What Price Freedom?

How much attention to you "pay" to freedom? Or more specifically, what are you doing about it? This is a reasonable question to ask if we, as motorcyclists, hope to restore our right to decide when -- and when not -- to wear a motorcycle helmet.

You could read about it. Every year there are repeal bills in dozens of state legislatures. And every year, there are news articles about these annual attempts to repeal the helmet law.

You could talk about it. Lots of people talk about the helmet law, since most people have opinions about it. Motorcyclists definitely talk about it, though there are almost as many opinions as there are motorcycles.

You could protest about it. Many motorcycle rights organizations and activists make an annual trek to their state capitols. And all those protesters make a lot of noise.

The simplest way is to EARN IT. That obviously means getting off the couch, which a lot of bikers do. But you also need to be effective, and that's where reading, talking, and protesting fall short.

Helmet laws come from state legislators. State legislators are elected, and some of them win by very small margins. A few volunteers can easily help biker-friendly candidates win close elections, and at the same time they can help defeat vulnerable nanny-crat legislators.

This is not science fiction. It is fact. In the past 4 years we have won -- and lost -- close elections by fewer than 100 votes. One, by as few as 16. A couple of bikers can and do make the difference.

So what's the price of freedom? If you want to read, talk, or protest about it, you can't afford it. But if you're willing to break a sweat for a worthy candidate, it's practically free ... just like you.