Freedom is what RVing is all about, the freedom to go where you want, when you want. Freedom is also what makes this country so great. Two of the freedoms our forefathers provided us are the freedom to express our opinions and the freedom to choose our leaders.
With the elections just around the corner I want to remind everyone to get out and vote. While healthcare and the economy will be taking center stage this year in regards to federal offices, do you know where the candidates stand on other issues? How about land use and your right to camp on your public land? Sometimes it is difficult to know their position by looking at their websites or reading the voters pamphlet. One sure fire way to know which way they are (or will be) leaning is by looking at their contributors. There are “environmental” groups out there that don’t want you or I camping in the woods. They have lead you to believe they exist to protect Bambi and all the other fuzzy critters of the forest for your enjoyment, but their real agenda is to corral mankind into existing urban areas, while returning the balance of the land back to the way it was before European settlement. 
Just look at the adjacent master plan posted by one of these groups if you don’t believe me. These groups contribute millions of dollars to the coffers of those running for federal offices. When their candidate wins, I can guarantee you these groups are quick to remind them who financed their campaign.
Once you have figured out where the federal candidates stand, don’t forget to look at your state candidates next. Public land commissioner is a big one. They set the policies for state lands which include how and where the public is allowed to recreate.
Okay, I expressed my opinion and I will get off my soap box (for now). Get out and vote!
Next week back to our regularly scheduled adventures in RVing!
Dave Helgeson’s many roles in the RV industry started before he even had a driver’s license. His grandparents and father owned an RV dealership before the term “RV” had been coined, and Dave played a pivotal role in nearly every position of an RV dealership. He and his wife Cheri launched their own RV dealership in the Pacific Northwest. The duo also spent 29 years overseeing regional RV shows. Dave has also served as President of a local chapter of the Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA), worked on the board of advisors for the RV Technician Program of a local technical college, and served as a board member of the Manufactured Home and RV Association. Dave’s reputation earned him the title of “The foremost expert on boondocking,” bestowed by RV industry icon, the late Gary Bunzer (The RV Doctor). When he’s not out boondocking, you’ll find Dave in the spotlight at RV shows across the country, giving seminars about all things RVing. He and Cheri currently roam in their fifth travel trailer, with Dave doing all the service, repair and modifications to his own unit.
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