quote:
In both cases, it is caving to extortion of organized crime because it is the path of least resistance so that you and your family don't get hurt/killed. In neither case does it mean you are endorsing those that are extorting you.
It is still not the same, no matter how you try to justify it.
In one case, a business owner is paying to keep his business from being trashed, his legs from being broken, his family from being hurt, etc. because his place of business, which is generally not mobile, is being targeted by a criminal gang.
In the other case, you are voluntarily approaching a group of people that you know has a checkered history (at best) and asking their permission and voluntarily paying the dues they established and following rules and procedures they established so you can voluntarily wear a patch on your jacket while you voluntarily ride your weekend bike and dream of being a rebel without a cause. And because you are the one initiating the contact and requesting permission from a criminal group do do such activities with their blessing, knowing full well that the 1% that define said rules are also the same 1% that are involved in criminal activites, you are voluntarily associating yourself with them.
You can deny it and justify it all you want, but that does not change the situation , how the general public perceives it or why most people have at least a somewhat negative stereotype of bikers and motorcycle clubs.
