Got Leverage?

Imagine every conceivable kind of task that bikers rights activists do, from one extreme to the other. Now for each kind, estimate how much manpower it would take to accomplish the following objective:

Change one single legislator's vote.

It's just like pushing down on a lever. The closer you are to the middle of the see-saw, the harder you have to push. But if you apply pressure where you have the most advantage, the slightest effort is all you need.

To change that single vote, bikers could write a million letters to politicians and the press. Thousands would be needed to swarm around the capitol in thunderous protest runs. Hundreds could pack committee hearings, or instead they could reach down deep in their pockets for sizeable campaign contributions.

It's all good.

But it would take only dozens of campaign volunteers, IF they worked for an electable candidate who supports their right to decide. Not millions. Not thousands. Not even hundreds.

Dozens.

You can build a legislative majority, one legislator at a time. All you have to do is take a stand, right where you have the most leverage: On the campaign trail.

-RIDE2REPEAL@gmail.com

PS: There are dozens of special elections going on right now. To find one near you, visit RIDE2REPEAL.COM and click on  ELECTIONS  at the top of the page.

I: Make it Count

State Motorcyclist Rights Organizations (SMRO) have been in the bikers rights "business" for a long time, and they work hard on behalf of all motorcycles. So far, so good.

You can't knock someone for taking action, especially when that criticism is from "keyboard commandos" who are all talk and no action. But we activists can always improve our game by sharing lessons learned, and this article is intended to do just that.

The SMRO approach relies heavily on two principles:

> Everything counts
> Strength in numbers

As good as this sounds on the surface, there's a cost to doing business this way. And I believe it's why many (though NOT all) SMROs constantly struggle, lose ground year after year, and sometimes even fold up the tent.

I'll save the "strength in numbers" discussion for Part II. For now, I'd like to focus on the first principle. It's a complex subject, but we can break it into bite-size chunks.

Setting Priorities

Think about it. You can't be everywhere at once and do everything at the same time. We have our limits. And if you do everything you possibly can, after a while you get overworked and burned out. Even then, if you don't prioritize your tasks wisely, you end up being inefficient and ineffective.

We can easily determine what any SMRO's top priorities are. Just visit their website. Look at their Events Calendar. Read their monthly newsletter. Then observe what percentage of "print space" is devoted to any particular subject.

Money, Money, Money

In most cases, well over half is devoted to fundraising of one kind or another. Some of it is for charity, which is noble. And SMROs know how to put the "fun" in fundraising. But all fun aside, it's off-topic for political activism.

Often the fundraising is to cover operating expenses, which itself often accounts for the vast majority of an SMRO's budget. In other words, the majority of an SMRO's income is devoted to overhead ... just making ends meet. This is an inefficient way to do business and, by any accounting standard, a serious red flag.

The Good Biker

About one quarter of "print space" goes to motorcycle safety. Like charity, this is off-topic as well. They're both rationalized in what quite a few activists call the "good biker" syndrome. In other words, if people see our good deeds, they'll like us. Then they'll help us regain our freedom. Right...

Singing the Blues

The remaining print space is political. This is definitely on-topic, and it's the very reason for having an SMRO in the first place. But here's the rub. The more results-oriented that the political action is, the less you'll find written about it. Let me explain:

Most of the printed politics is "preaching to the choir." Pointing out injustice, debating statistics, calling out bureaucrats and political hacks, bemoaning the constant erosion of freedom, debating statistics some more, ennumerating the US Constitution, etc.

To all that, I say "WE GET IT ALREADY!"

Most of the people reading these editorials are already convinced. And even if they aren't convinced, or if so -- still not motivated -- then forget them. No use flogging a dead horse. Unless you enjoy flogging dead horses. Sure can't hurt the horse.

Make Some Noise

Then there's the protesting, the lobbying, the letter-writing, etc. While these far better than "preaching to the choir," these organized activities are hamstrung by one simple fact: They are nothing more than opinions, and that's why politicians ignore us: All bark, no bite.

Voter's Block

Closer to the goal, there's a tiny remainder of print space that's devoted to elections. Sometimes, though, you can't find it anywhere. But even when you can find it, it's usually limited to the act of voting. That's pretty close to the mark, but it totally misses our secret weapon.

Secret to most bikers, anyway ... but not to politicians.

Campaign Volunteering...

...makes the most difference with the least time & effort.
...has the most influence over how legislators vote.
...is the only way we can help legislators (or hurt them).
...happens when legislators are listening and need volunteers.
...doesn't cost money and there's no paperwork.
...can be done outside your own voting district.
...takes no more time than a monthly SMRO meeting.
...doesn't require you to be a registered voter.
...can be in districts that matter, bypassing ones that don't.

Yet you can't find the words "campaign volunteer" on most SMRO websites. Nor on their calendar. Nor in their newsletter. Even if there is passing mention, there are no organized activities. No "campaign coordinators." No volunteer sign-up sheets.

Hopefully that will change.

Eventually, more and more SMROs will realize that nothing has more influence over the legislative balance than campaign work. When they start shifting their priorities in that direction, they'll increase their efficiency and effectiveness.

That's something you can count on.

-RIDE2REPEAL@gmail.com

II: Work the Numbers

As I mentioned in Part I, the State Motorcyclist Rights Organization (SMRO) approach relies on two principles:

> Everything Counts
> Strength in Numbers

As Einstein famously said, "Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts." With this in mind, let's move from the Part I discussion of an SMRO's priorities to how it makes use of its "strength in numbers."

Again, you can't be everywhere and do everything. An SMRO is limited by the number of members it has (as well as other resources, like money and time). But we'll just consider members who show up and help to get things done.

