As a National Guard Sgt. who has been called up once, and as a Michigan State Police Officer, I can only express tremendous shame that Governor Granholm sold out freedom for the Insurance Industry. The insurance industry spins numbers their way and the freedom warriors spin it the other. The bottom line is FREEDOM. I have been a biker and an ABATE member longer than the other two previous mentioned occupations. I make many decisions on my own that are potentially dangerous in my life without Governor Granholm\’s Nannying. I will never give up. I will never back away from the fight. I WILL be heard from until my freedom is restored, or I am dead. Its tough to vote for a leader on the basis of one issue. But, in this case its going to be done. I have never voted republican before. The overwhelming of legislators of the State of Michigan in a bipartisan manner approved this legislation. It was fair. It was well thought out. Believe the Insurance Industry spin if you like. Don\’t believe bikers. Bikers who are your fellow working class citizens. Bikers who are struggling to make it in Michigan like you. Bikers who spend endless hours, and considerable effort to support HOSPICE, LISTENING EAR, VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS. Not to mention the time spent teaching children and new drivers about safety on the road. And teaching Motorcycle Safety Courses. Bikers who choose as their recreational past time to ride. And spend their vacation money while riding. Guess what? Watch us ride out of Michigan. We are surrounded by States who support freedom.
It is now \”Governor Granholms Helmet Law\” she alone is responsible for its existence, and she alone can enjoy the repercussions of keeping it.
The insurance industry supports helmet laws, not because it opposes freedom, but because it\’s a good business decision. Since all riders, helmetless or not, are a greater accident risk, and since the insurance companies pay out, regardless of who\’s at fault, it is in their best interest to reduce the risk. And they do this by reducing the risk population. If there are fewer bikers, there are fewer accidents to pay out.
But bikers can make good business decisions too. Since our only apparent value to society is as organ donors, we have more control than we know. My donor card says that my organs can only go to states without helmet laws. If you want one, do an internet search of the word DONORCYCLES and make your stand.
It\’s nothing personal, of course. It\’s just a good business decision.
She may be my governor now, but as a retired Michigan Education Association member, long time motorcyclist, ABATE member, Patriot Guard Rider, husband, father of 4 and grandfather of 7, I will do EVERYTHING in my power to guarantee this Canadian born governor will be voted out of office in November.
The clear (large) bi-partisan majority in both the House and Senate of Michigan voted to restore a smidgen of FREEDOM to we riders.
One thing I will also do is strongly consider making my winter home in Florida my permanent home. Michigan is last in everything except natural beauty and riders appreciate that beauty more than most from the saddle of our bikes.
A sad sad day for Michigan indeed. Face it Insurance Industry: Your concern in this matter is not for biker safety…it\’s because of the lawsuits brought against cell phone using, junk food eating car drivers, who kill bikers.
You\’ve crammed MCCA down our throats and apparently will do nothing to stifle your self motivated interests over the right of motorcycle riders to enjoy our passion as we see fit.
You haven\’t heard the last of us….and neither has Gov. Granholm. Her days in office are numbered! Dick DeVos will win the election and sign this bill. It may take two more years but WE\’LL be back!
Smart move by the Gov. I am a motorcyclist in another state who always wears a full-coverage helmet and rides virtually every day. I have 2 friends who insisted that society allow them to \”ride free,\” but when they were permanently injured because they didn\’t wear helmets and the insurance ran out (it apparently takes less than a day to eat up the $10,000 this bill would have required after a bad head injury), they needed the public to support them…for the rest of their lives. They also bankrupted their families. It\’s a nice romantic notion that wearing a helmet only affects you, but the reality of an accident where someone is gravely hurt or killed because they didn\’t have a helmet (or seat belt) is far different.
I am glad she veto the helmet law. Being a health care professional,I believe it does save lives and repelling the law would drive health care and vechile insurance up. Everyone would pay not just the ones with the choice. I ride and it does not bother me to wear a helmet. It has been a law longer then I have been alive.
Not just to all riders; to all our citizens. As a biker, a driver, a friend, relative, and 38 year old married mother of 2,I feel just as strongly about the seatbelt issue, but do we fight for that? Do we get all hyped up about having to buckle up in a car? Hey, freedom is freedom, why don\’t we see and hear this many grievances in other areas where our freedom of choice is impeded? Just wonderin\’…
I don\’t care if there is a helmet law in effect or not, as I am very used to wearing a helmet also. But don\’t be fooled; you know as well as I do that insurance companies will find a way to raise their rates whether the law is repealed or not. Insurance on my mid-sized bike alone has risen over $200 in the last 4 years. If there was only something we could do about the money-gouging, life-sucking, fun-killing insurance companies…
I hope that the Insurance companys have enough employee\’s to re-elect Granholm, strike two! this on top of the single Business Tax issue! See ya, I think she will be job hunting real soon.
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And I thought Grandholm was for the people and not big buisneses. Well i\’ll bet she\’ll be regretting that at the polls.
