Opinion: Progressives Do Not Represent the Constitution

While the Democrats search for ways to resurrect their failed agenda, Latinos all over the country are being coerced into becoming a radical force for change. They want us to create chaos and civil unrest, only to help ensure that their leftist ideology will be perpetrated on the United States.

Latinos, beware – these are the same ploys that power-hungry rulers have utilized for decades to tighten their grip on our communities and make us pawns in their leftist socialist agendas that, in the end, fail to create jobs or bring opportunities that allow our families to prosper.

We saw many examples of this rhetoric in the last election cycle. One in particular, that struck me deeply, was when Sen. Harry Reid, speaking before a group of Hispanic voters, said "I don't know how anyone of Hispanic heritage could be a Republican, OK, do I need to say more?"

With that one remark, Reid insinuated that Latinos have a herd mentality – that what’s good for some must be good for all – rather than viewing each of us as Americans, as individuals with the right to choose who we want to run this country based on our personal values.

More recently though, and even more alarming, are the comments made by Luis Gutierrez, Democratic congressman for Illinois’ Fourth District. Rep. Gutierrez seems to be very upset with his own party for not having passed a comprehensive immigration reform bill.

Rep. Gutierrez’s interest in passing the DREAM Act, which would allow illegal immigrants who come to the U.S. as minors to gain citizenship, is quite clear. And now, he’s saying that if the act is not passed, he is promising to turn his back on the Democratic Party and begin a campaign of civil unrest, encouraging Latinos to participate in protests, marches and sit-ins, reminiscent of the civil-rights movement by African-Americans in the 1960s.

It’s amazing, how things have not changed for Latinos. If you look at the history of leftist dictators in Latin America – this same tactic has been utilized throughout their struggles to acquire and retain power.

In the 1960s, Fidel Castro took that playbook to the streets of Havana, convincing people that they should rally in order to bring effective change. By employing a strategy of empty promises and radical ideals, Castro used the Cuban people to create an isolated, socialized, communist land where millions of people have been imprisoned -- many executed – and massive exodus of Cubans to foreign lands remains a theme in this country that hasn’t done anything for its peoples’ growth and prosperity in over 50 years.

Now, I know many of you are thinking that I’m always referring back to the Cuban Revolution, but history speaks for itself when you look at other Latin American countries that have used the same tactics to move toward socialism. Just ask any Venezuelan who has left their country in the last year.

Venezuela once was a stable democracy with great resources. Yes, it had problems -- what country doesn’t? But there was a basic, underlying democratic process running the country.

Now, with President Hugo Chávez and his socialistic agenda becoming progressively more radical during his 11 years in power, the people of Venezuela don’t have legitimate forums for democratic dialogue and the system to institute much-needed change.

Each day, the government gains more control over industry and private businesses in Venezuela as the country’s economic infrastructure continues to crumble despite being South America’s top oil producer.

And do you know how Chávez brought this change in Venezuela? Not by hostile takeover or violence, but by guiding the Venezuelan people into a state of social unrest, creating the perfect platform for him and his lieutenants to seize total governmental control.

This is why I urge you, my Latino brothers and sisters, when in doubt, look at our own history. Look at the history of the countries you’ve come from, the countries you’ve left behind for the freedoms afforded to you by America.

We have all come to this country looking for one thing: the freedoms guaranteed to us by the Constitution of the United States.

I implore you to read the Constitution and educate yourselves. If you can’t read it in English, find a translation of it that fits your needs. Because once you read it, you will clearly see that some of these so-called progressive politicians here in America do not represent the Constitution.

They do not even represent you. And when you peel back all the layers of idealistic ambiguity, you’ll see that what they do represent is greed and an insatiable hunger for power, only to benefit themselves.

Dr. Manny Alvarez is a Cuban-American OB-GYN who serves as a senior medical contributor for the Fox News Channel and senior managing health editor of FOXNews.com.