The future is one of those abstract concepts that everyone is aware of, yet nobody knows what it entails. As the trucking industry enters the future there undoubtedly will be a number of challenges along the way. Hours of service, escalating fuel prices, cross border issues, environmental regulations, tolling issues, taxes and more will continue to highlight the political landscape of the U.S. trucking industry. These issues will require astute political leadership, which is one reason the upcoming 2008 elections are so important.
There are an estimated 1.3 million long-haul heavy-duty truck drivers, as of 2004, and more than 3 million licensed CDL holders, according to a 2005 American Trucking Association (ATA) report, “The U.S. Truck Driver Shortage: Analysis and Forecasts.” With this many truck drivers in the country there is a very real opportunity for the American truck driver to have an impact on the 2008 elections at all levels, which in turn could impact those issues of greatest importance to the industry. The problem is, far too many Americans (and truck drivers) are not registered to vote and do not vote.
How many people vote? The numbers are not surprising, but they can be categorized as disappointing. According to data compiled from the Federal Elections Commission, an organization called the Voting and Democracy Research Center (the Center) suggests that nearly a third of those eligible are not registered to vote. This means approximately 60 million people have chosen for one reason or another not to make themselves eligible to vote. This number does not include those who are registered to vote yet choose not to vote.
According to the Center, “The embarrassingly low levels of voter turnout in the U.S. as compared to other democracies are a cause for concern. The U.S. is 20th out of 21 in voter turnout among established democracies -- only Switzerland has lower voter turnout than does the U.S. in presidental elections.”
Specifically, turnout among potentially eligible voters in the United States in presidential elections is only 50 percent to 55 percent and turnout in non-presidential years is far lower, according to the Center. If one compares the U.S. democracy, which is supposed to be an example for the world to follow, with that of other democracies, “turnout is 70 to 75 percent in Canada and well over 80 percent in most other democracies. Even many fragile new democracies have turnout levels higher than the U.S. Higher voter turnout is an important component towards government truly representing the will of the citizens,” according to the center’s Web site (www.fairvote.org).
One of the real questions about the recent trend of non-voting is, why are Americans not registering or voting as much as they have in the past? First, a bit of historical perspective:
According to the Federal Elections Commission (www.fec.gov/pages/htmlto5.htm), the turnout for the voting age population in recent presidential election years has been as follows:
- 2004 – 55.3 percent 1996 – 49.08 percent
- 2000 – 51.3 percent 1992 – 55.09 percent
Now, the same stats for elections in the not-too-distant past:
- 1968 – 60.84 percent 1960 – 63.06 percent
- 1964 – 61.92 percent
Since the 1960s the United States has seen a steady decline in the percentage of those of voting age who vote. Why would this be? Some say numerous scandals and controversies have contributed to the decline in interest and credibility in the government. Events such as the Vietnam War, Watergate, the economic crisis of the late 1970s, the Iran-Contra Affair, the Whitewater controversy, the Monica Lewinski affair and now the war in Iraq, have contributed in discouraging the public from performing their civic duty.
Despite the scandals, what many people don’t realize is that if they stop participating and stop embracing democracy, nothing will change. These events, however -- along with close elections, such as the one in 2004 in which the Electoral College came into play more than it has in recent times -- leave many wondering if their vote really counts. Can one vote make a difference?
The answer is simple: Yes, it can. Take a look:
According to the Alaska Division of Elections Web site:
- 1876 - One vote gave Rutherford Hayes the presidency of the United States
- 1939 - One vote passed the Selective Service Act
- 1960 - One vote per precinct elected John F. Kennedy president
- 1978 - In Fullerton, Calif., a Democratic candidate for the state legislature lost by 10 votes in a primary election in which 32,000 votes were cast
Other examples, according to the Eagle Forum (www.eagleforum.org):
- In 1645, one vote gave Oliver Cromwell control of England.
- In 1649, one vote literally cost King Charles I of England his head. The vote to behead him was 67 against, 68 in favor.
- In 1714, one vote placed King George I on the throne of England and restored the monarchy.
- In 1800, when the results of the Electoral College votes were opened by both houses of Congress, there was a tie vote for president between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr. That threw the election of president into the House of Representatives, where Jefferson was elected the third U.S. president by a one-vote margin.
- In 1824, the House of Representatives defeated front-runner Andrew Jackson by one vote and elected John Quincy Adams as the nation’s sixth president.
- In 1846, a one-vote margin in the U.S. Senate approved President James Polk’s request for a declaration of war against Mexico.
- In 1850, California was admitted to the union by a margin of one vote.
- In 1859, Oregon was admitted to the union by a margin of one vote.
- The Alaska Purchase of 1867 was ratified by just one vote -- paving the way for the eventual annexation of America’s largest state, in 1958.
- In 1868, one vote in the U.S. Senate saved President Andrew Johnson from impeachment.
- In 1889, Washington was admitted to the union by a margin of one vote.
- In 1890, Idaho was admitted to the union by a margin of one vote.
- On Nov. 8, 1923, members of a recently formed revolutionary political party met to elect a leader in a Munich, Germany, beer hall. By a majority of one vote, they chose an ex-soldier named Adolph Hitler to become the Nazi Party leader.
- In 1962, the governors of Maine, Rhode Island and North Dakota were all elected by a margin of one vote per precinct.
- In 1993, the U.S. Senate approved a tax increase by one vote.
- In 1994, the U.S. House of Representatives enacted a law banning specific classes of assault weapons. The vote was initially tied but one member changed his vote to approve the ban.
- In a 1999 city election in Hillsborough County, Fla., one of the city council candidates won by a single vote.
In January 2005 the citizens of Iraq were allowed to vote for the first time in a free and open election. They risked their lives amid the threat of terrorism and homicide bombers, yet they were resolute in their desire to exercise one of the fundamental aspects of a democracy: the right to vote and be heard. The voter turnout rate was well above 70 percent in this war-torn country, yet the population was excited by the prospect of voting.
Considering the statistics, the American trucking industry has the numbers to strongly influence the outcome of an election through voting. Of the 300 million U.S. citizens, 180 million are eligible to vote, according to the Voting and Democracy Research Center, but only two-thirds choose to do so. Of those 120 million registered voters, only half, 60 million people, vote during a presidential election. During a non-presidential election the number of voters may drop by as much as 25 percent. It is an open door for any highly populated specific industry (such as the trucking industry) whose members are regulated under common government-controlled issues to have a stronger voice. This industry’s established networking infrastructure through truck stops and travel centers, citizens band radios, talk radio and more gives a great opportunity for consensus. According to the ATA’s statistics there are more than 3 million licensed truck drivers, and those 3 million voters could affect the outcome of an election or passage of an initiative.
In November 2008 Americans will be called upon again to make a critical choice about the direction of the country. It won’t be just about selecting a new president; the entire House of Representatives is up for election, as is a third of the Senate. Couple that with state and local races and 2008 is shaping up to be a pivotal point in the nation’s history.
So register to vote, and then exercise the fundamental right of participation that all Americans should cherish. You can register to vote at all motor vehicle departments, county courthouses and, in some states, online through the secretary of state’s office. Regardless of how you do it, just do it.
Make a difference . . . VOTE.
