Immigrants, Individual Responsibility, and the Decline of the Democratic Party

With all the chatter about systemic social issues, there is little discussion of personal responsibility. For example, immigrant families in the western world generally put up with lots of inequalities but take responsibility for their own fate by putting their heads down and working hard to get ahead in life. What are your thoughts on the lack of discussion around personal responsibility? —Dave

Damir: Personal responsibility and working hard still counts for a lot in the world, I think, and you’re right to point out that immigrants to America continue to prove this time and again. I find it grimly amusing that Latinos (excuse me, Latinx communities) seem to have turned hard on Democrats lately: a recent NPR/Marist poll has 55% disapproving of Biden. It’s almost certainly not solely tied to questions surrounding economics—AOC notwithstanding, Latinos are more socially conservative across the board than the median Democratic voter. But I imagine that for a lot of Latino small business owners, the Democrats’ approach to economic regulation is more a burden than a relief.