Latino Republicans

I read with amusement Al Ducheny’s “Latino Republicans, Come Home to the Party Where Your Heart Is” (Commentary, Jan. 1). I am one of those Ducheny addresses his piece to.

While I dispute much of what Ducheny relies on to attract me, I found fascinating his argument’s reliance on traditional Democratic Party issues in his call for me to “come home.” It is, for me, the Democrats’ tunnel vision of promoting class conflict, egalitarian “pursuits,” equality of result, expansion of the welfare state and dependence on activist government that caused me to “stray” (and thousands of others like me).

Nowhere will you hear a Democratic Party activist proclaim the obvious, that America is a capitalist system and people secure their rewards in proportion to their skills and efforts. Instead, it’s more rhetoric about improving schools, affirmative action, higher paying jobs, health care, etc. While these issues are important, the Democratic Party has spearheaded our nation’s efforts on those and many other issues over its 40-year reign in Congress. What results do Democrats have to offer to entice those like me to come back into the fold? The results can be summed up in two words: “expensive failure”!

I became a Republican to guarantee my individual right to pursue my version of life, liberty and property--not the “collectivist” version of these. The remnants of the Democratic Party leadership, nationally and locally, have wrought despair, social escapism, irresponsibility, governmental dependence and individual powerlessness. That, Mr. Ducheny, is why I left the Democratic Party and I suggest you do the same.

JOHN G. HERNANDEZ

Claremont

* If Ducheny believes that Republicans consider Latinos expendable, he should talk to GOP Gov. George Bush Jr. of Texas. Also, why did Prop. 187 pass by more than 60% when there aren’t that many Republicans in California? What I can’t understand is why it is considered a cut when Republicans want to increase the school lunches at a smaller percentage than the Democrats.

Yes, I am an American who is of Mexican ancestry and a Republican, and I do believe in equal opportunity, not racial preference-affirmative action.

ABE VILLESCAS JR.

Alhambra