Most people advocate being prepared regardless of the endeavor or activity. We are typically inclined to ready ourselves for circumstances in which we know our lives, or the lives of our family, will most certainly be affected.

As citizens our freedom allows us the ability to engage and empower ourselves to fully participate in America. Call it the old cliché “knowledge is power” what have you; but in the final analysis of how this knowledge and power is stupefied in the American lexicon – from our elections, to the federal bailout, to the Swine Flu pandemic – it means doing what is responsible and courageous.

Indeed the American political process is an almost flawless example of this type of “engagement and empowerment” exercise. All individuals with the right to be able to assess, evaluate and ultimately make that critical policy or candidate decision. But all too often what keeps this process imperfect is the manner in which constituents are sometimes engaged, or not engaged by candidates and public policy campaigns.

Much too routinely citizens who don’t necessarily represent the majority are not communicated to and are therefore left critically uninformed or under-informed. Sadly, this is why a majority of Americans do not participate in the primary election process and are left out.

It is amazing to know the number of Americans who will vote in the general elections and not vote in their primaries or caucuses and laughable to know that for the majority of these Americans their candidates were already pre-chosen for them – Democratic or Republican.

Certainly in the growing United States, definitely in Texas, and for sure right here in San Antonio this can be said of the ominous Hispanic population.

It is as if by design that campaign elections almost predictably do not reach out beyond their inside constituencies in this regard. A more preferred tactic is to communicate and spend advertising and outreach dollars to actually downplay knowledge from one constituent verses another. The same holds true for public policy debates.

Could it be that this is because our political process elects the city purveyors who over see our public policy? Perhaps, but of the knowledge and power gap that resides in this city as it pertains to Latinos is quickly disappearing and with good reason:

*The U.S. Latino is twice as likely as the non-Latino constituent to pledge no formal allegiance to a particular p olitical party or ideology. Today’s Latinos are generally not political-brand loyal. Historically they’ve been loyal to issues, such as the economy, education, health care and immigration.

*One-third of the general U.S. Latino population is 18 years of age or younger. The term “future consumer, future constituent” could not be any more applicable than this demographic trend. From corporate leaders to political party leadership and candidates, this young, influential and enthusiastic demographic will represent 1 in every 4 voters.

*The states with the most electoral votes are also states with the highest percentage of Latino residents. All states are not created equal within our country’s Electoral College. California (55), Texas (34), New York (31), Florida (27), and Illinois (21) are the top five states in terms of Hispanic populations.

The reality of an uninformed Latino constituent is too compelling not to address; and that certainly goes for San Antonio. But if it should, we all, Latino and non-Latino, male and female, Democrat and Republican, white collar and blue, owe it to ourselves to seek out the critical information concerning important policy or candidates seeking office. After all, it takes courage and responsibility to make a decision to know.