It would seem like the more people you have, the more you can accomplish. This is pretty much true, no matter how you slice it.

But let's pretend your priorities are out of whack, so you spend a lot of time doing unproductive things. Given the same number of people, you'd be less efficient. A lot less.

MPG

This is no different than a gasoline powered engine. The more fuel efficient it is, the further it will go on a gallon of gas. One gallon in a top-fuel dragster will only take you about 2 or 3 miles, while in a Toyota Prius it would go 20 times as far.

Now I'll be the first one to say 15 seconds in a hot rod is a lot more fun than a lifetime in an econobox. But what is your mission? Is it to have as much fun as possible before you run out of gas, or to go the distance and reach your goal?

Obviously (at least to me) the whole point of an SMRO is to restore and protect your rights as a motorcyclist. And if an SMRO is efficient at accomplishing that mission, it gets the most accomplished with the people it has.

Full Tank

Some SMRO's are HUGE, so they can afford to be a little less efficient. ABATE of Indiana is probably the biggest, and I hear they have tens of thousands of members. ABATE of PA is also pretty sizeable, with about seven thousand. They're both top-tier organizations, with plenty of volunteers who keep them on top.

But let's take a look at SMROs in states that are not winning the battle, with the helmet law separating the "haves" from the "have-nots." Generally speaking, quite a few of them are struggling in the low thousands. And some of them can't even claim more than a few hundred members, even on a good day.

If your approach requires big numbers, and you ain't got big numbers, you will not be successful. At least not successful at anything that matters. Like your mission.

Three Quarters

The greatest SMRO "resource hound" is the sheer overhead of running the organization. Monthly meetings, treasury reports, membership packages, newsletter submissions, selling products, and organizing events. They all take time, effort, and volunteers.

Yet all of these tasks are internal house-keeping jobs.

Given the benefit of the doubt, these life-support tasks account for about 75% of an SMRO's time and effort expended. Good luck finding any other nonprofit organization that consumes so much, just to maintain its own pulse.

One Quarter

Of the remaining 25%, most of it is devoted to fundraising. Some of it is for charity and other worthy causes, and the rest goes back into care and feeding of the SMRO (again, internal housekeeping).

Motorcycle safety is often the next program in line for making use of SMRO volunteers. Again, a worthy cause, but off on a tangent when it comes to political action.

Fumes

That doesn't leave much. Again being generous, let's say 10% is left over for political activity. Mostly this consists of lobbying and protesting, both of which rise no higher than the level of expressing one's opinion.

No wonder politicians see us as "all bark and no bite."

But if lobbying and protesting are at the top the political to-do list, there might be less than 5% left for elections.

The closer we get to the mission, the less there is in the tank.

Running on Empty

The election year efforts of almost every SMRO are exclusively focused on getting bikers to vote. And sometimes this consists entirely of one or two emails, sent on Election Day, that say "Go out and vote!!!"

But bikers are a tiny minority of voters. A lot of us can't vote. If I were a betting man, I'd bet on the majority. That's what politicians do, and the house always wins.

Our true strength lies not in voting, but in delivering votes ... as dependable campaign volunteers.

Yet it is extremely rare to hear any mention of campaign volunteering, let alone see organized activity. Why? Because when you're last in line, there's usually nothing left.

This is not a big deal if you have tens of thousand of members. It becomes a challenge when you dip into the single thousands. And if you struggle to maintain a few hundred?

Well good luck with that.

Again, the most political leverage comes from campaign volunteering. If your SMRO has an abundance of active members, many are politically active. So then you probably have several hundred working in various campaign offices throughout your state.

THAT is what it takes to be successful at influencing legislation.

Alternative Fuel

But if you don't have an abundance of active members, relatively few will be politically active. And then it would be rare indeed to see any black leather out riding on the campaign trail.

The good news is that it only takes a few people to make a big difference. All you need to do is turn your priorities upside down, and put campaign work at the top of the list.

Struggling SMROs should look at it another way: If you continue to do everything EXCEPT campaign work, you will continue to fail. But if you excel at campaign work, you will most certainly win.

-RIDE2REPEAL@gmail.com

Make Believers

Let's pretend ... that there's a special election coming up soon, and there's only one question on the ballot:

Should the mandatory helmet law be repealed?

Just a simple YES or NO answer is all that's needed. And for most people, the issue is pretty much black and white. Either you accept an adult's freedom of choice, or you don't.

Now pretend there are two groups of people, each one are trying to win the repeal battle at the ballot box. Each side is making phone calls, delivering pamphlets, and everything else they can to get out the vote.

The anti-repeal side has one obvious strong point: polls show that twice as many people support the mandatory helmet law. And believe it or not, even a majority of motorcyclists are fine with keeping the helmet law as-is. Any way you slice it, they have a numerical advantage.

But the anti-repeal crowd has a bigger andvantage. Overwhelming, as a matter of fact. Because what they lack in numbers, they more than make up for with passionate beliefs.

Unlike a mere opinion, passion is a powerful motivating force. And motivation with purpose turns into action. That means passionate belivers care enough about the helmet issue to do something about it. To strike out on a frosty winter's day, to find a polling place, and to cast their vote.

The very same passionate motivation applies to the campaign volunteers. They are out there on the field of battle, fighting for the cause of freedom. While most people don't care two bits about helmet laws, their lack of concern means they won't get off the couch, won't walk out the door, and won't visit the ballot box. They are the least motivated side. And what have they got to lose? Nothing.

With those kinds of odds, don't you wish repeal could be on the ballot? Repeal would not only be possible, but it would become probable ... and practically inevitable. That's because you'd only have to win one time to make a real difference.

Okay, now let's stop pretending.

