All it takes is one or two politicians holding the balance of power and warmly disposed to GA and we start getting what we want. You need to get a reputation with politicians - like AOPA USA has, that you are one big headache when annoyed and that it is wiser for politicians to give you what you want. Political clout - that is what you need to develop, I've talked ad nauseam how to build it. Without it my press release, or something close to it, may one day be fact, not fiction and sooner than you think.
This is the meat of Sunny's post.... this is what we need to do and big time. Sad part is that the Associations that we have don't seem to want to always work together - that is a big problem if we are to survive long term. Put a polly or two on a slippery surface and they will be on side before you know it. After this weeks exercise in Parliament I see independents and small parties starting to take hold, especially when the major's are not listening to just about anyone!