Perhaps the most unrecognized and
undetected electorate that can impact the Presidential
election is the immigrant vote (specifically citizens
naturalized within the last 10 years). Even informed
political analysts and pollsters like the Zogbys, the
Bill Schneiders and the O’Rielys cannot predict which
way this immigrant electorate will go. Nobody knows the
exact numbers. Demographically and geographically,
Africans and refugees from closer underdeveloped
countries are distributed across the United States in
patches due to the availability of anchor relatives and
resettling agencies like St. Louis’ International
Institute. They are not concentrated in one state like
the Hispanic Americans in Florida or California. This
article is the result of networking with many ethnic
organizations.
Since immigrants from the “third world” have
generally been denied the privilege of voting in their
home countries, they appreciate it tremendously now that
they are here in the US; after all, most of them
immigrated to the US in search of liberty and justice.
If we consider recent naturalized citizens from Africa
and proximate countries they may not be open to
pollsters 100% because of respect for all candidates and
the factor of the “POLICE STATE FEAR” that we have
experienced in our own birth country. Recently
naturalized citizens often make their decisions at the
last minute. Our votes are illusive and tend to tilt
towards issues of immigration, welfare, minimum wage,
and policies that can affect poor countries. In the last
election the votes recently naturalized citizens cast
helped for the victory of Clinton. What are the issues
that we would like to hear?
1) Domestic Policy: Reasonable welfare reform
bill that would promote real self-sufficiency, livable
wages, medical insurance and affordable college tuition
for
students. Support for educational programs that
would promote diversity and eliminate intolerance and
prejudice. Make home and business ownership easier for
families by accessing loans. The 1998 Welfare
Reconciliation Bill has brought many painful effects to
immigrant families and some of the provisions should be
friendly.
2) US Role In Peace Making And Conflict
Resolution: Recently naturalized immigrant citizens and
their families have a special place in their hearts for
their home country. Whether in Ethiopia, Eritrea, the
Congo, Senegal, Somalia or Rwanda, these voters watch
the stand of the candidates on key diplomatic
initiatives. After the Cold War the African continent
has degenerated more into tribal and ethnic fratricide
and the US has failed to develop meaningful policy to
curb it. Also most of the problems emanate from colonial
policies of the West for the last 100 years.
3) On Economic Development in the underdeveloped
world: The structural adjustment and conditional loans
of the IMF and the World Bank have hurt the economies of
Africa and the rest of the third world. It is often a
revolving door loan that helps dictators in the third
world and promotes “Capital Flight” from these poor
countries. The question of “SWEAT SHOPS” and cheap labor
that some corporations establish is hurting the American
Economy and the poor people in the underdeveloped world.
Ralph Nader has articulated these issues in detail and
this electorate is eager to hear more from Governor
Busch and V/P Gore. The humanization of multi-national
corporations is vital for US National Security.
Prosperity in Africa and other parts of the third world
is good for the US economy. The US should demonstrate
its strength as a leader of the free world in promoting
democracy and economic growth in the underdeveloped
countries. The world is shrinking due to technology and
the information highway. Helping your next-door neighbor
is the moral thing to do. But pouring financial aid to
poor countries can only benefit the wealthy and finally
the Western Bank. The motto, “Teach a person how to fish
instead of giving him fish every day” should be
America’s guiding principle. If the third world develops
and democratizes itself we will no longer have refugees
and immigrants here in the US. The world will be a
better place in which to live. This voting block of
recently naturalized citizens also thinks that America
should persuade nations diplomatically to follow a
civilized dialogue instead of being the “Police of The
World.” It is expensive financially and in distribution
of manpower.
These are some of the issues ethnic organizations
and their constituents like to hear from the candidates.
We are part of this Great Nation and come November 7, we
will vote our
conscience.
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