Another Missed Opportunity

Today is Election Day in many parts of the country. Bikers could have easily influenced the outcome of some of these races. Then there would be more biker-friendly legislators at the state capital.

But it all has to start with biker involvement at the beginning of the legislative pipeline. Not at the end.

As it is, most SMROs have yet to make elections a priority. Their legislative focus continues to be after the winners cross finish line. After the race is done, legislators have nothing to fear ... or desire ... from bikers. And bikers have nothing to offer them, either.

Funny how everyone on the planet understands the cause-and-effect of working during an election to get the desired outcome: A biker-friendly legislator.

Everyone except bikers, that is.

Seems like the more of an "activist" a biker is, the harder it is for them to understand. Biker activism requires an astounding amount of persistence, after all, so they're quite set in their ways. But that often means they're just as close-minded as the very legislators they hope to influence.

Today there will be 4 new state legislators in Georgia. Tennessee will get a new one as well. And like virtually all other special elections, voter turnout will be very low. That means the candidate with the best campaign volunteers will win the race. And in many cases, there are only a handful of volunteers behind either candidate.

How many bikers worked as campaign volunteers in these elections?

Zero.

Imagine if one or two bikers had worked in any of those races. The chances are pretty good that there would be one more biker-friendly legislator. Looking at everything biker activists want, and everything that biker activists do, how could it possibly get any easier?

To the best of my knowledge, there are only two states with SMROs that routinely get involved in elections: Virginia and California. SMROs in the other 18 or so helmet law states have little or no involvement.

Hard to believe.

But that pretty much explains why so many states still have helmet laws. Biker activists usually stick to the path of most resistance, blind to what's right there in front of them.

All I can do is point out the obvious, and hope bikers will someday open their eyes and take their rights back.

- RIDE2REPEAL@gmail.com