Land Grab, Your Government Skirts Its Own Laws

Given that Chrome Asylum is a site pretty much dedicated exclusively to the American V-Twin lifestyle, and all the zany, madcap antics that we tend to engage in, it might seem kinda odd to find an article focusing on our off-road riding brothers. Or is it? For the record I ride and have ridden off-road for years, it's a blast, and really sharpens the bike handling skills, my current mount is an '08 KTM XCF250W, lovingly nicknamed "the black hearted bitch", since it seems that every time I take her out, she pitches me on my noggin, the last time cost me a couple of screws in my right hand........more on that another day. See, I've always been of a mind that once we drink the two wheel Kool-Aid, we automatically kind of "opt-in" to a larger family; and like most families we don't always get along, we don't hang out, we make fun of each other, and our reunions might more closely resemble a heavyweight MMA bout than a touching Hallmark moment......but yell, slap and spit as we might (and that's just the grandparents) when the family is threatened we rally, and this is one of those times. We had better push ourselves away from the table and get on with the rallying, because something fundamental is in jeopardy.

Seems to me at the core of what we love most about motorcycles is the simple, yet fundamental concept of freedom..........freedom to ride what we want, when we want. The freedom to go wherever our tiny reptilian brains dictate without undo (read "just about any") interference from family, friends and most of all "The Man". It goes to the very soul of just about every motorcyclist, whether he throws a leg over a Harley Ultra or a clapped out YZ 400..........doesn't matter, it's freedom that we cherish.

And that very freedom is under assault (please do pardon the "hate speech") by the weasels in Washington. Proving that you can "be a pimp and a prostitute too", U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar signed Secretarial Order 3310 which essentially created a new "land use" designation called simply, "Wild Lands". Why does this matter? Because it's the latest attempt by the Green Elites to circumvent the will of the people and shove their extremist agenda down the throats of the American public, an agenda, we have to be clear here, that has virtually nothing to do with the "environment" and everything to do with governmental control over virtually every aspect of our lives.........the hugging of trees is merely a means to an end my friends. Cap and Trade? Income redistribution, pure and simple.......under the guise of feel good pablum. Don't buy it.

What this new "Wild Lands" designation has the power to do is potentially close off up to 130 million acres of BLM land to responsible motorized recreation. And since the Eco-Fascists have encountered strong resistance to their radical proposals in Congress (remember your eighth grade civics class boys and girls, Congress and only Congress, has the Constitutional authority to manage and control public lands.........our lands) they've decided to avoid the process entirely and seek the aid of fellow travelers in the current administration (EPA is trying the same un-Constitutional ploy with regard to Cap and Trade....in case you didn't know). They're crafty bastards, you have to give them that.

Today it's access to land, tomorrow it's banning motorcycling entirely........think that's too alarmist, too extreme!? Really? Consider for a moment universal, government controlled health care ( hey, we sort of have that now, don't we? heh, heh, heh). Now consider an HHS audit of activities that place undo "strain" and "cost" on the system..........you feeling me now? Where do you think motorcycling would rank in such a study........near the flippin' top, that's where. And with a stroke of a pen, all for the common good mind you, you're prize machine becomes lawn art. And once a right is surrendered, it's pretty tough to get it back, just ask the Brits that would like the right to legally own a handgun.

Now that you're armed (damn, there's that nasty hate speech again) with some knowledge, do more research, understand what's going on, share it with folks.........including your representative in Congress. Let them know that you expect them to do the right thing.

Lastly, join the AMA (www.AmericanMotorcyclist.com), they're out there everyday fighting for our right to ride. I know, as an organization they haven't been too kind to those of us in the club community (One Percenters know what I mean), but we have to get passed it, the stakes are simply too high.....don't tell anyone, or tell everyone, just join up today! Don't let someone else determine your rights as an American..............if for no other reason than that would be profoundly un-American!