This past weekend a road trip to Cincinnati ended up supporting the results of a depressing national survey report I had just read. The survey question was, "How likely is it that you will vote in this upcoming election?" Of those asked who were Republican Party oriented, some 56% said they were certain that they would vote. Of those who identified themselves as Democrats, 38% indicated that they were certain that they would vote.
What terrible numbers! I had to do my own research.
My unscientific approach to confirm or contest this apathy was to look for political window and bumper stickers on cars and small trucks during the 5 hours I would be on the highways. My results were even worst.
Literally hundreds of vehicles were encountered over a period of two days. Obviously most carried Kentucky or Indiana or Ohio plates but I also saw cars from New Jersey, Tennessee, Michigan, Georgia and Kansas. Only two political stickers were spotted. In northeastern Kentucky an old, beat-up pickup truck sported a HUFF FOR CITY COUNCIL sticker and just east of Louisville a newer car showed in a window a sticker endorsing a candidate for Court Clerk.
Contested US Senate races had no presences at all among the spotted vehicles. The same was true for Congressional contests. However, I did see several American flag decals; a Mary Kay sticker and a boldly displayed VOTE PRO LIFE window sticker.
This apparent lack of interest in political races is unacceptable. Americans must vote! Every citizen should participate in setting the direction in which our nation is to be directed and this can only be done via the ballot box.
Selfishly, I see a low Democratic turnout as good news. Obama supporters will have less of a chance to hold on to or to gain more influence over the nation. However, the overall apathy is unacceptable and can only lead to greater centralized, and by that I mean Washington, control over everyone of us.
And yes, I have a rear window sticker on our family car. It endorses Rand Paul for US Senate.
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