Joint officers’ column from the fall 2008 issue of the IBEW Journal

Decision Time

By the time this issue hits your mailbox, the elections in the United States will be almost here.

This has been the longest campaign in American history, and you’re probably sick and tired of hearing about it.

But nothing can change the fact that it’s probably the most important election of your lifetime.

We know, we know – you’ve heard that before – typical election year hype, right? Not exactly.

In the last issue of the Journal, we spelled out how the American worker has been taking it in the neck for eight years. We’ve made some gains, but we have had to fight for every inch. Now we have a chance to elect people to office, from the president on down, who will get the government off our backs and get it working for the people again.

So which side are you on?

If you’ve already made up your mind to vote for John McCain and Sarah Palin, that’s your right.  We’ve never claimed to tell anybody how to vote.  So go and do what you have to do.

If you’re committed to vote for Barack Obama and Joe Biden, then you’ve made the same personal decision that we made. We ask that you talk about why you’re supporting the Democratic ticket with your family, friends and co-workers. And if you have time, work to turn out the vote.  That’s everybody’s right, and we shouldn’t squander it.

If you’re still on the fence, you’re the one we want to talk to. Please read what we have to say in the pages of this issue. Compare what the people running for the top offices of the land have done – not talked about, but done – in their lives. Think about how hard you work and how you and your co-workers would be better off if we had leaders that actually did something about jobs, organizing rights, the tax burden, energy and health care.

We support Barack Obama for President. He doesn’t look like either one of us or have the same background. But we have one thing in common that trumps everything. He chose to skip the corporate trip and get down in the neighborhoods of Chicago with real working people of all races and creeds. He chose to give something to make life better and help people cope. The he got elected to public office and backed it all up with action. Check out what your union brothers and sisters in Illinois have to say about him. On issue after critical issue, he’s got the position that would be best for all of us.

And remember what John McCain’s campaign manager said in August. He said that this election is not about issues.  Look at the record and you’ll understand why. The issues don’t favor the party that has been in power for the last eight years. So they’re trying to make this election about personality. John McCain and Sarah Palin are running for king and queen of the prom because they sure as hell have no business asking working people for their vote based on their positions on the issues.

So we ask you, as union brothers, to vote for yourself this year. Cast your vote for the people – up and down the ballot – who will do right by you and your family and your community.  If enough of us do that, better days are ahead. But whatever you decide and whatever happens, the IBEW will still be here, fighting for a better life for all of us.