Believe it or not, this isn't a dream ... it's reality, and it's happening right now. There are dozens of special elections going on to fill legislative vacancies in almost 20 states. And while the words "helmet law" are not written on those ballots, they will definitely being spoken in the candidate's hearts and minds. Like I said earlier, everyone has an opinion about helmet laws, one way or the other.

So when you work as a volunteer for a candidate who supports your right to decide, you are actually working for repeal. And when those citizens get out and vote for a candidate who supports repeal, they are actually voting for repeal.

Regardless of what all the other political issues are, there are some candidates who respect you as a responsible adult. And there are other candidates who believe you're incabable of making such a decision ... and they will micro-manage as much of your life as possible. Like helmet laws, it's a black and white issue.

So visit the  ELECTIONS  page at RIDE2REPEAL.COM and see if your state is holding a special election. And if you find candidates' names in GREEN, you'll know they respect your right to decide. But if their names are RED, they don't trust you ... so don't you trust them, either.

Click on a GREEN candidate to volunteer, help them get out the vote. And help them win. The other side is counting on a lot of couch potatoes. We, on the other hand, need only a handful of righteous bikers to sieze the day.

More Special Elections

Just one week ago, I counted 18 special elections across the country. But after scanning the headlines for the past few day, there are several more that seemed to have sprouted up out of nowhere. So many, in fact, that I'll just count states for now.

Sixteen of them are holding special elections. That means 16 chances to elect biker-friendly candidates. By defintion, that means they support some form of adult freedom of choice on helmets ... and most likely support freedom across the board. It also means 16 chances to keep nanny-crats out of the legislature, too.

The fastest way to learn about the latest news on any of these special elections is to sign up for Twitter (twitter.com) and then "follow" tweets from RIDE2REPEAL. All this twitter stuff is new to me, but I'm learning as fast as I can.

I'll still do my best to pass the word the usual way. One is by sending out Email Alerts to all our subscribers (click on the red SUBSCRIBE tab up top). I'll also continue posting articles here as well.

Now it's time for bikers to get busy with those special elections. All the info you need is on the ELECTIONS page at RIDE2REPEAL.COM.


-RIDE2REPEAL@gmail.com

Winding Down (and Up)

It's been a busy year, and I'm looking forward to a more gentle pace. When 48 out of 50 states are having elections, it's downright overwhelming at times. But it's also been a learning experience, and there never seems to be enough learning or experience when it comes to bikers and elections.

Coming on the heels of an election, it's still pretty busy. There are special elections going on in quite a few states due to the "trickle up" effect of political advancement. When someone gets elected or appointed to a higher office, there's a vacancy to be filled.

If you're a biker living in one of the following states, and you want to EARN your freedom, you should be paying close attention to these races:

AR HD-24
CA SD-1 (Sacramento)
CA SD-17 (Palmdale)
CA SD-28 (Torrance)
DC City Council (At-Large)
GA HD-136
GA HD-178
IA SD-48 (Osceola)
LA HD-22
MS SD-6 (Tupelo)
MS SD-12 (Shelby)
MS HD-116 (D'Iberville)
OH SD-1
OK SD-47 (Edmund)
PA HD-185 (Philadelphia)
TX HD-44 (San Antonio)
VA HD-8 (Salem)
VA SD-19 (Danville)

Unless my math is wrong, that makes 18 races that are going on as of today. How many bikers are aware of these races? All it takes is a few to make a difference.

Campaign volunteers have far more political power than most people realize. Politicians know it, of course, because they depend on them to get where they're going.

Do you?

-RIDE2REPEAL@gmail.com

CA » SD-17 (Palmdale)

Now that Senator George Runner is moving up to the State Board of Equalization, he'll give up his SD-17 seat on Jan 3. And that means another special election.

Here is a recent news article about it:
Special election will decide who fills Runner's Senate seat

This makes a total of at least four special elections across California in the immediate future ... perhaps more, if any assembly members win races for the open senate seats.

Now that the November elections are behind us, we can concentrate our efforts in special elections. As long as they feature at least one candidate who supports repeal of the motorcycle helmet law (and that candidate is electable) then our efforts will be time well spent.

- RIDE2REPEAL@gmail.com

CA » SD-28 (Torrance)

It looks like the SD-28 (Torrance) special election is turning out to be a bust.

This district recently made national headlines, with proclamations such as "Dead Woman wins Election in California." But in California's famously gerrymandered districts, there was no way that John Stammreich, her Republican challenger, was ever going to win that race.

Senate District 28 belongs to the Democrats.

Initially there was some hope that some real contenders would emerge for the special election. The RIDE2REPEAL.COM game plan is to volunteer for the electable candidate who supports repeal of the helmet law. In urban Democratic districts, this is the only way to make progress.

The first name to pop up was Ted Lieu, termed-out Assembly member. Lieu has never voted on helmet law repeal, so it will take some time and effort to find out. Next came Jennifer Hahn, LA City Council member. Again, no voting record to go on.

Then Assembly Member Warren Furutani's name was mentioned. Not only does he vote against motorcyclists at every opportunity, he's also on the Transportation Committee. His winning would be bad for the Senate, but possibly good for the Assembly.

But in the end, both Hahn and Furutani dropped out of the race. Even Stammreich is sitting this one out. That means termed-out Assembly member Ted Lieu is now freshman Senator Ted Lieu.

We still need to find out where he stands on the helmet law. The best way, of course, is putting it to a vote. There is no better indicator of how they WILL vote than how they DID vote.

RIDE2REPEAL@gmail.com

DC » City Council (At Large)

It looks like DC may have a special election soon, depending upon whether they appoint an interim council member or hold a special election.

