View Point

Saturday, October 17, 1998

If we don’t vote,
we’re the losers

As the primary results showed,
a few votes can decide the winner

By R.J. Pfeiffer

WITH the election campaign in high gear, it is easy to lose sight of something that, in the long run, is no less important than the choices we are about to make on candidates and issues -- voter participation.

In last Saturday's Star-Bulletin, UH student journalist Treena Shapiro documented what I believe is an appalling lack of interest in and understanding of one of our most basic freedoms: to choose our government.

Although her essay described only the attitudes of college-age citizens, I am afraid the problem of voter apathy affects all age groups.

Voting is the duty and privilege of every American citizen. It is a right many other people all over the world would dearly love to have -- but don't. People around the globe have fought and died for this right, including generations of American service members dating back to the Revolutionary War.

Yet, year after year, we hear of declining voter turnouts. According to Census Bureau statistics, in 1996, the year of the last presidential election, barely one in two Americans over the age of 18 (just 54 percent) exercised their right to vote.

In 1994, the year of Hawaii's last gubernatorial election, not even half the state's voting-age citizens -- 47 percent -- went to the polls.

Experts cite many reasons for this disturbing trend, but I believe most of them boil down to apathy or cynicism. How many people do you know who say their vote won't make a difference or, worse, that it doesn't make any difference who wins?

The fact is votes do count, and it does make a difference who wins. If you doubt this, look at these two propositions a little more closely.

First, consider the idea that "it makes no difference who wins." Does everyone do a big job the same way? Of course not. So why should we think that candidates, if elected, would govern or legislate alike? If we listen to what the candidates say, look at their records and ask them the questions we're most concerned about, we'll find real differences in how they'd do their jobs.

How they do those jobs directly affects us all. Think of it. Government actions strongly influence our economy, schools, roads, the environment, safety and so much more. Who wins the elections will influence our ability to earn a living, our children' future, the livability of our communities. If we don't vote, we're letting others decide our future.

Think also about the fact that our elected officials decide how to spend the taxes we pay. The cost of government is the single biggest "purchase" the average American makes with every paycheck -- federal, state and local taxes take 35 cents out of every dollar we earn, more than food, clothing and housing combined (31 cents). Doesn't it make sense to take a good look at who will spend our hard-earned money?

IF we don't vote, what do we get? Taxation without representation. To avoid it, we don't have to fight the American Revolution all over again. All we need to do is inform ourselves and vote!

Now look at the idea that "my vote doesn't count." What difference does a single vote make? More than you might think. In fact, there were six races in the recent primary elections that were decided by fewer than 100 votes, including one that was decided by just nine ballots. If all the votes of those thousands of people who support a particular candidate, but don't bother to vote, could be added to the total, there could often be a different outcome.

So make a difference. Many offices are up for election this year. Learn about the candidates and their stands on the issues. Then vote. A birthright is a terrible thing to waste.

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R.J. Pfeiffer is chairman, president and
chief executive officer of Alexander & Baldwin Inc.