By Sabrina De Santiago
MEXICO: I have a confession to make, I am a junkie.
But before you get the wrong idea, let me clarify, I am a political junkie.
Yes, I was one of those kids who when asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, quickly replied, “President of the United States.”
One of my earliest political memories goes back to the 1988 Presidential election. I remember clearly giggling madly when I learned that the Democratic nominee’s name was Dukakis, which to my immature ears sounded way too much like dookie.
Politics became my guide.
Everything I did from age 10 until just a few years ago was aimed at preparing me to serve as an elected official.
And now I am in Mexico, and politics here are totally different.
I’ve come to Mexico at a turning point in its politics, and there are many questions to be answered. Will the country overcome the Lopez Obrador issue? How will the PAN change the country? How is it that Mexicans keep track of so many politicians with such long, long names?
Of course, those questions, in turn, make me wonder about home, the United States. The U.S. is at a turning point as well. With the 2008 presidential cycle already underway the next year and a half will also be full of questions:
Will the country’s support of Republicans continue to diminish? Will Democrats be able to capitalize on the shift in political opinion? How will hot-button issues such as the war in Iraq and immigration affect the election?
Each week, I’ll share a little from my perspective as a Latina living abroad on the politics here in Mexico and at home in an attempt to find answers to these questions.
Learn more about Sabrina:
Sabrina De Santiago was born and raised in Los Angeles. She is the daughter of Mexican immigrants who worked hard to achieve the American dream.
Before leaving the United States, she spent ten years on the east coast, five of which she spent working for the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate.
She currently lives in Mexico City and serves as the Executive Director of Young Democrats Mexico City.