Council Member Kwame Brown is moving up to become Council Chair, and this creates a vacancy in his old seat.

Here is an interesting article about the situation:
D.C. GOP keeps hopes alive with special election

Another article indicates DCDSC National Committeeman Vincent Orange may be appointed:
Orange objects to a fairer special election process

The City Council serves as the legislative body for the District of Columbia, with just over a dozen members. This makes it easy to build a biker-friendly legislative majority, mathematically speaking.

The first step in this direction is to figure out who's running, and then find out where they stand on the helmet law. If there is at least one candidate who supports helmet law repeal -- and that candidate is electable -- it's an opportunity that normally happens only once in a blue moon.

As always, updates will be posted to the Elections page at RIDE2REPEAL.COM.

RIDE2REPEAL@gmail.com

IA » SD-48 (Osceola)

Iowa Senate District 48 will have a vacant seat, now that State Senator Kim Reynolds will soon become Lieutenant Governor.

Here is a recent article about the vacancy:
Reynolds Resigns From State Senate – Special Election Needed To Fill Seat

The odds are good that this district will remain in Republican hands. The question for motorcyclists, however, will be whether any of the candidates support their right to decide.

It's not like Iowans are in danger of getting a new helmet law anytime soon. But there will always be nanny-crats looking for the chance to control someone else's life.

Should I receive any input from the Iowa motorcycling community, I'll be sure to post it under the Elections page at RIDE2REPEAL.com.

RIDE2REPEAL@gmail.com

MS » SD-6 (Tupelo)

MS » SD-6 (Tupelo)
Senate District 6 is one of three recent vacancies in the Mississippi State Legislature. This particular vacancy is the result of State Senator Patrick Nunnelee winning election to the US Congress.

The election is scheduled for Jan 11. A runoff election, if necessary, will be held Feb 1. The position will be on the ballot again in 2011 as part of the regular state election cycle.

Here are recent news articles:
Three open state legislative seats lead to special elections
Special election set Jan. 11 to replace Nunnelee, Palazzo, Minor

MS » SD-12 (Shelby)

Senate District 12 is one of three recent vacancies in the Mississippi State Legislature. This particular vacancy is the result of State Senator Johnny Walls winning election to the Circuit Court's 11th District. The election date has not been set.

Here are recent news articles:
Three open state legislative seats lead to special elections
Special election set Jan. 11 to replace Nunnelee, Palazzo, Minor

MS » HD-116 (D'Iberville)

House District 116 is one of three recent vacancies in the Mississippi State Legislature. This particular vacancy is the result of State Representative Stephen Palazzo winning election to the US Congress.

The election is scheduled for Jan 11. A runoff election, if necessary, will be held Feb 1. The position will be on the ballot again in 2011 as part of the regular state election cycle.

Here are recent news articles:
Three open state legislative seats lead to special elections
Special election set Jan. 11 to replace Nunnelee, Palazzo, Minor

OK » SD-47 (Edmund)

A vacancy has been created in the Oklahoma State Senate because Senator Todd Lamb is set to become Lieutenant Governor.

General elections are set for Feb 8. The following Republicans have announced their intentions to run for the SD-47 seat: Carol Hefner, Steven Dobbs, Greg Treat, Kenny Goza. No Democrats have announced yet. Here is a recent article:
Henry sets special election date for vacant Senate seat in Edmond

Gov. Henry announced a primary election for Oklahoma State Senate District 47 will be held January 11. Voters will go to the polls for the general election February 8. A filing period for the office will be held December 13 - 15. Here are additional articles:
Gov. Henry Sets Special Election To Fill Todd Lamb's State Senate Seat
Henry Sets SD47 Special Election Dates


-RIDE2REPEAL@gmail.com

PA » HD-185 (Philadelphia)

Due to the recent death of State Represenative Robert Donatucci, there will be a special election for HD-185 (Philadelphia). So far the only candidate mentioned is his widow, Maria Donatucci.

Here is a recent article about the vacancy:
Widow of state Rep. Donatucci considers running to fill his House seat

TX » HD-44 (San Antonio)

Texas House District 44 is vacant, and that means a special election will be coming soon. Here is a recent news article on this event from KNGB.am/radio/news/

Republican candidates are:
- Ron Avery, 63, of Seguin
- Chris Burchell, 46, of Adkins
- Jim Fish, 53, of Cibolo
- Gary W. Inmon, 43, of Schertz
- John Kuempel, 40, of Seguin
- Myrna McLeroy, 72, of Gonzales
- Robin R. Walker, 58, of Seguin

Democratic candidates include:
- Daniel Rodriguez Andrade, 45, of Seguin
- Cheryl Dees Patterson, 44, of Seguin

Updates will be posted as needed to the ELECTIONS page.

RIDE2REPEAL@gmail.com

VA » HD-8 (Salem)

On Tuesday, November 23, Virginia Republicans and Democrats will nominate candidates for VA House District 8, which includes Salem and parts of Roanoke county.

This vacancy is the result of Delegate Morgan Griffith's election to the US Congress. Governor McDonnell said he would set the date for the election to be Jan 11.

Here's are two articles about the upcoming Republican "Firehouse" primary:
http://roanokevalleyrepublicans.blogspot.com/2010/11/fire-house-republican-primary-november.html
http://www2.godanriver.com/news/2010/nov/15/mcdonnell-sets-date-special-election-ar-654926/

Here's an article about the upcoming Democratic Caucus to nominate candidates:
http://www2.wsls.com/news/2010/nov/16/roanoke-co-democrats-set-nov-23rd-caucus-8th-distr-ar-657233/

Updates will be posted as needed to the ELECTIONS page at RIDE2REPEAL.COM.

