, President Clinton’s campaign manager in 1992, when said, “It’s the economy stupid.”
There is a lot of talk about President Biden and the post-COVID lowering of unemployment rates, the passage of legislation to stimulate major infrastructure projects and things like the significant reduction in the price of gas. It is argued however, that these economic outcomes and the construction initiatives have not resulted in the general public feeling that they are better off.
It is expected that these issues will be part of the 2024 political campaigns. But then there is also Donald Trump and the shadow he casts over the election season.
With Trump as the potential Republican candidate, a large part of what will happen is about him and his aspirations to become an absolute ruler. This will put democracy, citizen participation, institutions that facilitate that, as well as the Constitution, self government and the freedom to express and determine our political preferences on the ballot.
The second matter deals with Immigration policies that have been a political football and allowed to grow in com- plexity so much so that they are becoming intractable. The system is so full of loopholes and outdated definitions that it encourages exploitation and mass chaos that cry out for effective immigration reform that includes new immigrant categories and more efficient processes.
Third, the wars in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip are two instances that highlight democratic values abroad. Ukraine and its infant democracy is under attack by its giant neighbor Russia, a dictatorial regime with ambitions of rebuilding an empire that collapsed in 1989.
Also, the October 7th bloody attack on Israel that killed over 1,200 by Gaza Strip HAMAS has put the Palestinian matter front and center. The reprisal invasion by Israel on Gaza has killed over 21,000 people
The killing fields on both sides is symptomatic of a much deeper problem that finds Israel in control of Palestinian Gaza and the West Bank. Given this, it appears that Palestinian independence is not an option, which is a sad picture and portrayal of a Jewish State with a democracy limited only to its citizens.
Finally, we see a prominent Latino presence in both political parties and yet, the community itself appears to be less politically engaged. It could be that immigration, a largely Mexican and Latin American phenomenon, has caused a need for time to absorb and consolidate new cultural traits into its image.
The fact remains that because of its giant presence and growing size, the Latino community is expected to raise its political profile and presence in America. The raising of that profile will reveal that it, too, is a diverse society that seeks unity in its diversity. Happy New Year.
The views expressed by David Conde are not necessarily the views of laVozColorado. Comments and responses may be directed to news@lavozcolorado.com.
