by Linda Castillo
The right to vote is very important to me and since I turned 18 I have never missed voting in an election. The 2012 election is especially critical because I will be voting as a mother. Why is that different than any other time I have voted? Well, you see it is the first time that I feel I have a greater sense of responsibility. Don’t get me wrong I have always voted with my values and beliefs driving my choice. However, now as a mom, I pay more attention to my decisions that will impact future generations which includes my young daughter.
Certain issues have resonated more strongly at different points in my life or I may have a different perspective of the issues. For example, education has always been an issue that I follow closely. While I was in college, I worried about the rising cost of tuition and limitation of classes. While those issues are still important to me, I am looking at it from a different perspective – not as a student but as a mother. I worry about what it will be like when my daughter is trying to go to college. Will my husband and I afford to pay for her college with the rising costs of tuition? Will my daughter even get into a good school given how impacted many of the colleges are?
Looking back and looking forward, Latinos have made significant strides in certain areas and yet there is a gap in others. For example, Latinos represent 41% of adults 20 and older who have no high school diploma (source Pew Research). Additionally, Latino poverty rate in recent years has shown the greatest increase than any other ethnic group resulting in 6.1 million children living in (source: Pew Hispanic Center and Pew Hispanic Research).There is also a gap in healthcare access for the Latino community and immigration continues to be emotional and polarizing issue in the 2012 election.
Do you want to know how the presidential candidates are addressing issues specific to American Latinos? Then check out premiering on nuvoTV on Aug. 19 at 8PM, the We Decide Latino town hall special will be moderated by award-winning journalist Natalie Morales and will feature a panel of high-profile experts who will engage with a live audience and other virtual participants connecting through social media platforms. The hour-long program will explore how the presidential candidates are addressing issues specific to America’s Latinos, including unemployment, healthcare and education.
With all the different issues impacting the Latino community, we need to better understand the presidential candidates’ stance on certain issues that impact the Latin community and theUnited Statesas a whole. We can make a difference with our vote.
Do you have issues that are important to you for this upcoming election year? Let your voice be heard by visiting We Decide Gives Latinos a Voice where you can upload your own video and learn more about other issues impacting our Latino community. You can also follow We Decide on Facebook.
Disclosure: I have been compensated for this post in collaboration with Latina Bloggers Connect and nuvoTV. All thoughts and opinions are mine.
Linda Castillo is the Founder and Executive Editor of http://www.modernlatina.com/. She writes on topics that empower and inspire Latinas including art, motherhood, green living, culture, travel, and issues transforming the Latino community. Linda has earned a B.S. in Business and a M.S. in Mass Communications from San Jose State University.