There are a lot of websites where you can share information and discussion about the forthcoming US Presidential election - but ¡México Decide! may be the most interesting one I've seen yet.
Arguing that the US has huge influence in Mexican elections and that Mexican immigrants, both legal and illegal (undocumented), are fundamental to maintaining the US economy - ¡México Decide! concludes that all immigrants, legal and illegal, ought to have some say in the US Presidential election.
The site provides a place for immigrants and others to share information and discussion on the candidates and their policies. It also includes profiles of Mexican immigrants who have lived and worked in the US for years but who are not yet documented citizens.
¡México Decide! is the creation of artist Ricardo Miranda Zúñiga, whose previous work includes the video game Vagamundo: A Migrant's Tale.
This project was profiled today on the excellent blog We Make Money Not Art, where you'll find several links to related resources, information and perspectives that could help keep you from making a fool of yourself saying something stupid in comments.
Immigration is one of the key issues in US politics today, both on a policy level and as a metaphor for our larger relationship with history and the world we live in. I'd love to see more read/write type web projects engaging with these issues.
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And the garbage economy of Mexico, itself a crime against a great people, has a much larger effect on Mexicans than our elections do. Ricardo might better spend his time on that than imply that problems created south of the border are best dealt with here in the US.
Posted by: Morgan | January 2, 2008 12:15 PM
Morgan, that's not a very nuanced understanding of the circumstances people find themselves in. I wish I knew of one place you could go that would summarize another perspective eloquently, but I can't off the top of my head. Perhaps some of our other readers here can make some suggestions.
Posted by: Marshall Kirkpatrick
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January 2, 2008 12:25 PM
The idea that a foreign citizen be allowed to vote for the US president is absurdly ludicrous, whether it be Mexico, Canada, UK, Japan, or anywhere else.
This is really a black-and-white issue for me. If you want the benefits of citizenship in a nation, you need to follow the process of becoming a citizen. This isn't a race issue (as many proponents of this legislation like to try to box opponents into), but a simple matter of 1+1=2. It's a very straightforward matter. Legal = Social Benefits and Perks. Illegal = NO Social Benefits and Perks.
I am aghast that illegal immigrants are issued drivers licenses (even legal aliens would be fine with me -- because they followed the process). But if someone who is here against the law (read: AGAINST THE LAW) were permitted to vote for president, that would be an absolutely dismal display of our government's law-making skills. The real issue isn't even one of allowing illegals to vote, but rather revamping the process of allowing legal aliens to work and live here.
Solving that issue can be related to the piracy issue. People aren't going to stop downloading music and movies for free no matter how much you yell and scream. The solution is to drop the legal bar low enough and provide incentives to do things the right way. Similarly, people aren't going to stop illegally crossing the border no matter how much you yell and scream. The solution is to drop the legal bar low enough and provide incentives to do things the right way. However, the solution is not simply giving illegals the right to vote, because that's simply encouraging bad behavior.
Posted by: Ryan Parman | January 2, 2008 12:46 PM
Ryan, check out this video http://www.youtube.com/?v=oURXVIDmqXs how do you feel about these people who are illegal immigrants in France? They seem worthy of sympathy and support to me, even legal support and meaningful political participation. Found via http://robingood.tv btw
Posted by: Marshall Kirkpatrick
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January 2, 2008 2:15 PM
I don't think Marshall was saying illegals should have the right to vote. He was saying some believe so and btw, check out this site. This seems to have given rise to some immigrant/Mexican-bashing.
Odd that a historically immigration rich country like the U.S. should suddenly equate the issue with problems. What's going on here? Could the immigration issue be one huge distraction to keep us from focusing on tougher problems that really threaten us, like war, epidemics, climate change?
Posted by: kathleen | January 2, 2008 2:59 PM
I think this issue is a super complicated one, a fascinating one in fact. a very fitting subject for artistic exploration, as this site in question attempts to do. I think it's always good to start from a position of empathy for the most marginalized party in any situation, however - in fact I think you're a real jerk if you don't.
Posted by: Marshall Kirkpatrick
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January 2, 2008 3:02 PM
Came to your site via Coming Anarchy.
This is not a parlor game - I think we all agree that politics as practiced in Latin America s NOT the model that we've found successfull in the former British Empire. If Mexican nationals are allowed/encouraged to participae inthe US political process, they will absolutely afffect US society (better or worse is a debate for a different day).
Although you may be a "Jerk" if you don't have "empathy for the most marginalized party in any situation," you are a complete moron and a danger if you don't first consider the impact on yourself, your children and society of a change like this.
Posted by: bristlecone | January 3, 2008 4:03 AM
Oh, there's a good idea. Why, look at what a good job they've done with Me-he-co.
Do we get to vote for the next PM in the UK?
Would Rudd have won in Oz?
Moronification.
-NAF
Posted by: Not A Fool | January 3, 2008 8:09 PM