VA » SD-19 (Danville)

Virginia will hold a special election to fill a new vacancy in VA Senate District 19, which includes Danville and surrounding counties.

Here's an article about one candidate who's announced his intent to run: http://www.thefranklinnewspost.com/article.cfm?ID=17533

Candidate names have been posted to the ELECTIONS page at RIDE2REPEAL.COM.

"Ride Like a Cowboy"

In the political world, there are three kinds of creatures: Ranchers, Cattle, and Cowboys.

> Ranchers control the herd, and we know them as "politicians."
> Cattle choose their Ranchers, and we know them as "voters."
> Cowboys work for the Ranchers and steer the herd. We call them "campaign volunteers."

Ranchers can't get there alone, so they will always need Cowboys to get the Herd moving in their direction. Ranchers therefore have the utmost respect for experienced and reliable Cowboys. On the other hand, they have no need or respect for anyone who they can't depend on. They just don't matter.

During the 2010 campaign season, quite a few bikers gained valuable experience as campaign volunteers this year -- regardless of who they worked for, and regardless of whether their candidates won or lost. Experience counts. And the more reliable we bikers become at showing up to help candidates, the sooner we'll EARN the respect we've always wanted from our lawmakers in Sacramento.

Thanks to everyone who "rode like a cowboy" on the campaign trail this year.

RIDE2REPEAL@gmail.com

Do Your Part

Sorry for the lack of articles recently. I've been working hard to support two local candidates as a campaign volunteer as well as sending out alerts to other volunteers around the country.

It's not hard to beat the helmet law. You just have to help a nearby biker-friendly candidate win. Nothing else comes close to being as effective.

Here is the simple truth: If you are not working as a campaign volunteer THIS YEAR, you will lose more of your rights NEXT YEAR.

- RID2REPEAL@gmail.com

Political Leverage

Only once every two years do we get a chance to change the balance of our legislature. This means elections are on the political front burner. Or at least they will be until Election Day on November 2nd. But as a bikers rights activist, are elections on YOUR front burner?

Let’s face facts. As a voting bloc, bikers are a tiny minority. And for the vast non-riding majority, motorcycle issues aren’t even on the radar screen. Like it or not, bikers are easy to ignore. That means we must rely on more than just voting. Instead, what we need is leverage. Otherwise our voices will not be heard at the state capital.

Fortunately, bikers have the ability to do far more than just vote. By becoming campaign volunteers, we can instead deliver votes by the dozen. And we don’t even need to be in our own home district to do this. So the most powerful thing we can do right now is work for any nearby candidate who is biker-friendly.

The good news is that it’s easy work. My favorite job is delivering campaign signs, which is more fun than a poker run. Candidates normally must pay people to do this, so you’re saving them time and money. And all you have to do is ride around town on your motorcycle. How hard is that?

More importantly, campaign work gets the most results. In fact, nothing else even comes close when it comes to influencing legislation. That’s because you develop a personal relationship with future legislators when you help them win. In politics as well as in life, friends always come first. And for us, that’s what “biker-friendly” is all about.

There are other reasons why campaign work is so important, too. It’s the only time we can help legislators … or “fire” them if they need to be replaced. And while our opponents (the insurance industry and safety bureaucrats) are very effective at swaying public opinion, they will never do campaign work. And the only way they can beat us is if we don’t either.

As political activists, there are many jobs we take upon ourselves ... and there never seems to be enough time to shoulder them all. So we are forced to make hard choices. With a biker-friendly legislature as our goal, we must choose wisely. Because campaign work gets the most bang for the buck, it should be our top priority.

Once the election is over, campaign work can retreat to the back burner again. It will then become the least important thing we can do. But right now, with the elections just around the corner, the exact opposite is true. So do what it takes to get yourself out there on the campaign trail. Using that kind of leverage, you’ll know you’re making the most difference.

- RIDE2REPEAL@gmail.com

Top Priority Races List

Just a quick explanation of how we produced the "TOP PRIORITY RACES" list for California. In other words, why are some races included ... and many others aren't? The key is for us to find the races where a biker-volunteer can have the greatest impact on election results. This means we look for races that have the following qualities:

1. The candidates are on opposite sides of the helmet law -- also known as "red vs. green" races.

2. BOTH candidates have a realistic chance of winning -- normally with 60/40 odds or better. A dead-even 50/50 is perfect.

3. Extra Credit: The incumbent is influential -- a Transportation Committee member, motorcycle bill sponsor, speaker/president, majority/minority leader, etc.

The TOP PRIORITY RACES list comes from an overall evaluation of all 100 legislative races, and this is how it works:

1. An incumbent's voting record on repeal is the hardest evidence of whether they're "code-green" or "code-red." There is no better evidence of how they WILL vote than how they DID vote. Committee members, bill sponsors, and party leaders are all listed somewhere on the California Legislature website, too. While it's pretty scattered info, we pull it all together in one place, and that's "ALL LEGISLATIVE RACES" listed under California Races.

2. An ABATE endorsement is an automatic "code-green" candidate. While bikers rights is about more than just helmets, adult choice has always been an essential ingredient of what ABATE stands for. But the helmet law itself is actually about "more than just helmets," too. We use it as a litmus test to see where candidates stand on all "freedom vs. safety" issues. We also use it as a lightning rod to attract the most passionate biker activists to the campaign trail. Passion creates motivation ... motivation drives action ... and action gets results. And only results count.

3. Without a voting record or an ABATE endorsement, it's a judgment call. The best source is getting to know the candidate, and no amount of cold-calling can top a personal relationship. It's also good to simply ask them what they think of the helmet law. More than half the time, they'll tell you. Lacking personal contact, we sometimes make an educated guess based on their record of other issues that are similar to repeal ... for example exhaust labelling, ski helmets, etc. But sometimes we just can't tell ... so a candidate will remain in "code-gray" limbo until we have something useful to go on.

