Mike Psak - American Trucker Runs for US Senate Seat in Illinois
By Renee Taylor (07/29/07)
(July 28, 2007 - AMTW/AR) - As the 2008 elections approach, the American public seems hungry for the “every-man”, someone untouched by the trappings of incumbent power. They are hungry for someone in touch with working America, who understands the reality of going to work every day and paying taxes. A candidate with fresh ideas who is not corrupted by special interests. It is the state of Illinois that seems to have found one such “every-man”, an American trucker named Mike Psak, has joined in the Senatorial race against liberal Democrat incumbent, Dick Durbin.
Psak, who holds a Masters in Business Administration from DePaul University and a bachelors of science in math/computer science from the University of Illinois, grew weary of the daily grind of sitting within the confines of his four-walled office. The open road called and Psak joined tens of thousands of hard working American truckers delivering food, fuel and other goods across the United States.
Trucker turned Senate candidate, Mike Psak. Photo courtesy of Mike Psak.The five years spent on the road was eye opening to Psak, as he was able to visit with local residents, read the local papers. It was this experience that solidified Psak’s belief that Washington was not in touch with the average American voter. He knew what he had to do.
Using the tenacity and drive that motivates the American trucker, Psak entered the 2008 Senate race against incumbent Democrat, Durbin. It really didn’t take him long to make his decision to venture into an area of the political arena few “average Americans” dare go. “I realized the American trucker has no representation in Washington. The only way to change the status quo is if those who are truly concerned run for office,” Psak stated with a passion that is resonating across Illinois. “I represent those who have the courage to buck the system, not be a part of it.”
Psak brings a fresh realism untarnished by special interests to the table with regard to the War on Terror. Seeing, that the United States cannot leave until the Iraqi government is fully capable of battling the terrorists within their borders, he also believes that “we cannot allow terrorists organizations to obtain full military capability. It’s not just a matter of securing the United States, it’s about securing the world. We must encourage other free nations to join in the fight.”
With a platform that includes issues that embrace the trucking community, Psak is passionate about the elimination of the “unskilled labor” designation given to truckers. “There is no such thing a ‘unskilled labor’ and the Labor Code should apply to all, including truck drivers.”
Psak knows first hand, from his five years on the road driving a truck, the skill and knowledge needed to perform the job and his concern for the job security of the trucking industry extends to the proposed Department of Transportation’s Mexican Truck Pilot Program, which will grant Mexican trucking companies access to America’s highways. “There is no reason for foreigners – whether Mexican or Canadian – to work within the US when we have plenty of drivers here,” he explains. “It is a security issue and we must secure both borders.” He further gives the example of speaking with Canadian truckers who have admitted to him they make “80% of their pay driving in the US.”
With a grassroots effort that extends from blogs and trucking message boards to YouTube, Psak’s determined, friendly demeanor has garnered him a loyal base among truckers not only within Illinois, but across the country. His fund raising strategy shows ingenuity and imagination, as he asks truckers to donate $20 each to his campaign through his website. For more information on the American trucker turned candidate for Senate, visit www.psak4ussenate.com. Mike will be interviewed on live Internet radio by Gene Simes on Tuesday, August 8th, at 8 PM Central. Gene is the host of "Veterans for Veterans Connections" on The Stardust Radio Network. The link is: http://www.stardustent.com/vfvc1.htm.
Renee Taylor
http://americantruckersatwar.com/
Renee Taylor is editor/webmaster of http://www.americantruckersatwar.com/ Her articles have appeared on FamilySecurityMatters.org , AmericanDaily.com and GreatMindsThinkRight.com . A freelance writer/photographer and home schooling mom, she lives in Arkansas with her husband, Mark, an American trucker and young son.
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