As a National Guard Sgt. who has been called up once, and as a Michigan State Police Officer, I can only express tremendous shame that Governor Granholm sold out freedom for the Insurance Industry. The insurance industry spins numbers their way and the freedom warriors spin it the other. The bottom line is FREEDOM. I have been a biker and an ABATE member longer than the other two previous mentioned occupations. I make many decisions on my own that are potentially dangerous in my life without Governor Granholm\’s Nannying. I will never give up. I will never back away from the fight. I WILL be heard from until my freedom is restored, or I am dead. Its tough to vote for a leader on the basis of one issue. But, in this case its going to be done. I have never voted republican before. The overwhelming of legislators of the State of Michigan in a bipartisan manner approved this legislation. It was fair. It was well thought out. Believe the Insurance Industry spin if you like. Don\’t believe bikers. Bikers who are your fellow working class citizens. Bikers who are struggling to make it in Michigan like you. Bikers who spend endless hours, and considerable effort to support HOSPICE, LISTENING EAR, VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS. Not to mention the time spent teaching children and new drivers about safety on the road. And teaching Motorcycle Safety Courses. Bikers who choose as their recreational past time to ride. And spend their vacation money while riding. Guess what? Watch us ride out of Michigan. We are surrounded by States who support freedom.
It is now \”Governor Granholms Helmet Law\” she alone is responsible for its existence, and she alone can enjoy the repercussions of keeping it.
The insurance industry supports helmet laws, not because it opposes freedom, but because it\’s a good business decision. Since all riders, helmetless or not, are a greater accident risk, and since the insurance companies pay out, regardless of who\’s at fault, it is in their best interest to reduce the risk. And they do this by reducing the risk population. If there are fewer bikers, there are fewer accidents to pay out.
But bikers can make good business decisions too. Since our only apparent value to society is as organ donors, we have more control than we know. My donor card says that my organs can only go to states without helmet laws. If you want one, do an internet search of the word DONORCYCLES and make your stand.
It\’s nothing personal, of course. It\’s just a good business decision.
She may be my governor now, but as a retired Michigan Education Association member, long time motorcyclist, ABATE member, Patriot Guard Rider, husband, father of 4 and grandfather of 7, I will do EVERYTHING in my power to guarantee this Canadian born governor will be voted out of office in November.
The clear (large) bi-partisan majority in both the House and Senate of Michigan voted to restore a smidgen of FREEDOM to we riders.
One thing I will also do is strongly consider making my winter home in Florida my permanent home. Michigan is last in everything except natural beauty and riders appreciate that beauty more than most from the saddle of our bikes.
A sad sad day for Michigan indeed. Face it Insurance Industry: Your concern in this matter is not for biker safety…it\’s because of the lawsuits brought against cell phone using, junk food eating car drivers, who kill bikers.
You\’ve crammed MCCA down our throats and apparently will do nothing to stifle your self motivated interests over the right of motorcycle riders to enjoy our passion as we see fit.
You haven\’t heard the last of us….and neither has Gov. Granholm. Her days in office are numbered! Dick DeVos will win the election and sign this bill. It may take two more years but WE\’LL be back!
Smart move by the Gov. I am a motorcyclist in another state who always wears a full-coverage helmet and rides virtually every day. I have 2 friends who insisted that society allow them to \”ride free,\” but when they were permanently injured because they didn\’t wear helmets and the insurance ran out (it apparently takes less than a day to eat up the $10,000 this bill would have required after a bad head injury), they needed the public to support them…for the rest of their lives. They also bankrupted their families. It\’s a nice romantic notion that wearing a helmet only affects you, but the reality of an accident where someone is gravely hurt or killed because they didn\’t have a helmet (or seat belt) is far different.
An enemy of freedom is a traitor to all riders. May he find his place among the 3%.
I am glad she veto the helmet law. Being a health care professional,I believe it does save lives and repelling the law would drive health care and vechile insurance up. Everyone would pay not just the ones with the choice. I ride and it does not bother me to wear a helmet. It has been a law longer then I have been alive.
Not just to all riders; to all our citizens. As a biker, a driver, a friend, relative, and 38 year old married mother of 2,I feel just as strongly about the seatbelt issue, but do we fight for that? Do we get all hyped up about having to buckle up in a car? Hey, freedom is freedom, why don\’t we see and hear this many grievances in other areas where our freedom of choice is impeded? Just wonderin\’…
I don\’t care if there is a helmet law in effect or not, as I am very used to wearing a helmet also. But don\’t be fooled; you know as well as I do that insurance companies will find a way to raise their rates whether the law is repealed or not. Insurance on my mid-sized bike alone has risen over $200 in the last 4 years. If there was only something we could do about the money-gouging, life-sucking, fun-killing insurance companies…
I hope that the Insurance companys have enough employee\’s to re-elect Granholm, strike two! this on top of the single Business Tax issue! See ya, I think she will be job hunting real soon.