When Latinos run, Latinos vote--And the Long Tail

Latinos For Texas Blog » When Latinos run, Latinos vote: "Exhibit A: Villaraigosa’s victory this week in LA. From a report in the AP:
“Antonio Villaraigosa attracted substantial support from Hispanics, Democrats, liberals and younger voters to be elected mayor of the nation’s second-largest city, an exit poll shows.

Villaraigosa captured 84 percent of the Hispanic vote and, perhaps energized by his candidacy, Hispanic turnout reached a record 25 percent, according to a Los Angeles Times exit poll published Thursday. When Villaraigosa ran four years ago the Hispanic turnout was 22 percent.”

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It’s that simple. Any questions? Go forth and do likewise."

The Long Tail, or Power Laws, come about when you have three conditions:

1. Variety
2. Inequality
3. Network effects (word of mouth, for example) to amplify the differences between them. "

Here in Texas we definitely have Inequality. Now, with the Internet, we have Network effects, via the blogosphere, email lists, etc. What we need is Variety. Latinos, Democrats, Liberals, Independents on every ticket. And let the wingers have the religious right, the zealots, the Aryan Nation, the Minute Men. In the short run I think this would fragment the Democratic party. I think it is already fragmenting the GOP. In the long run it gives politics back to the people. And that scares the bejeebus out of Big Bidness, the Wingers, and a lot of Dems. I don't think this is a bad thing. I think the people would win.