Lead, Follow or Get Out of the Way The difference between an assumption and a calculated guess is that of knowing your history. We all learned at the grammar spelling bee that to "assume" can make something ugly out of "u" & "me", why is that? Could it be that when one assumes, they are basing their facts on un-researched data, not checking with those involved and disregarding history? When looking at a calculated guess - one must calculate. That is, research the facts, look at what has gone on before you, talk to historians and perhaps even test previous history before moving to the next logical step. Gaining this information will provide a sound plan of action and a strong leader. Big difference these two and yet practicing them is often difficult, after all, life is busy and we all want to cross the finish line first. When motorcycle rights first began, assumptions couldn't be made because there was no history. Bikers had to meet, argue, refrain from throwing punches and finally those with the most accurate facts, truest motives and best plan won, ahh the good 'ol days! Of course this could take a couple of days so the old man would pack up the bike and the 'ol lady and off they would go to talk some sense into fellow bikers that surely didn't know their heads from a hole in the ground. Today the federal motorcycle rights movement has lost this primitive form of gaining information and calculating strategies. Bikers go to plenty of workshops, seminars, summits and meetings but they look like everything but what they were designed to be. While we all move from class room to class room we hear "just get along" or "play nice". The trouble is, when this happens bikers tend to "assume". They don't hear anything to contradict their theories so they believe that everyone else agrees with theirs. A perfect example of this is the EPA. Somewhere along the line, someone just "assumed" that State Motorcycle Rights Organizations (SMRO's) would go along with the EPA's emission standards. They committed to that stance without first finding out how the general masses would respond. They turned around and no bikers were behind them, a few years later they are still trying to portray that they know what's best for motorcyclists even though there isn't a biker out there who believes that the strict emission standard won't affect them, their bike or what they can do in their garage. Assumptions were also made with the current federal legislation in regard to employer health care. Somewhere along the line, it was assumed that ABATE of Illinois would except any solution to the problem with no questions asked. But ABATE of Illinois has not forgotten the old ways, we assume nothing. In 1995 we were told that the HIPAA fixed the discrimination against bikers and that everything was wonderful - not so. Six years after the so call fix, ABATE of Illinois went to work to clean up the mess and once again hit a brick wall. Long time friend and veteran motorcyclists Tommy Thompson of the Health and Human Services said the federal government only had the authority to regulate coverage and that the benefit portion of insurance was left to the states. Eight months ago, when news of a third legislative fix came from Washington DC promising to end the health care dilemma once again, we had two questions. Two questions that to this day have not been answered by anyone within the beltway or out. They are: 1) what gives the federal government the authority to regulate benefits now that it did not have years ago? And 2) is Director of HHS Tommy Thompson happy with this approach? ABATE of Illinois did not get where it is today by assuming that everything they are being told is perfect. Leaders ask questions they don't assume. The enemy is waiting for us to forget our history - let's not play into their hands. The one thing our biker fore fathers did right was - argue and gain information. Calculations being made by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) are paying off for them in a big way. After watching State Organizations succeed in stopping all sorts of anti-motorcycling legislation at a state level, they have targeted county and municipal governments as their doorway to banning off road riding. This provides them with "green" allies and local officials who 'assume' that motorcyclists are too busy collecting teddy bears to bother with a local election, or to ask under what authority do they claim the power to regulate a fully and properly functioning product such as an ATV? While ABATE of Illinois' Comments to the CPSC are included elsewhere in this newsletter, readers should know that the CPSC's plan of attack could prove deadly for all bikers. Motorcyclists in other states are being faced with these local ordinances many that include bans on throttling a bike in your own driveway. Just this week the city of East Peoria passed an ordinance that bans not just ATV's but for the first time "off-road motorcycles" were included. How easy it would be to amend that ordinance striking the words "off-road". So add East Peoria to the list with Rockford, Davis Junction, Lake, Kane and Montgomery Counties as being anti-motorcycle. The lesson here is to not assume that someone else will protect your own back yard - literally. Find your local & county town halls and ask to see agendas of all their meetings. This will give you an opportunity to be a watch dog for the whole biker community. Should you see anything in regard to noise, ATV's, or motorcycling, call us and we can get you the tools needed to fight city hall. Along these lines Freedom of Information Requests were given to all 60 chapters of ABATE of Illinois at last months Board of Directors Meeting held in Springfield. We are requesting information specific to ATV complaints and law enforcement plans of action in preventing inappropriate use. This is all a part of the calculation process that is necessary if we wish to stop these local issues from occurring once and for all. State side - ABATE of Illinois' SB1804 & SB1521 are now on Governor Blagojevich's desk awaiting his signature. These bills protect the OHV Grant Fund and allow the fund to be used for trails on state property. We just got word yesterday that the Sierra Club has put a sizable amount of pressure on the Governor to Amendatorily Veto them. These are the same guys that testified in committee against these bills claiming that off-road riding turned good people to corruption. Their amendments would allow law enforcement to use the fund as they see fit (you know, to protect society from us corrupt riders) as well as prohibit the fund from being used for trails on current state land. While ABATE of Illinois does not plan to push for trails that cut through our State Parks, this amendment would do nothing but make reasonable business expensive. So don't assume others are calling for you, call (217) 782-0244 and ask the Governor to sign these two bills without any amendments. Assumptions are harmful acts that will continue to eat away at our freedom. Remember, freedom isn't free and the price we pay is that of diligence, vigilance, blood, sweet and tears. True freedom calls for responsibility, research, and involvement just ask Pennsylvania. After twenty years of hard labor, they became the 31st state in the union without an adult helmet law -Congratulations, PA! Or perhaps you can ask Todd Vandermyde what freedom costs - he knows. This month Todd was inducted to the Freedom Fighters Hall of Fame in Sturgis South Dakota. He has dedicated over 10 years to fighting for the rights of motorcyclists everywhere. Better yet, talk to his wife Amy or son Jacob they know the sacrifice and dedication required for your liberty. After all Nike did not conquer the sneaker business by 'wait and see' but with 'just do it'. Beer commercials don't say 'please take some' but 'Grab the gusto'. It's the American way. One must be prepared to argue and refrain from throwing punches. One must research and gain information - one must lead, follow or get out the way. Cheryl Cheryl Pearre Legislative Coordinator ABATE of Illinois 2403 Susan Curve Cortland, IL 60112 815-758-0517 |