Freedom and Liberty Watch

With 2002 now gone and a new year beginning, we should take a look back and see how the Rights Movement was affected. I doubt anyone can keep track of all the Legislation that comes down the pike, not even our elected Representatives who vote on these important issues that affect “We the People” know all the nuts and bolts of the Legislation they are voting on. The Lobbyists spend their time and interests money getting the Representatives ear on their issues. They also rely on aids to read through and research much of the impending legislation. Therefore with so many voices involved in the Legislative process, the loudest voice usually gets the most attention. In 2002 issues like arming the pilots, ending the anti gun lawsuits, overhauling the INS, the United Nations trying to get us into the International Criminal Court Treaty, and the ongoing fight to protect states rights as prescribed by the Constitution came up in many different ways. Some were successful and others failed to see the light of day. Coming down already in 2003 was the Patriot Act. Possibly seeing action could be it’s spin off the Total Information Awareness Act, the EPA threats towards Motorcycling and the newest Federal blackmail…….lowering BAC (blood alcohol content) limits to .08. Now for a quick easy way to show cause and effect and tie some things together. In 2002 there were many battles to preserve and return “States Rights” as guaranteed by the Constitution. Had this been as successful as it need to be, in 2003 the impending attempts to lower BAC limits would not be as much of an issue. The states could determine their needs and act accordingly. The Feds withholding highway money from states not complying with the Federal Mandate to drop DUI levels down to .08 BAC is blackmail, plain and simple. This should have never even become an issue, in my opinion the 10th Amendment clearly makes this a state issue and the Feds have no business interfering here. Now you can see in plain simple terms an issue that was not important to many (it didn’t affect them) in 2002 will bite many in the ass with a DUI in 2003 if the Feds get their way. DUI is a tough issue, and based upon emotions, and the other side (MADD) is more emotional than most opposed to further reduction in BAC limits. Like the possible impending EPA Legislation, lower BAC limits will effect more bikers than say……a handlebar bill. The financial repercussions are unreal, lost wages, attorney’s fees, etc. People on both sides of the issue can be devastated, but it should be decided locally. There is no one size fits all here. Now what is going to take to trip enough biker’s triggers to get involved and fight for what is rightly theirs? Things will not get better until more concerned citizens get involved in the political process. We as bikers should by able to apply enough pressures with our sheer numbers to sway any issue our way. As of yet we haven’t shown the unity to get it done, all the different groups and associations will need a coming together to show our true strength in numbers. While they can all do what they do best, i.e. charity, legislation or spreading the information when an issue needs attention they need to unite. But until Rip Van Winkle wakes up it will be a tough fight ahead. With that said look forward next month to a piece sent to me by my Bro Fast Fred of ABATE of SC done by one of their gray beards Parkay. It gives you a look at the possible future like nothing I’ve seen.