4. To be listed, candidates must be competitive. The number in parentheses after a candidate's name shows the percentage of votes their party received during the primary election. Candidates must have earned at least one percentage point to be on the list. It may seem hard-hearted at first, but candidates must earn their place on the list with more than good ideas. It takes votes to win an election ... and it takes votes to get on this list.

Finally, it's a matter of connecting passionate, motivated, action-oriented bikers (like you) with the nearby races that matter most. And if there happen to be any Top-Priority Races nearby, you have even more power in your hands. Of course this power is only present during the campaign season, which kicks off in a couple of days. So when you get a chance, take a look at the "California Races" list at RIDE2REPEAL.COM (click on "Elections" at the top of the page). The TOP PRIORITY RACES are listed ... you guessed it ... at the top of the page.

Once you have that list in front of you, everything you need to take action ... and get results ... is just one click away.

RIDE2REPEAL@gmail.com

PS: Look before you leap. The list may be "adjusted" from time to time as the campaign season unfolds.

Get the Vote Count

Evaluating hundreds of legislative candidates is no easy task. But in order to mobilize campaign volunteers, it's essential to know where the candidates stand on motorcycling issues. That's why candidate surveys and personal contact are so important. Otherwise we are flying blind.

Of course there are limitations to how "solid" our knowledge about a candidate is. Politicians can change their mind (and tell a fib or two), surveys can get lost in the shuffle, and sometimes front-running (or tail-dragging) candidates never respond to anybody. So we have to go with the best info we've got, and try to fill in the gaps as best we can.

There is only ONE source of information that is bullet-proof, and that is a candidate's voting record. They can say what they want, they can change their mind a thousand times, or they can hide behind the Capitol walls ... but their voting record can't be denied. There is no better indicator of how a legislator WILL vote ... than how they DID vote.

This brings me to the point that we all need to consider, and that is pushing a repeal bill as far as it will go. Conventional wisdom is that there's only one reason to submit a bill, and that is for the bill to become law. While this is the ultimate goal of any bill, there is an equally important reason to submit a bill ... and that is to get the vote count.

Lacking a vote count, we can only guess. And an educated guess takes a lot of homework, legwork, and head-scratching. Mistakes and disagreements are bound to occur, as well as being left completely in the dark on a lot of candidates. We need the vote count to make it a lot easier to pick the races that matter, and skip the ones that don't.

So when the time comes to submit a repeal bill during the next session, let's get the maximum benefit out of that effort. Whether passage is likely, unlikely, or a snowball's chance in the Mojave Desert, push that bill as far as it will go ... through the Transportation Committees ... as well as through BOTH full chambers.

Even if it gets shot down, we'll know who the shooters are. That's because we'll see the muzzle flash, and we'll know where to direct our firepower during the campaign season.

-RIDE2REPEAL@gmail.com

Political Dividends

Getting face-to-face with legislators at their events is always good. But it's important to use that opportunity as a way to build a win-win relationship with them.

My approach is to ask them what they think of helmet laws. (I do it conversationally, and not on a mic where they'll be put on the spot.) If they give me the right answer, then I know they're on our side with just about any other bikers rights issue.

Then I totally change the subject ... to campaign work. Who's in charge of volunteers, trading phone numbers, etc. This is where we really get the dividend, by becoming valuable to the legislator AND his staff.

That's also the moment when the table turns, and they are now seeking our help. But if we just show up asking for a laundry list of favors, we're just like everyone else ... standing in line, looking for a hand out.

- RIDE2REPEAL@gmail.com

Make Your Opinion Count

Voicing an opinion is as American as apple pie. It's the founding principle of any democratic society. Voting is the most renowned form of political opinion ... a precious right that was paid for -- in blood -- by generations of Americans. We are especially lucky compared to other parts the world, where people lack such a fundamental right of self expression.

But the value of an opinion is overblown. Taken alone, it's all just hot air. Opinions are far more effective at selling newspapers than they are changing the world. Look at everything from opinion polls to editorial cartoons. Television works the same way, filling our living rooms with the most divisive, controversial, and combative "journalism" they can produce. None of it actually changes anything ... except maybe their ratings.

There is only one kind of political opinion that counts, and it is held by people who take action. If you aren't ready to back your opinion with action, then it's "all bark and no bite." But to be effective, it has to be meaningful action. That means the right act, in the right place, and at the right time. Results are what makes the difference, and everything else is just talk

Now I don't mean writing letters, waving flags, gathering at rallies, or marching in protest. I don't mean lobbying our elected officials, either. All of these "actions" never rise one step above the level of expressing one's opinion. It's just more of the same -- talking.

The real action takes place on the field of battle, where there will be winners and losers. And when it comes to restoring our rights, that place is out on the campaign trail. That's where the contest is played out by opposing forces on the front lines. Everyone else is in the rear with the gear.

If you work as a campaign volunteer for a biker-friendly candidate, you are doing more than just expressing your opinion. You are running up the score for bikers rights. Politicians know this because they see the results. The good news is that our opponents NEVER do campaign work. And the only way they can continue to beat us is when we don't, either.

Most would say that voting is what counts most. But in the world of politics, casting a vote is like going to war with a B-B gun ... and you only get one single B-B to shoot. Even worse, you can only take aim at one single target. So by all means, get out there and vote. Just don't count on making much of a dent.

