Victor Baten: Blogs

Walmart Shadowing

Shadowing at Walmart was a unique experience. Working on Capitol Hill, I have only experienced the public sectors perspective on legislation. However, shadowing at Walmart allowed me to see first hand how the largest private employer lobbies the Federal Government. Lobbying in general has had a very negative view in recent political discourse. This is especially true today as Banking Reform is on the horizon. My mentor, Belinda Garza, works on Health and Wellness issues with the Federal Government. Her role as a lobbyist is to not only influence policy on behalf of Walmart, but also represent the interest of both employees and consumers of Walmart. This is unique for Walmart as it is the both the largest employer and retailer. It has been very interesting to see how important Walmart is to lawmakers. Their relationship is rooted in the responsibilities they both have to their customer, the US population. Walmart large stake in the economy has presented them with a unique opportunity to not only lower costs for consumer, but also provide their consumers with vital needs that the government cannot. During my shadowing, I learned the Walmart is hard at work trying to analyze how the Health Care reform is going to affect their consumers. Specifically, how Walmart can continue to lower prescription drug prices. These efforts are not just in the best interests for Walmart’s bottom line, they are also for citizens access to affordable health care. These types of efforts are often left out of the conversation when talking about lobbying groups such as Walmart. Nonetheless, they are an integral part of Walmart’s lobbying agenda. My key take away from this experience has to be the importance of partnerships between the public and private sectors. Keeping partnerships with corporations such as Walmart are invaluable to both the Federal Government and non-profit organizations. These relationships can lead to positive results in our communities. Belinda was a great role model of this. Her efforts to promote Latino leadership have lead Walmart to sponsor my Internship here in DC. Without Walmart’s help, CHCI’s mission to bring Latinos to the Hill would have been a much more cumbersome task. Belinda has been a great friend to CHCI and me personally. Her passion for advancing Health policy is very admirable. It is my hope that I continue to stay in touch with her as my career here in DC begins. Overall, my time at Walmart was a very rewarding one. Walmart has many good ideas that will be beneficial to their consumers and the country at large.

Health Care Bill

The passage of the Health Care bill was a historic moment for this country. Over 10 Presidents have tried to reform our system and have been unsuccessful. The passage of this Health Care Bill has given me renewed hope that this administration is working earnestly on our behalf. As one of the 45 million people who are uninsured it is reassuring to know the government is trying to help. I was fortunate enough to be in the House Gallery when the vote was finalized. I will always remember this experience as it was such a decisive vote. The tensions from the week prior and the protesters outside heightened the drama. Moreover, although I did not agree with the tea party, I was proud to see that they were using their voice to protest their opinion. Part of the debate about this Health Care bill stems from the fear Americans have about our economy. This recession has been labeled as the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. It is for good reason that people are concerned this bill will affect the economy. However, stimulating the economy and injecting confidence in the markets is the only way we can improve this economy. Making sure citizens can afford Health Care will enable citizens to seek jobs without worrying about health related expenses. This will also permit workers to seek jobs that are better fit for their skill sets without being concerned if they provide a good health care plan. If other leading nations have affordable and accessible health care, we as the US should be able to provide this service too. Though this bill is not perfect, it is a step in the right direction. We can all agree that this bill showed the American people that the Federal Government can in fact respond to issues that face this country.

What has been the most challenging moment in your internship experience?

Being in Washington, DC has been both exciting and tedious. Getting to explore and experience the city has been a very interesting experience. However, all of this excitement has also come with challenges. Working on Capitol Hill is a very laborious and competitive experience. You are expected to create cogent and concise work quickly. This has been very challenging since your work is not only a representation of yourself, but also the member of Congress. Personally, this has been a challenge for me since I had to write a speech on behalf of the Congresswoman. Making sure that I was writing to my best of my abilities while evoking the Congresswoman’s views was both daunting and intimidating. This assignment was especially hard since I had to turn over the speech in two hours. I had to be confident in my abilities and be open to constructive criticism. In the end, I was proud of the work that I presented and learned a lot about my writing abilities. However, not everything on Capitol Hill has been challenging and demanding. Getting to attend briefings on certain subjects that interest me has been very rewarding. It has not only expanded my interests, but also reinforced my commitment to public service. It is my hope that I continue to be challenged on the hill so I can continue to learn how to be an effective policy maker.

