Greg,
I agree with you on the outsourcing situation.
But I don't agree on the EPA being a "paper tiger" when it comes to motorcycles. The motorcycle industry does not have near the clout that the automakers have.
I could care less about the helmet issue on face value. Wear one or don't. The same goes for seatbelts.
But, the helmet issue is a wedge. It pries the door open just a little. Next it will be mandated that you wear a certain amount of reflective material when riding. Then it will be increased enforcement of noise limits. Then it will be individual towns, boroughs, townships trying to ban motorcycles entirely. Then there will be horsepower restrictions, time of day restrictions, and any number of other legislations at the local, state, and federal level.
Some of these are already being discussed. The main culprits are the HD's with the wide open pipes and the crotch rockets doing wheelies on the highway at 70 mph. But when the new rules are put in place, they cover us all.
I never hear any squawks about corporate and private planes, giant RV's, pleasure boats, NASCAR, or other auto races as far as pending restrictive legislation.
But motorcycles are an easy target because the non-riding public still perceives us drunken, drug-crazed, anti-social louts. I only fit 2 of those descriptions.....
Don't do drugs...