Campaign work, on the other hand, delivers votes by the dozen. You don't even have to stay inside your own voting district, either. Compared to the firepower of a B-B gun, campaign work like a 12-gauge pump shotgun ... with an unlimited supply of shells ... and then being able to hit any number of targets, over and over.

Our elected officials have an astounding amount of power over our lives. But that kind of power has to come from somewhere. Obviously politicians need votes to win. So the better we are at delivering those votes, the more important we become to those elected officials. That's why we need to be good at campaign work.

There's a catch, of course. We can only make a difference when there's an election coming up. The campaign season will be in full swing in September and October, so there's only a two-month window of opportunity. After that, for better or worse, we must live with the results.

So by all means, express your opinion. It's your God-given right, and it's even enshrined in the US constitution. Just make sure you get out there ... on the campaign trail ... to make sure your opinion counts.

RIDE2REPEAL@gmail.com

CA Bikers Win Again!

As much as I try to pay attention to election news, I don't know how on earth I missed the boat on this one...

Way back on June 8 California had statewide primaries. A few races were really close, and apparently one of them -- Senate District 40 in Chula Vista -- was mistakenly called a victory for Assembly Member Mary Salas.

As many will attest, Salas is no friend of bikers.

Not so fast ... as the last returns finally came in, she fell short by 22 votes to her primary rival, Juan Vargas. And Vargas supports repeal. Now Salas is hoping to turn things around with a recount, but she needs to raise $80k to pay for it.

For some reason, Mary's having a hard time finding rich friends. To make matters worse (for her), the California Secretary of State says there has yet to be a race that's been overturned after a recount.

Bye bye, Mary!

But the best news is that pro-repeal Juan Vargas is running against ... pro-repeal Brian Hendry. Regardless of how the SD-40 race turns out, we are yet another district closer to a legislative majority.

Score so far in the State Senate ... 10 Green, 10 Red.

-RIDE2REPEAL@gmail.com

A Taste of Freedom

That was a great little taste of freedom today!

Let's work as campaign volunteers this fall, we'll knock a couple of nanny-crats out of office in November. Then we can ride free all year round. As Splatt once said, "Help our friends and make it clear ... HELMET FREE this time next year."

To see if there are any biker-friendly candidates near you, click on ELECTIONS. Click on any name listed in green to volunteer through their website.

-RIDE2REPEAL@gmail.com

PS: Many thanks to Dave Connors for putting it all together.

Helmet Law Protest Ride

San Diego bikers will gather at Fiesta Island, early on the 4th of July to declare their independence -- from the nanny state of California.

With kickstands up at 10:30 am, the helmets-optional ride will make the short run up to Harley Davidson of San Diego. Then the rally will commence.

Guest speakers include legislators, activists, and yours truly. That's right, I'll be there full of enthusiasm, surrounded by people just like me. That one thing we have in common, our committment to the restoration of freedom, is what brings us together.

Our shared committment must also motivate us to step over the line. Most people believe that freedom of expression is what makes us all equal. This may be true, but it's also what holds us down.

Expressing an opinion is all talk and no action.

We cannot depend on truth, justice, or the American way to get our rights back. We already tried that, but our legislators aren't listening. They only listen to the people who got them elected. And I ain't talking about voters.

I'm talking about campaign volunteers.

Voting is like going hunting with a BB gun, but with only one BB for the entire trip. One shot is all you get. Sure, put enough BB's on target and you will score a hit.

Practical experience tells us there aren't enough bikers with BB guns to make a difference.

Campaign work, in comparison, is like having a cruise missile. It doesn't take a whole army of bikers to knock out a target. All it takes is one shot ... in the right place.

There many reasons why campaign work is so powerful, and here are just a few:

- Our opponents NEVER do campaign work. All they got is talk.
- Candidates SEE us volunteering, and know how valuable we are.
- Volunteers deliver votes by the DOZENS.
- We can work any number of districts. You can only vote in one.

At the rally, my goal is to get as many bikers as possible to understand the unique power of campaign volunteering. So far it's been far and few between, since bikers are so busy running around in circles most of the time.

But if we can just get good and organized at it, we'll be free in a year.

-RIDE2REPEAL@gmail.com
PS: Thanks to Splatt for the art!

Kill the Goose

There's absolutely nothing to like about California Senate Bill 435, which will outlaw aftermarket exhaust pipes and expand police power.

This bill's sponsor, Senator Fran Pavley, is someone who's always been antagonistic towards the biker community. Same goes for Assembly Member Bonnie Lowenthal, who's chairman of the Transportation Committee. They will vote on SB435 today, and the odds are stacked against us ... as they have been for some time.

A lot of bikers are upset because ABATE can't kill the bill, and use words like "rolling over" and such. I know this isn't true because I've been fighting against this bill, right along with many other ABATE members, all of whom are livid about SB435. I also know that the ABATE leadership team has given it their best effort, and now they're trying to minimize the harm that this bill would inflict upon all of us.

As much as I hate giving any quarter, I must also admit that SB435 is not as bad as it once was. Our leadership AND our membership have made significant progress on reducing the adverse impact of this bill. I respect and appreciate every bit of initiative, hard work, persistence, and team work that a lot of people put into it so far. And people are still fighting the good fight. So to everyone who stepped up I say THANK YOU!

But let's take a step back and ask ourselves this question:

How can we stop bills like this BEFORE they happen?

It all boils down to whether legislators like Pavley and Lowenthal have anything to fear from us. Right now, obviously not! And whether we continue fight SB435, or grudgingly accept the lesser evil, the fix is only temporary. There will always be more bills to come ... as well as our noisy reactions ... until we make anti-biker bills into a career-ending proposition for legislators.

