This morning, outdoors the Tallahassee Capitol, I witnessed democracy on two wheels—a rumbling, leather-clad, flag-waving brigade of over 150 Trump-supporting bikers protesting their sky-high insurance coverage premiums. And let me inform you, their message wasn’t simply loud—it was exhaust-pipe loud.
Yesterday afternoon, I had the possibility to speak with a few of these “democracy in motion” highway warriors. They have been fired up—not nearly insurance coverage prices but additionally about navigating the legislative course of. Some have been laser-focused on sensible issues, like the way to get via safety on the Capitol. One query that stumped me: If somebody “carries” each a gun and a knife, does that depend as one hid weapon or two? I all of a sudden felt underqualified for each safety consulting and medieval weaponry legal guidelines.
However jokes apart, these bikers are onto one thing essential. Insurance coverage legal guidelines and coverage kinds don’t simply seem out of skinny air—they’re influenced by legislators who, in flip, are influenced by the individuals who present up and make noise (typically actually, within the case of those Harleys).
The truth is that in a various democracy, completely different teams can have completely different issues. Some are anxious about owners insurance coverage, some about flood protection, and a few—like this group—about the price of insuring their bikes. And that’s precisely why participation issues.
As a result of, let’s face it, if everybody thought the identical means, life could be like consuming plain oatmeal every single day—no sugar, no fruit, no cinnamon—simply an countless, tasteless mush of predictability.
However because of the number of voices (and revving engines) in our democracy, we get a system that—whereas typically chaotic—isn’t boring.
Thought For The Day
“Democracy will not be one thing you imagine in; it’s one thing you do.”
—Abbie Hoffman
