Lobby This!

Here in Virginia, as in many states across the nation, bikers are preparing for an annual trip to the state capital. The reason is that the legislature is in session, and our elected officials will consider bills affecting motorcyclists.

So in the dead of winter ... we ride.

This will be my 5th or 6th time. Not really keeping count, to be honest. But it's time well spent. A couple of years ago I even rode down a few times during the legislative session. And once, I even testified before the House Transportation Committee about the helmet law.

Did a real good job, too. Or so I thought.

But now I know too much. When the legislature is in session, the elections are over. The fat lady finished singing two whole months ago. Now it's our turn to sing. But there's just one eensey weensey little problem.

Nobody's listening.

Despite how bad that sounds, lobbying is very important. No ... not lobbying a bunch of busy delegates and senators while everyone is clamoring and clawing after them. The trick is to lobby when it actually accomplishes something. Changes minds. Creates allies. Earns loyalty.

That's not what happens during the session.

But it does happen during the campaign season. When bikers talk to candidates, they find out where they stand. And when bikers look at the voting records of incumbents, they know where they stand. So when you talk to candidates ... not incuments ... candidates, they listen.

Last night I met with three recently-elected state legislators. Two of them knew that Virginia bikers worked as campaign volunteers for several candidates this year. They learned that I was currently working for another candidate running in a special election. And they all knew it was about the helmet law.

But they also learned that it was about more than the helmet law. Taken alone, this issue is pretty small in the grand scheme of things. But it just happens to be a major intersection between two worlds ... of the biker and the politician.

For politicians, their view on helmet laws reflects their view on the relationship between government and its citizens. Either we are responsible adults worthy of respect, or domesticated livestock in need of herd management. And that position holds true with every issue affects our liberty.

For bikers on the other hand, it's an emotional issue. It's something that many of us feel passionate about, because we have to live with it every day. Passion motivates people to take action. And if that action happens to be campaign work, it creates political power for bikers.

Now that's what I call lobbying. And I know it works because I see the results.

Note: I'm still going to Lobby Day. How else am I going to see so many friends ... both biker and legislator ... in the same place at the same time?

-RIDE2REPEAL@gmail.com