By Juan Peralez / Herald Forum
In this country we have two major political parties from which to choose that differ in some ways but are similar in others. Most countries have more parties to choose from. Our neighbor to the south has three and to the north has five parties that allows voters to choose from an array of political platforms.
But regardless of party, in this country we are supposed to have a government of the people,by the people and for the people. But it appears that more and more people are waking up to the reality of the erosion of this democratic ideal. We had been lead to believe by most politicians in recent decades that the Republican Party represented the interests, growth and success of the business community and that Democrats represented the interests of the poor and middle class working people and has sponsored safety net programs that help poor people in times of need.
Since both parties evolved after the genocide committed on Native nations, the enslavement of Black people and the beginning of Manifest Destiny, neither party has ever had the interest of Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities , being one example of the similarities in the two parties.
In my opinion, the Republican Party that has now transitioned to an alt-right party. The Democrats have become the old Republican Party. Republicans and Democrats share the same foreign policy of intervention, war and genocide by indiscriminate drone attacks Afghanistan, for example) in countries of color under the camouflage of promoting democracy, which is not true for women or people of color in this country. We were warned by President Dwight Eisenhower about he military industrial complex. With the trillions spent on war that we have been in for 227 years of our 245 year history, we could have addressed our domestic issues of health care, housing and education.
Republicans are legislating voter suppression and anti-abortion laws in states like Texas, Florida and others. After former President Trump’s “Big Lie” about election fraud in the 2016 and 2020 elections, 80 percent of Republicans want him to run again in 2024. Lets not forget those in Congress who were complicit in the Jan. 6, attempted coup d’etat.
Unfortunately, Democrats — except for a few — receive big money from corporate America as well. The safety net programs for the poor and middle class are a disgrace. Both parties rescued multinationals like the banking, auto and airlines industries and neither party taxes the rich.
The increase of the people of color in this country is due to refugees as a result of wars, migration due to U.S. foreign intervention and general population growth among people of color.
These are some of the reasons white poor and middle class voters and people of color don’t vote because they don’t see much difference between the Democrats and Republicans.
In my opinion the time has arrived where we should start considering at least one more party that truly represents the working poor, middle class and BIPOC communities of our country.
This can change if people become civically engaged in the political arena and demand that we return to a government of the people, by the people and for the people. Otherwise this country may end up having an authoritarian and possibly fascist government especially if the Republican (alt-right) Party succeeds in 2024.
Next election, exercise your right to vote!
Juan Peralez is president of Unidos of Snohomish County, uniting law enforcement and the communities of the county. Learn more at www.unidos-snoco.org.
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