Eng-i.com,Engineers and Electioneering......

Here's something I find troublesome.....................

Engineers and Electioneering……………………..

I've have heard/read STEM Professionals (Science-Tech-Engineering-Math) professionals total more than 2-million individuals (and growing).

Ref: http://www.careervoyages.gov/pdf/occquarterly-stemoccupations.pdf

You would think that could be a tremendous voting block.

Other jobs classifications (think teachers) have a strong union. Then there’s the AFL-CIO and their influential endorsements of political candidates.

However STEM professionals are a disorganized- unrepresented group, at least to this writer. Yes they have dozens of technical associations (www.ieee.org; www.asce.org; www.aiche.org; www.nspe.org; www.asme.org, just to list a few).

There are even engineering societies representing the various ethnic, sex, racial groupings (www.swe.org; www.nsbe.org; www.aaaea.org, http://pesoworld.com/; http://www.polishengineers.org/; http://www.cesasc.org/)

And then there are a few umbrella associations representing all of the engineering like the National Academy of Engineering (www.nae.edu) and American Association of Engineering Societies (www.aaes.org).

What do all of the above groups have in common is little (no involvement?) in the political election process. Yes, these organizations are concerned about technical issues, infrastructure improvement, science/technology education. However few if any take positions in electing candidates that support positions that benefit the STEM professional.

Maybe these societies do NOT wish to take viewpoints on candidates to jeopardize their tax-exempt status. You probably could not get these organizations to agree on candidates as individual STEM professionals have various political classifications (Democrat, Republican Green, Libertarian, etc).

Then they do little to promote their issues, concerns

www.engineeringthevote.org

http://www.engineeringpolicy.org/

Not Much in the above

And for Scientists there's
www.sefora.org
Nothing there on the candidates.

However with the advent of the INTERNET and discussion groups that is changing. Fledgling groups and individuals are posting commentaries, statements of various candidates, especially those in the 2008 presidential election.

Presidential Candidates and their H-1B/insourcing/trade/corruption/lobbyists/offshore outsourcing positions/agendas.
http://www.noslaves.com/election08.htm

Tech Crunch - Presidential Primaries
http://www.techcrunch.com/presidential/issue.php?issue=2

For several commentaries on several of the presidential candidates one is directed to
www.eng-i.com/E-Newsletters.htm

As the 2008 Presidential Election process proceeds the questions will remain……. Are the candidates listening to STEM professionals and are they addressing issues of the concern to STEM professionals?

To this writer I have not heard much of any of the candidates with the possible exception of energy independence, Then again haven’t we heard that subject line since the oil crisis of the 1970’s ? How might STEM professionals get involved in the political process and force the candidates to address STEM issues?

Suggested reading:
http://www.gostructural.com/article.asp?id=2575

Submit for your consideration
Robert. B. Johnson, SE. PE