Young Latinos Changing The Future Of U.S.

The Economist wrote a really interesting story telling us what we already knew: A growing number of Latinos in the U.S., many of them young, is changing the way the United States goes about being a nation. Because Latinos are younger as whites are getting older, a bunch of policy priorities are getting criss-crossed, such as the need for older voters to pay for schools.

A few highlights from the story:

• The gap between rich (trend white) and poor (trend Latino) is widening.
• Unlike other developed countries, as the elderly grow in numbers, the young population keeps growing (because of Latinos).
• Americans used to move westward, until the recession began to hit in 2007. Now northeast and Midwest regions are shrinking and becoming older. 20 of the oldest states in 2009 were in these regions and the sunbelt is trending younger (Latinos).
• Latinos/Hispanics are 21% of the population under 25; 65 and older is 80% white.
• For example: 83% of the elderly in Arizona are white and 25 and under are 42% Latino
• This is an SB 1070 disaster recipe.
• Latinos are growing in the new places: South Carolina, Alabama, South Dakota, Tennessee, etc.
• “In the long term, these immigrants or their children may become local economic stars. In the short term, tension is mounting.”
• The U.S. overall is becoming better educated, but these younger people who will be “economic stars” are not:  Latinos lag in education.
• And, “suburbs are now home to a majority of America’s Asian, black and Hispanic populations.”

The takeaway is this: Latinos are becoming an ever-integral part of this country’s future even as both political parties continue to ignore, twist or take us for granted. The upcoming 2010 Census results will especially highlight this fact. What is there to do? It’s time for Latinos to step up and time for politicos to make room.