Don't let others speak for you

In response to Ruben Navarro's position on Latino voters and this election.

Mr. Navarro, despite your good intentions, you are so wrong. Encouraging Latino voters to skip voting this election because they are angry over the pace of immigration reform is naive and irresponsible.

First, in refusing to vote, you are simply handing over the election to those who most care. And in this election, the far right is most energized. That means, if they turn out in large numbers, their agenda will prevail. These include the loud voices who protest terribly against people from other countries “taking away our jobs.”

Second, how can you expect President Obama to tackle such a divisive issue directly when he has gotten such uniform opposition from the Republicans to anything he proposes? He is criticized endlessly. For TARP, which is almost all paid back with interest for us taxpayers. For health care reform, which the whole country agrees needs to happen. For his stances on clean energy. For his support of small businesses and the unemployed. For his financial regulation reforms. Only the Democrats have supported these critical efforts, while the Republicans have sat back, mocked, and said no, without coming up with positive ideas of their own.

We all must speak our minds, come November. If we don't, those we least agree with will do our speaking for us. So tell the Latino voters to vote.

Margaret Watts

Elgin