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The System Works!
 by
Dave Preston
As is my usual practice, I attended “Black Thursday” a couple of
weeks ago – the annual motorcycle lobbying day in Olympia. My
experience was very impressive before, during and after.
It’s so easy to adopt an attitude of cynical indifference toward
politics and politicians. Increased communication technology and
availability has made every positive and negative utterance or act
by any elected official instantly available to anyone. Since
negative news has always sold better than positive, it’s not really
surprising that every scandal, every misstatement, and every act of
folly is reported and commented on by “experts” ad nauseum until
it has been ground to a fine powder. It’s easy to conclude that all
elected officials are corrupt and perverted people who spend all of
their time collecting large sums of money from any special interest
who will have them, and chasing after any young man or woman who
will – er – have them.
Of course, when we adopt this attitude we leave out some simple
concepts such as facts and logic. First of all, almost all of us
belong to special interest groups. The business you work for, your
church, your clubs and leisure activities – all probably have an
association that spends time lobbying to one degree or another – and
that means money – and some of it is yours. Secondly, politicians do
not have a monopoly on financial and sexual scandals, nor do
teachers or church leaders – they just get “better” press coverage.
Armed with what I’ll call “enlightened cynicism,” which means I
won’t adopt a negative attitude until given the slightest whiff of
an excuse to do so, I contacted my two Representatives and Senator
(1st District) by e-mail. I heard back from all three in less than
five hours! I made an appointment for 11:45 a.m. after being contacted
by Representative Mark Ericks’ #1 aide within 20 minutes of my
e-mail, a 2 p.m. appointment with Senator Rosemary McAuliffe was made
later in the day, and I received a personal 10-minute phone call
from Representative Al O'Brien. I was impressed, to put it very
mildly.
How to account for such a response? My personal magnetism, fame
and potential for swaying votes? I rather doubt that. Cycle Barn’s
status as the 800-pound gorilla of motorsports dealers? I doubt that
also. True, it was the “Black Thursday” event where elected folks
expect to be contacted by motorcyclists, but still… I was forced to
conclude that this was merely the people elected to represent me
doing their job.
I don’t think we should leave this concept too soon. Imagine any
other line of work. If you contact three different plumbers today,
would you expect to hear back from all of them in less than 5 hours?
How about three of your child’s teachers? Let’s be fair – three
motorcycle dealers? All back to you in less than 5 hours.
What to discuss? My intent was to take up a small amount of time
– 15 minutes or less – on as few topics as possible. These are,
after all, busy people, during a legislative session. There are
several issues of interest to motorcyclists this year, and you can
get a good smattering of them by checking out the web sites of the
Washington Road Rider’s Association, the AMA, ABATE, and others. I
chose the emergence of a lane-splitting or lane-sharing bill. This
is an issue that needs explanation I could offer in person and that
seems to be a pretty “easy” vote compared to some others. By
speaking on this issue, I would establish a presence and a
relationship – and be able to go back later, in person or by e-mail,
for more volatile topics.
I prepared for my interviews by making three copies of an
information sheet on lane-splitting, prepared by MSF-instructor
friends Rolf and Bruce. I stapled my business card to each, and
added a copy of my book “Motorcycle 101,” in case the legislator
wanted to learn more about motorcycles.
I had the good fortune to run into Pat Halstead as soon as I
arrived. Pat is the lobbyist for the state dealers’ association, a
gentleman and a good friend, and he quickly brought me up to speed
on several issues. I also chatted with several ABATE members I’ve
met over the years. Better informed than when I left home, I set off
for my adventures.
I visited Representative O’Brien’s office first, as I had already
spoken to him on the phone for ten minutes and promised to drop off
more materials. Then it was off to meet with Representative Ericks’
aide, who took what appeared to be copious notes on everything I had
to say – almost intimidating! After lunch with Rolf and Bruce, I
completed my day with twenty minutes of personal time with Senator
McAuliffe. Every person I met and dealt with in Olympia, whether a
motorcyclist, an elected representative, a staff member or the
server in the cafeteria – was totally pleasant and courteous. There
must be something about government that encourages civil behavior –
to a much greater degree than TV would lead you to believe.
If you want to take the time to go to Olympia and not only watch
your government in action, but become government in action, please
allow me to offer some ideas:
1. E-mail is easier than phone calls. A phone call needs to be
answered right now, or the person has to listen later to your long
recorded message and then call you back. An e-mail will sit in the
computer quietly waiting for busy people (or their designates) to
open it, and can be responded to more easily and rapidly than a
phone call. Some people prefer phone calls (Representative O’Brien,
evidently), but an e-mail gives them the choice. The legislative
e-mail system will ask you for a contact number when you write to
them, so it’s all there.
2. E-mails should be personal. Legislators are quite used to mass
e-mails from special interest groups, and are somewhat inured to
them. Someone like me creates a pithy message, and then thousands of
people I forward it to send it on. After reading it once, the savvy
politician will merely count the responses – and possibly send a
similarly impersonal thanks. All these e-mails show is that the
sender knows how to operate e-mail and is willing to do the bidding,
for whatever reason, of the original author. In my e-mail, I
mentioned that a) I lived in their district and that b) I was
coming to Olympia and that c) I had voted for them. I suspect that
last one is not all that important, but it did make it obvious I was
not sending a form letter. If you’re an elected official, you now
know that this is a voter who will take the time and trouble to
write to you as an individual, and come all the way to Olympia to
talk. Such people tend to vote – always – and further tend to sway
the votes of their neighbors and friends. You would probably make
time for them if you could, too. See how easy politics is when you
think about it?
3. Use some spare time to watch the Senate or House in session.
It may look boring, and at times certainly is, but this is the best
it gets in terms of people and government. No society of any size
has ever done it better that I know of.
4. Write a thank-you note. Again – e-mail is your friend. Five
minutes should do it, if you type slowly, and you’ll stand out from
the crowd. How many people thank politicians, or anyone else, for
their time? Your grandmother was right – you need to do it. In the
future, you may want to visit your elected officials again – think
they will remember you better if you are polite?
5. If your elected officials vote in the manner you wanted on
most issues, you should be pleased. If not, you can send an e-mail
to ask why. Their reasons may or may not change your mind. If you
agree on an issue, even one, they may invite you to offer assistance
in a re-election campaign. Why wouldn’t they? And for you – probably
a good idea.
Our country was built on citizen involvement in the political
process. Too often these days, our involvement comes in the form
of merely watching what our politicians are doing or, more often,
grousing bitterly after they have done it. It’s easy and interesting
to step up and become involved – and who knows? You might make a
significant impact on an issue of importance to you.
Dave Preston is the author of Motorcycle 101, a sensible book
for the new and returning rider. Pick up a copy today in the
Sound RIDER! store.
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