HORSEMAN’S GUIDE TO PROTESTING
When horse people are told about demonstrations, they probably think about a salesman or company rep showing them how the newest product or gadget works in order for them to improve their business. But in the proud history of the United States, a different kind of demonstration has been a key part of protest movements that have brought about changes in government policy. The Boston Tea Party may have been America’s first important demonstration, and many others have followed to make this great country what it is. The issues championed by these movements have come from the grassroots as an attempt to right an historical wrong or simply as a means to be heard by those in power.
With this in mind, it is understandable that when an industry led by many influential and traditionally entrenched members of society have their moment in the sun to “take to the streets” — as Kentucky’s horse industry will do Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. in the Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort to rally support for expanded gaming at Kentucky racetracks — some confusion as to how to pull off an effective display may ensue.
But don’t worry; the Paulick Report will be your guidebook to protesting. Exhaustive research and a personal flashback to the late 1960s protests for equal rights and against the war in Vietnam have given us a list of dos and don’ts for an effective protest to get legislators to understand the importance of leveling the playing field for Kentucky’s horse industry. We aren’t guaranteeing these tips will bring expanded gaming to Kentucky, but with a little knowledge and hard work, at least Wednesday won’t go down in the annals of history with the saggy pants protest in Milwaukee, the naked cyclists against cars in the UK or anything PETA has done in the last 20 years.
10 Dos and Don’ts for Wednesday’s Frankfort protest rally
10. Do look presentable - This doesn’t mean you have to show up in your finest Hugo Boss suit, but make sure you at least put on a fresh shirt after cleaning up the morning stalls. And please leave your pitchfork at home. It will be confiscated at the security check.
9. Don’t confuse the cause – Wednesday isn’t your opportunity to save the whales or get tax rebates for those solar panels you installed in March.
8. Do call your legislator beforehand and schedule a meeting – After all, they do work for you. To find the name and number of your state representative or senator, click here.
7. Don’t show up at a legislator’s office unannounced – While they do work for you, they also work for the other 20,000 people in your district and so they tend to be a bit busy, especially during a controversial special session.
6. Do be respectful – Our friends from the Family Foundation will be on the very same steps Tuesday and some may stick around Wednesday to counter protest. No one wants to see John Greathouse slugging it out with Don Ball and his anti-gaming followers – except the Herald-Leader.
5. Don’t give ANYTHING to an elected official – You may think presenting David Williams with a horseshoe from your favorite broodmare is just a nice gesture, but Kentucky law strictly prohibits anything that may have the appearance of bribery.
4. Do tell everyone about the Paulick Report – We thought we’d try to slip a shameless plug by you! And in all seriousness, we are committed to bringing you the most up to date news on the expanded gaming issue, among others.
3. Don’t shoot the messenger – If you are angry at your legislator, don’t take it out on their staff. They are just doing their job and it’s a strong possibility they share a different point of view from their boss.
2. Do show passion – No one is going to judge you for shouting too loud or pumping your fist too fervently. Remember, you will be among friends.
1. Don’t give up – The worst kind of protest is one that lasts just a day. Make sure you continue to put pressure on legislators. Send them letters, set up future meetings and organize letter to the editor drives in your local papers. Trust us, they read everything written about them!
Copyright © 2009, The Paulick Report
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Tags: Boston Tea Party, Don Ball, Expanded Gaming, Frankfort, John Greathouse, Kentucky, Paulick Report, Protest
June 15th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
And most important of all…get e-mail addresses, business cards and phone numbers of the people around you. This is a race of survival and the more “entries” for action in the future - no matter how big or small - will be vital to keep the movement alive.
June 15th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
Great, job, Ray–one of your best ever.
June 15th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
Also, remember, it is the already wealthy track owners and gambling kingpins from Nevada and New jersey who will benefit from this. The horsemen in Florida can tell you they have not benefitted any from the slots passing down there.
Kentucky Downs needs thousands of slot machines in operation 24 hours per day 365 days per year in order to continue to offer their 4 days of racing each year.
The Nevada and New Jersey gambling kingpins appreciate your help.
June 15th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
BRING A HORSE SHOE — not to give to your representative but to leave behind on the Capitol steps. We need some publicity shots to circulate throughout the nation demonstrating our cause.
Make a sign — hand written or computer generated and take it with you. Some suggested “headlines”
Vote Yes for Expanded Gaming
Expanded Gaming = Expanded Racing
Level the playing field for Kentucky
Vote Yes - Help Kentucky Horsemen
Protect and Save Jobs for Kentucky Horsemen
June 15th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
Here are some more ideas for signs…
“My illegal immigrant employees whose 38 kids get a free education and free medical care here need this job!”
“Please help! My Oil Shiek clients have cut back 5 percent on their purchases at Keeneland.”
“I ran my clients out of business by convincing them to buy broken down horses I actually owned. Now I need money from you”
“I need to operate slots 91 days for each day of live racing I offer at my track. Please help”
June 15th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
Billy Crockett made a couple of good points. Nice article Paulick ,full of good suggestions. Back to Crockett. I like the first and third points the best. Ring true. That’s why racing needs to clean up it’s own foul nest. Otherwise this is what people will think. Come on officials, when racing is gone so is your jobs!! DO YOU JOB and weed out the many illegals and rotten, corrupt trainers.
