For the last 40 years, we’ve read a lot about how Latinos are the so-called “sleeping giant” of politics.

Today, there are more Latinos/as in elected and appointed positions than my generation could have ever imagined.

But are we any better off? Not much, I’m afraid. We seem caught up in resentment over what we’ve experienced. We play the same games as previous generations. We let our egos get in the way. And we learned politics from bad teachers — Democrats and Republicans who were more interested in maintaining power than solving problems.

I can remember a march against the Vietnam War, and “riots” at my high school between Whites, Blacks and Chicanos. I remember Reyes Tijerina, the Mexican-American civil rights champion, giving an inspirational speech at the local university.

I came to believe that, once Latinos were allowed a place at “the table” of decision-making, we would do better than those who had come before us. I always thought that my generation would achieve a more inclusive, tolerant, understanding and egalitarian society. We haven’t gotten there. And I’m afraid the reason for that has less to do with our adversaries and more to do with ourselves.

#election