The "New Zealand Riders Are Voters" campaign

[st00ji]

I would suggest that until the likes of BRONZ and MAG-NZ publically state that they are totally supportive of the idea of motorcyclists cleaning up their own backyard, the powers that be will continue to laugh their arses off at us.

i'd suggest the state of our backyard is irrelevant provided we have enough votes behind us. we want we want will work fine, all we have to give in return is another term in power and they'll let us ride buck naked with no hands if we like.

while i agree with you that looking after our own shit is a good idea, its not really relevant in the real world

[Zamiam]

Trouble is Anne, voting in a Government is something that most people consider sufficiently important that they will be unlikely to base their vote on a single issue.

I seriously doubt you will even get all motorcyclists to base their vote solely on the fact that they ride a motorcycle.

Exactly - while differential treatment of any group by any bunch of bureaucrats seriously pisses me off I’m not going to vote based on a single issue such as the impact on my right to ride a motorcycle. There are much much more important things to select MP’s on.

What they are doing to us is no different to what they have done to a multitude of other “minority groups” and is simply a continuation of knee jerk relations by those who think they have the moral high ground. While I applaud any and everyone who stands up to injustice history proves that it’s a very hard road to change things.
(don't read that as me saying not to stand up to them - its me saying be realistic)

[MSTRS:Me]

Exactly - while differential treatment of any group by any bunch of bureaucrats seriously pisses me off I’m not going to vote based on a single issue such as the impact on my right to ride a motorcycle. There are much much more important things to select MP’s on.

For a great many of 'us' motorcycling is a life-style choice. When one's life-style is threatened, a single issue around that can have more sway they you might think.

[Katman]

For a great many of 'us' motorcycling is a life-style choice. When one's life-style is threatened, a single issue around that can have more sway they you might think.

Is I said earlier, we probably only make up 2% of the voting public.

How many motorcyclists are likely to place the issue of motorcycling above that of education, health services, law and order, tax cuts etc.? I possibly might - but then my livelihood depends on motorcycling. I think you'd be disappointed in the actual number who would think likewise.

Swaying the non-motorcycling public to join us in voting solely on the motorcycling issue? Good luck with that.

[Bald Eagle]

The single issue I perceive is not about motorcycles per se. The issue is the differential treatment of a group of citizens based on their particular choice.

By extension this could affect any other 'special choice' group and thereby is of concern for all voters.

[Maha]

Hit the nail on its head mate.


BRONZ will not participate in any illegal or public disruption.

And heres another nail...
While a show of solidarity is seen by the many to be the right thing to do initially, ultimately it has little or no effect. That has been proven time and time again over the years. Not really a protest is it if theres no or at least some public distruption? Take the Nuclear protests of the 70's and 80's, they didn't fuck around and be all nice about it, they showed up and didn't give a shit who they disrupted, they were there protesting about something they were very passionate about. Now look where NZ now stand on the Nuclear issue.
The time for being all nice about what we as motorcyclist beleive in, is fast coming to an end.

[Toaster]

The time for be all nice about what we as motorcyclist beleive in is fast coming to an end.

Agreed. Its simple..... noise gets a reaction. If they think we will just bend over and take it, then they will simply give it to us where it hurts... up the bum and in the wallet.

Noise from bikers taking action may not be enough itself but that with the noise from the public in reaction to lawful but disruptive protest may get a better reaction.

[Fatt Max]

As MSTRS says, motorcycling is a lifestyle choice, issues that affect this choice and our subsequent lifestyle are dear to us and we can choose to take action to preserve it.

It is true to say that there are a range of concerns that need to be addressed in society today such as education, healthcare, transport, pie availability, care of the elderly, the benefit system, pie shops, unemployment etc but lets face it, every single piggy bastard politician will lie and bleet about how well they will repair these systems (except the pie stuff) just to get your vote.

In fact, the only thing event remotely pie related is their wish to get on the MP gravy train and hold power for a few years.

So, any vote for any party will always end in the same result of lies, deceit and an empty lunchbox. Every time you challenge it, you will be subjected to relentless statistics, excuses, spin doctoring and all the other shite that these pricks spill out relating to the main portfolio’s of government.

Now, you take the lifestyle choice of motorcycling and straight away you can hold ministers accountable for their shortcomings if they fail to deliver on a promise. Lobby hard for what you want at election time then lobby even harder to make sure you get it. Politicians HATE being exposed for what they really are (lying bastards) so a simple demand for support on motorcycling issues can be quantified once the party is on power.