Based on Monday’s training on Good Public Policy: Grassroots Organizing and Electoral Politics, what you think the role of grassroots organizing is in the political process of this country?

Based on Monday’s training, grassroots organizing does more than just mobilize citizens to vote.  Grassroots organizing is an effective way to get individuals empowered to solve issues in their community.  This approach often leads to outcomes that are more desirable since those who are having the problems prescribe solutions.  The government often uses a top-down approach to solve most problems.  However, while this approach can be effective, it can also only solve parts of a problem.  Grassroots organizing uses a bottom-up approach that aims to include all actors being affected by a problem. This way, all angles of the problem can be recognized and solved.  Grassroots organizing empowers communities not only to change their community for the better, but it also mobilizes the community to engage civically.  This keeps elected officials accountable and responsive to the needs of the community.  Grassroots organizing is also an effective medium to get community organizers elected as public officials.  Getting community organizers elected to positions in the local School Board or City Council promotes communities to be responsive to their government.  However, it also empowers communities to demand change when public officials are not delivering results.  Change is achieved by organizing protests, letter campaigns, or petitions.  More importantly, it leads communities to voice their vote through the ballot box.  Making communities civically engaged by organizing them to solve their own issues is an effective way to promote livelihoods and democracy.  The tools presented at this training will surely be asset for me as I continue in my career as a public servant.

What was your first week like working on Capitol Hill? Give highlights in your testimonial.

My first week on Capital Hill has been exciting and fruitful. Working in Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen office has definitely been an arduous task. I have been asked to write letters, compile data, and even use my Spanish to translate the needs of our Spanish speaking constituents. Although the days have been long and tiresome, I have learned a great deal about how Congress functions on behalf of their constituencies. My Congresswoman is a very inspiring woman. She is very dedicated to representing her district and pays very close attention to all the work her office sets forth. The Congresswoman is very busy person. She serves her constituents while balancing her leadership role in the Foreign Affairs committee. Although she is a busy woman, she always takes time to personally get to know everyone she encounters. She is very affable and really takes care of her interns. I have only been on the Hill for two weeks and my Congresswoman has already introduced me to some inspiring people. My highlight of my first week on the Hill has to be getting to meet the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen took all of her interns to a Foreign Affairs Committee hearing and arranged a photo opportunity with the Secretary. It was such a great experience and I am very thankful to Congresswoman. Hopefully, I will continue to learn my way around the office and gain more professional skills and experience. If the first week is any indication of what is to come, then I should be in for a great experience.

What new perspectives have you gained about Latinos in the United States?

My perspective of being Latino in United States has been limited to my South Florida roots. South Florida is typically regarded as a very diverse region. However, it is not diverse to the point that it encompasses every Latino cohort perfectly. I have been on contact with Latinos from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Colombia, and Venezuela. Yet, I have not been in close contact with people from places like Mexico and Ecuador.

This lack of exposure has been amplified here during my time in DC. All of my fellow colleagues are not only from different Latino cultures, but they are also from different areas of the US. This multifarious blend of cultures has made me realize that Latinos are both unified and divided. We are unified in the sense that we can find similarities in our customs. Yet, we also divided since we can find differences and nuances within our values.
These differences are what make our community unique. As the PEW Hispanic Center taught us during our orientation week, Latinos do not identify as being White or Black. Instead, we believe we are a distinct race that deserves our own distinction. This is especially important now as the census date approaches.

These differences are important for our culture to understand. They will be critical for us to progress our agenda here in the United States. Personally, these differences have made me appreciate our unique culture. More importantly, it has inspired me to excel here in DC. Hopefully, my experience here DC and in CHCI will help me explore more perspectives of the Latino community.