We bikers put an astounding amount of work into fighting this bill. Hundreds of letters. Tens of thousands of signatures. Untold hours of debating and negotiating. Packing the hearing room to the rafters. But all of our work did NOT rise one single step above expressing our opinion. We told our legislators what we thought ... but they can choose not to listen because they see no consequences.

We talked the talk, but are we prepared to walk the walk?

Imagine we could turn back time to exactly two years ago, on the 28th day of June in 2008. And on that very day, knowing SB435 is looming in our future, what should we do? Nip it in the bud, of course.

We don't need a time machine to know that every session, biker-hating nanny-crats like Pavley and Lowenthal are coming after our rights. We KNOW what lies ahead, as sure as the sun will rise tomorrow morning. Should we wait until someone submits an anti-biker bill, and only then voice our opposition?

Well that's exactly what we did.

Now imagine the amount of work bikers put into reacting to SB435. Heck, even one-tenth of that amount is still a ton. But imagine instead, back in the summer of 2008, we put that energy into close races -- as campaign volunteers -- against candidates like Pavley and Lowenthal.

Well it's 2010, and its another election year. So let's kill the goose:

No more goose; no more goose eggs.

There are already candidates across the state, running right now, who want to lay some eggs on us during the 2011 and 2012 sessions. It's a FACT. And it has been a fact in every election ... since before any of us ever threw a leg over a motorcycle.

As Santayana once said, "those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

Let's fill another room with bikers. Only this time, let's make it in a biker-friendly candidate's campaign headquarters. That is where legislators will take notice because it's a matter of job security. Then they can't ignore us in a committee hearing, like they did today. All we have to do is earn their respect by becoming relevant during an election year.

Want to kill SB435? See you on the campaign trail.

- RIDE2REPEAL@gmail.com
PS: Thanks to ABATE of California!

Stopping Power

We are putting the brakes on helmet laws. That takes stopping power, and that's exactly what the RIDE2REPEAL.COM approach is all about. To better explain this, let's use a "panic stop" as an example.

Imagine you're riding along, minding your own business. Suddenly there's a deer in the road, right in front of you. Unless you hit the brakes pronto, you're going to get a face full of deer salad sandwich.

So you do what comes natural. You plant both feet on the ground and try to drag yourself to a stop. But there's just one problem ... it's not very effective. Sure, you'll eventually stop, but you can't generate enough friction to avoid hitting Bambi.

Fortunately, your ole' lady is on the back of the bike, and you're damn glad she's a "big beautiful woman." So you both dig in your heels. After all, there's strength in numbers, right?

But again, same problem. Not enough stopping power.

Let's suppose you planned ahead, because you knew it was deer season again. Happens same time every year, so why not be prepared?

This time you have a trailer on your bike. And on board you have a few people who are doing everything they can to stop the whole complicated careening contraption.

Some folks are dragging sticks on the ground, while others are throwing ballast overboard. Fortunately the bike trailer has some real thinkers on board, too. They brought a PA system, and they're calling for all passers-by to help stop the crazy train.

And since you now have a sidecar too, other folks are reaching up front to "help" by grabbing the handlebars, or even throwing themselves in front of the tires. Even your mother-in-law is there, giving you driving tips in that charming "I told you so" way she has. Every little bit helps, you would think.

Of course we all know about brake levers and brake pedals. And most of us know that the front brake has 80% of your stopping power. Just one finger of squeezing or one tap of the toe ... in the right place at the right time ... will do more than all the hollering and stick dragging in the world.

The helmet law is a lot like that deer in the road, inconveniently right in your face. And working for biker-friendly candidates during the upcoming election is just like the braking system. It works really well, but only if you use it.

To break it down even further, there are different kinds of volunteering, just like there are different kinds of brake controls. If you knock on doors and make phone calls, it's like using the rear brake. Pretty good in most situations, and definitely the best to use when you're at the very end of the ride.

The real power comes from the other kind of volunteering, and that's delivering campaign signs. Mainly, because it's so easy to do. Just get a list of addresses and a box of signs. Then it's just going for a ride to deliver them, not unlike a poker run. Find the house, pop it into the ground, and ride off to the next one.

Yeah, we've been fighting the helmet law the good ole' fashioned way for DECADES. And if we keep dragging our feet and hollering at bystanders, we're going to keep winding up as "Deer John" at the end of the day. It is time for a totally new approach.

Bottom line: If you do nothing but campaign work, you will repeal the helmet law. But if you do everything EXCEPT campaign work, you will not.

It's easy to get started. Just visit RIDE2REPEAL.COM and click on the ELECTIONS tab at the top of the page. (Don't see it? Click HERE.)

Select your state from the menu, and click on the GREEN candidate's name. This is someone who supports adult helmet law repeal, plain and simple. Clicking will take you to their campaign website, where you can enlist as a volunteer. Help them win, and get one step closer to restoring your rights.

Now who's hungry for some venison?

- RIDE2REPEAL@gmail.com

Repeal the Helmet Law

It's a lot easier than you think. Help us win this battle -- in just ONE election cycle.

It takes campaign volunteers, helping biker-friendly candidates win elections to the legislature. Just visit RIDE2REPEAL.COM, and subscribe to our ELECTION ALERTS. We'll let you know about nearby races, and all you have to do is show up and lend a hand.

Right now we need to help Sam Blakeslee win Senate District 15, which includes San Luis Obispo and Monterey. His election takes place on June 22, 2010. This will be an extremely close race, so every volunteer counts.

YES it sounds too easy. But it really works. Campaign volunteers are more powerful than voters, because we deliver votes BY THE DOZENS, and legislators SEE US making a difference.

Stop fighting ... and start WINNING. Do your part and we'll win another district, and get one step closer to restoring our right to decide. It's as simple as that!