For example, a single road user charge for all is demanded. The lying bastard politician is recorded as saying that will happen. Politician now in parliament, nothing happens, then hammer the bastard. However, it may happen and that then will ensure your vote (which is yours and yours alone) is given to a party that supports issues relating to your lifestyle, in this case, motorcycling.

Accept that the social agendas will always be lied about and concentrate on what matters outside of those areas. Just be sure to be sure the promises given are followed through.

Your are a rider, you are a voter, riders are voters

…and pie eaters…..

[MadDuck]

The New Zealand Bikers Party

Start that, I will vote for it the other parties are useless as far as looking after my interests.

Anything is possible ......if we want it bad enough.

[Maha]

Is I said earlier, we probably only make up 2% of the voting public.

How many motorcyclists are likely to place the issue of motorcycling above that of education, health services, law and order, tax cuts etc.? I possibly might - but then my livelihood depends on motorcycling. I think you'd be disappointed in the actual number who would think likewise.

Swaying the non-motorcycling public to join us in voting solely on the motorcycling issue? Good luck with that.

Any Governing Party have thier policies on education, health services, law and order, tax cuts etc.
Noboby is suggesting that those who vote, dont take into account the things they beleive when it comes ticking the box.
If there were a New Zealand Biker Party, I am sure that particular party would have more than just the one policy. In saying that, voting for one particular issue is not unheard of. I have voted that way before today.

[Maha]

Agreed. Its simple..... noise gets a reaction. If they think we will just bend over and take it, then they will simply give it to us where it hurts... up the bum and in the wallet.

Noise from bikers taking action may not be enough itself but that with the noise from the public in reaction to lawful but disruptive protest may get a better reaction.

True Cam.
Riders are Voter, so are all other road users...
There are those that think this is just about bikes, well its not.

[MSTRS:Me]

Is I said earlier, we probably only make up 2% of the voting public.

How many motorcyclists are likely to place the issue of motorcycling above that of education, health services, law and order, tax cuts etc.? I possibly might - but then my livelihood depends on motorcycling. I think you'd be disappointed in the actual number who would think likewise.

Swaying the non-motorcycling public to join us in voting solely on the motorcycling issue? Good luck with that.

I wouldn't be so sure about that. The majority of motorcyclists are of voting age. We tend to be rather passionate about things motorcycling. Turn out at the polls is usually very low, compared to the number who are entitled to vote. If every motorcyclist voted for a particular policy, I think you'd find our numbers significant percentage-wise.

As for the issues of ed, crime, tax etc...every party campaigns on doing those better than what went before. And it's well known that every party eventually gets voted out in favour of one with bigger promises.
By introducing a 'new' issue, something new could very well happen.
After all, you are intelligent enough to know that doing the same thing over and over gets the same result over and over...

[StoneY]

And heres another nail...
While a show of solidarity is seen by the many to be the right thing to do initially, ultimately it has little or no effect. That has been proven time and time again over the years. Not really a protest is it if theres no or at least some public distruption?

BIKEOI was mildly disruptive based purely on numbers, numbers far above what we actually thought would attend

We would never have managed to pull it off without sanction and assistance from the authorities
The kicker was, if we refused to park at the Stadium as the Police requested, we would have been met by huge roadbloacks with fully equiped riot teams waiting for us, and we would not have had anywhere near the impact our peacefull (if loud) protest recieved

Protest, fine. Deliberately disrupt, nope.

The truckies are still despised in theCapital for the 1/2 days mayhem they caused by shutting this city down, it totally backfired on them, but you ask ANY Wellingtonian about the BIKEOI event, and you get 'awesome, all them bikes, and they behaved so well!'

Honey, or vinegar, which one attracts the most flies?

[Maha]

....add a bucket of shit to the equation and the answer is simple.

[pc220]

Is I said earlier, we probably only make up 2% of the voting public.

How many motorcyclists are likely to place the issue of motorcycling above that of education, health services, law and order, tax cuts etc.? I possibly might - but then my livelihood depends on motorcycling. I think you'd be disappointed in the actual number who would think likewise.

Swaying the non-motorcycling public to join us in voting solely on the motorcycling issue? Good luck with that.

Chin up mate , one day your glass will be half full.