June 15th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
Hey Billy:
Exactly what is that you have against this industry? You invested? You have skin in this game? You talk a lot, but what do you have at risk in all this? You provide employment in KY? Pay taxes? We have 5 employees with an annual payroll of 175k. 2 of whom are Mexican Americans and have been with us for several years. They have one child between them, they pay social security, income and a variety of other taxes that odds are, unless they stay in the US until they retire, they will never collect one penny of a benefit from. Or are you hopelessly mired in your racial stereotypes?  As I always say, try to get a white guy to do farm or construction work. Signs, you wanted signs here’s one for you:
Kentucky! Where Ignorance Meets Bliss.
June 15th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
Crockett has some good points.
If the racing industry relies on slot machines to run their business, its only a matter of time
that other business get slot machines. and then why do you need to go to the track, and it will be all over.
we need to clean up the race track business, it can be done and we can still make money
and entertain alot of people. Its a wonderful business, and its fun.
when are we going to get real business people involved in running race tracks.??
most of the owners and managers do not know, its a people business. some think they are in business to keep money coming in to pay their employees. They need a whole change of thinking most employees have been around way too long and really dont care about the fans, but only their own paychecks. and the unions stand right behind them.
all the way to bankruptcy.
I love horseracing and the reason i am writing is to hope someone will wake up.
June 15th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
Crocket is an idiot with an agenda. Hitler had a good idea or two also.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
As long as the Slot money goes to the Stars, “The Horses” thats all that matters. Remember, most politicians have illegals cleaning their homes so we don’t worry about that problem. Kentucky without horses is like New York without the Yankkees.
June 15th, 2009 at 8:38 pm
Nice piece, Ray, though my own experience of the 60s (civil rights and anti-war protests at Berkeley, union organizing and more anti-war protests at Wisconsin) leads me to add a few more suggestions, though perhaps, given your urging of civility, they won’t be needed:
1. If the cops are shooting teargas at you, it’s better to be uphill, so you can throw it back, and to wear a bandana over your nose and mouth.
2. Always travel in “affinity groups,” a small number of highly trusted comrades who’ll watch your back.
3. Interrupting basic services (e.g. turning out the lights) is a good way to get people’s attention.
4. Singing freedom songs in jail is great for morale.
5. Always plead not guilty; it clogs the court system and, if there are enough of you, it usually leads to all charges being dismissed (except, alas, in the case of the 800 Free Speech Movement protesters at Berkeley who were all actually put on trial, a case that made Ed Meese a national figure).
6. Learn from the experts. Key texts are Bill Ayres’ “Fugitive Days” and “The Anarchists’ Cookbook.”
So, folks, if things don’t go well on Wedfnesday, don’t worry, you can always escalate.
June 15th, 2009 at 9:05 pm
I see the money from across the river has shown up Ray. Not your fault..just mine for reading it and debating with nit wits
June 15th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
For Steve & Ray, you might want to remember rule #7. Get out of town before dark. Failed to honor that rule in Chicago and well…things did get unpleasant. I do agree with Gino in that slots are a stop-gap measure, not some silver bullet. You might level the playing field initially, but in ten years racing’s overhead is going to hit the expendable list. I would use the breathing room to fix the broken yo-yo before the state figures out that slots are a hell of lot more profitable without the hay bill.
And don’t forget about the conspiracy laws. Four farmers discussing the future location of a manure pile is a federal offense. At least according to judge Julius Hoffman.
June 16th, 2009 at 5:15 am
For Steve & Ray, you might want to remember rule #7. Get out of town before dark. Failed to honor that rule in Chicago and well…things did get unpleasant. I do agree with Gino in that slots are a stop-gap measure, not some silver bullet. You might level the playing field initially, but in ten years racing’s overhead is going to hit the expendable list. I would use the breathing room to fix the broken yo-yo before the state figures out that slots are a hell of lot more profitable without the hay bill.
And don’t forget about the conspiracy laws. Four farmers discussing the future location of a manure pile is a federal offense. At least according to judge Julius Hoffman.
P.S. - Sorry, forgot to tell you great post!
June 16th, 2009 at 10:59 am
Ajuell…well said.
Here’s the short and skinny…KY is a poor state. It needs money. KY horse farmers are land rich and cash poor. We are more important to the state than most realize. We are not wealthy like many seem to think. If you lessen our land prices and take away our ability to make a living, we will be forced to move to another state who does have money to support the horse business. It’s just that simple.
June 16th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
Slot $$ will only buy so much time during which racing better learn to work together, clean itself up and vastly improve to survive and thrive on its own because some day casino kingpins will say no mass and well-greased politicians will pull the plug.
June 17th, 2009 at 9:54 am
This legislation does not have the votes to pass and is now dead.
Now we can get back to the business of trying to improve horse racing in a realistic manner.
And can we please quit talking about Kentucky Downs? They run four days a year in the middle of football season. No one will miss it or the Texas transplant who bought it less than two years ago hoping to turn around and sell it for hundreds of millions if slots passed.
He miscalculated.
June 18th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
bill
you are the one that keeps bringing up Ky Downs…and yes we are going to vote!!!