In the post below we include a JPEG of Page 9 of the current ABATE OF FLORIDA wherein they discuss the availability or lack thereof of Safety monies from the state after the state raided the Motorcycle Safety fund.
We quoted the following that we got from an ABATE Legislative mail out which is linked to in the previous post:
Page 1 of 2
ABATE of Florida, Inc.
02/07/09
"It was inevitable that the funds from motorcycle registrations would have to be re-
appropriated. They were originally used for the creation and support of the MSF
Motorcycle Training Program"
in the same mail out they contradict themselves with the following statement:
"When it was all over, the funds are still collected, placed in the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund, and still made available for Driver Improvement and Safety Awareness Campaigns."
However note the change in wording from "motorcycle" to "Driver"
So which is it? The money was never meant for motorcycle awareness and only motorcycle training. Or it was to be used for both and ABATE is confused.
Well in the same minutes of the most recent ABATE of Florida State meeting Wanda asks:
What about the billboards on the highway? How long are they up?"To which Doc (James D. Reichenbach, lobbyist for ABATE of Florida) answers,
"Doc: Billboards are done for two years, Major ones are good until October this year."
Once again we have to try and determine just what it is the Lobbyist/president of ABATE of Florida is referring to:
Is it the 19 Be Nice Look Twice Billboards Tina McElhenny has located in the cities of Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Orlando, Pompano with out tax payer assistance?Is it the Bill Boards, 20 look twice......bus bench signs, 97,000 free look twice for motorcycle stickers Mother on a Mission Diane Pearson she has given out. Or maybe the signs she has been able to get on taxis, buses and anywhere else she can get one not to mention the recent article about her by the American Motorcycle Association.
All this and radio and TV interviews all done by sweat and private contributions.A one woman Motorcycle Safety Organization
I remember at one state meeting when ABATE was all excited about doing motorcycle awareness radio spots, the Vice President Dan Fish, showed me the list of stations in our area that would be airing them.
The one in our area was a low wattage Quincy (pop: approx. 7000 station) station that I or anyone else I ever talked to, ever heard of.
After all Quincy is not known for their thriving motorcycle population.
This station didn't reach Leon (264,063 pop) or Wakulla (31,089 pop) Counties with major MC populations. And I asked him if he had checked the book on the station. He didn't know what I was talking about. Besides, if I remember correctly they had signed the agreement. Consequently the only Radio PSA'a I ever heard were produced by the FLORIDA Department of Transportation.So the lobbyist of ABATE of Florida is wrong, once again, the bill boards are not dead.
People who have tried to work with ABATE and been turned off by the President/lobbyist have struck out on their own and are accomplishing, through hard work and self sacrifice that which
7000 +/- self described Freedom Fighters can not do unless the state pays for it.
Which is somewhat of a disconnect. You say you want freedom and protection and then kiss the ass of the state and prostitute yourselves to the politicians begging them to give it to you.
There was also discussion in the newsletter regarding the in school programs that ABATE of Florida
heralds loudly as a flagship program but admits that they can not get enough volunteers to fully implement the program.
In our minds that is a good thing. We have asked for the documentation and research that demonstrates that this program is effective and that the instructors are certified or qualified by any certification process other than that provided by ABATE themselves. Saying a program is good, does not necessarily make it so.
We have yet to see any. So if they are not receiving any state moneys for that, good. They have wasted enough giving away car air fresheners, pocket calendars, eyeglass fix it kits, and tote bags sans any safety message but not without their logo all over them.
We have posted how most programs of this nature, D.A.R.E. for example are dismal failures by nature of their constructs.
We have posted on and documented on the lack of research into programs such as this and the Motorcycle Safety Foundations (Front group for the Motorcycle Industry) basic rider curriculum demonstrating that either/or is worth a damn. Of course if you have not been reading this site then you have not seen it. And if you are to lazy to search for the truth that will set you free then remain in bondage to the lies and word games of the Illuminati of ABATE of Florida.
However should you choose ignorance as your state of mind of choice, please get out of the way of those who are actually doing something, your cure is worse than the disease!
We do apologize for the many post on ABATE of Florida that we are compelled to write. We would prefer not to. However we can not continue to stand by and watch when their ignorance contributes to the casualties on the killing fields.Add to Technorati Favorites
