Hector Hernandez

Caleb Prusso
Humanities 1100
Nov 22nd 2016
Civic Engagement

We all know about the broken system where we live, a system that I am sure that if
Theodore was to see it, would just die from a heart attack or either write a whole book based
upon all the issues that we are facing nowadays and even worse on our kind of monopoly type
of government or options that we have each time the elections are coming to our windows; and
what is one of the main issues and factors that has kept a broken system around us? It is precisely
the fact that neither Democrats (which seem to be the party who has offer the more help and
support to Latinos and immigrants) nor Republicans have left an Immigration reform as their
least priority thing to be taken care of or fixed and that what my topic leads to my question and
offer for a solution: Do we need a third-party candidate of course we do! Based on many
person experiences and thoughts, we need more options! We need more ideas and new leaders.
Leaders that will do so well under their power to help the minority population, make a difference
in a family maybe, etc. So based on the issue and on how the majority of the times we only have
the option of either Democrat or Republican, but one of the thinks that should really be taken
care is an actual immigration reform, which millions and millions of Latinos not only from
Mexico but from all Latin America gave been waiting for since a long time ago and it is very sad
to know on how voiceless they might sound or be taken because of their legal status, because
they are afraid to say something and get deported.
As we all know, president Barack Obama tried to to an Immigration reform, which failed,
he still did something for the Latinos and undocumented people but it wasnt enough to make
major changes in many people around the United States who are just hoping that as every day
passes by, there might be a hope to reunite again as a family, etc. We can say that one of the main
factors that made this not get to the target or expected goal was the fact that many of the
congressman were Republicans so the president couldnt do a major change as he wished he
would do.
So why is a third party a better option? Or why do I bring it up? Because I am that type of
person who beliefs that we should not always stick to the things that most of the people does,
that we should always tried to do our best in order to be better and capable than others, that we
should try new things, because from there we can try new options and if also like, just stick into
a new system which if not be better than the current one, just improve in a way that you can have
as much support as you want.
Jim Hightower once said: Some people say we need a third party. I wish we had a
second one, what does this come to? It comes back to the thought in which I believe, that we are

currently living in a rig system which is a more type of monopoly type of elections, because 2
options arent enough, many people believe that these 2 parties have been doing such thing as
corruption, promises that have never been accomplished or finished and that Is why many people
are desperate, and what is the worst thing? That people who run for President such as Liberians,
dont get as much support from the people. For example, there was this businessman called
Rocky de la Fuente who was running for president to stop Donald Trump from getting elected as
President, that was one of his priorities, but he was willing to help the Latino community in an
even greater way than Democrats, which have always been promising an Immigration reform,
and amnesty, legalization for people who have lived here for the most of their lives even if they
werent born here, etc.
So, based on this issue and on the thought of creating a bigger third party, I went out and
interviewed some people, which the first one was my boss, she is a woman, store manager at a
Wells Fargo Bank. 90% of our customers are Hispanics and we always notice that most them are
hardworking people who go in every Thursday or Friday to cash their checks and therefore go
and feed their families and pay for rent, bills. I asked her what was her thought in this issue and
on the creation of a third political party, she told me that she and many other Americans (even if
many dont agree), think that we the Latinos (specially Mexicans), are very important in the
economy of this country, because we have done such a great job on the fields to help other
people get food, in industries, in restaurants and in building houses, etc. She also told me that
based on that, we have done a great impact on the economy of this country as well, so she
believes the fact of creating a third political party but at the same time she told me that we should
prefer to make it work as a party which will be consisted of a more numerous and powerful
cabinet in order to meet and take care of most of the issues in this country, because she believes
that by not only focusing on immigration will the partys candidate will be easily elected, but by
also focusing on economy, equality for everyone, trying to do the most alliances with foreign
country and more business as well in order to become an even greater nation than which it is
right now.
The second person I interviewed was my dad, he is a very political engaged person, since
we lived in Mexico, he will always be discussing on how bad the political and economy status of
Mexico has become to be very bad and weak, where it has gotten to a point that it mostly
depends on how the United States is doing as well, like if it was to be depending on the economy
of other country, which he finds it very unusual. So, what he told me based on this idea of
creating a third political party was that it was totally ok! Because we are used to see in Mexico
how we have many and many options when it comes to voting for our senators, governors,
presidents, etc. We know PRI and PAN are the 2 biggest political parties but we have many
other parties which based on the process of time, they have been gaining more support and votes
from many people because of the same reason they are tired of the same promises and lies and at
the end just waiting for a major change in the economy or for job opportunities, etc.
So, lets get to the point, what does it take to create a new political party? We should be
aware that it is not an easy process at all and that the main and most important thing in it is to
obtain the support and the vote from most the people that consists of the electoral college, and it

is even smarter to be more focused on the states that have more electoral college points, such as
Texas, California, Florida, etc. So, this are the steps:
1. Finding your support base.
2. Have support from a group of like-minded people who are your friends.
3. Convince this group of the need for creating a new political party.
4. Making a manifesto.
5. Create a charter of sorts.
6. Gather up all your personal, social and political beliefs.
7. Get help.
8. Create the partys brand.
9. Create a logo.
10. Create a website with your own domain.
11. Registering the party.
12. Note that registering the party nationally is often prohibitively expensive for many
people.
13. In the USA.
14. Leading the party.
15. Establish rules and regulations for your party.
16. Establish temporary authority into your party.
17. Be the leader of your party.
As I said, it is not an easy process at all, it might sound overwhelming and very difficult but
nothing is impossible in this life and if effort and dedication is used in the project, you can
make it happen.
This project related in 2 major SLCCS learning outcomes, which are Students think
critically and creatively and also Students develop the knowledge and skills to work with
others in a professional and constructive manner, because the outcomes defines it, you need
engagement, you need to think critically in order to have those thoughts and ideas of creating
a new political party to change this broken political system, you have to be very developed in
skills in order to be good what you are doing and be aware of those decisions and
implementations that you are doing.
As I stated on the Pre-Reflection, there are many essays/articles from our book that
compare the information with this essay, for example, White supremacy, of course! This is
one of the greatest issues that this country faces! Where even if many people such as Martin
Luther King Jr. Cesar Chavez, and many more have fought for the freedom and rights of
millions of people who are non-white, or minorities which their voices are voiceless and need
some more authority to be heard. Black boy is another article, Privilege 101,
Professions for a woman and many others.
I did in fact, feel more as a citizen by doing this participation because I have always been
trying to be very participate and active in the community when it comes to political issues
and other themes that are related to the Latino community and also into other minorities of
people, because at the end of the day, it is our responsibility as citizens of this country to
make our voices hear, to make a difference, to dont stick into the stereotypes and beliefs that

may people has appealed to and created so that many other people that might have a different
decision or thoughts as I do of creating a 3 political party, can continue with the dream of
watching this happen.
Of course, I would do this experience again, I have loved this course and on how it
discusses many issues in which we are all going through as citizens of the world and on how
we have gotten to know very well Theodore Roosevelt and on how we think on how we will
react into the new society and way of living we have become to. Im sure he will write a
whole book and film a huge movie which would become very popular!

Sources:

Lopez, Mark Hugo, Ana Gonzalez-Barrera, and Jens Manuel Krogstad.

"Chapter 3: Latinos and the Political Parties." Pew Research Centers Hispanic
Trends Project RSS. Pew Research Center, 29 Oct. 2014. Web. 09 Nov. 2016.