Voting Rights

Re “Latinos Rise Up in the Rust Belt,” by Mike Davis (Commentary, Dec. 20):

While Davis accurately describes the political inequality in Bell Gardens, his solution is frightening. It is inconceivable to extend voting rights to non-citizens! Indeed, what separates the resident immigrant from full citizenship is that franchise.

The right to vote in America is only attained by tying oneself to the country. It has been the required rite of passage for each wave of immigrants. Why should it be any different for the Latino population?

If Latinos are exempted by some misplaced sense of the democratic ideal, then we will surely open ourselves to the dark side of multiculturalism. Yugoslavia can happen here. The hard-working Latinos are welcome to participate in American democracy but the price is citizenship.

LELAND P. HAMMERSCHMITT

Ojai