| Submit your comments on this article |
| -Short Attention Span Theater- |
| ’Free staters’ pick New Hampshire to liberate |
| 2003-10-01 |
| A libertarian movement promoting "minimalist government", the free market, drugs, prostitution and gun ownership plans to infiltrate New Hampshire to create a breakaway American regime, its leaders will announce today. The Free State Project, which has supporters in the UK and worldwide, will reveal today at a meeting in New York that its members have voted for the small but highly-symbolic north-eastern state as its target to win power. Project chiefs will now try to persuade 20,000 people to move to New Hampshire and sway the electorate towards blocking federal "nanny" laws and social restrictions. Jason Sorens, a lecturer in political science at Yale University and president of the project, said he wants to create an "autocratic territory" and the Free State Project will follow the examples of the Mormons in Utah, the French separatists in Quebec, Canada, and the conservative Amish religious communities. Political sceptics have dismissed the project as the fringe cult fantasies of a disorganised shower of anarchists and internet geeks. But Professor Sorens claims membership is soaring as people become angry over increasing restrictions on personal freedom, government surveillance of private individuals and greater state power in the justice system. The FSP argues that civil government should exist only to protect life, liberty, and property. Individuals are free to do as they please, provided it does not harm others. In a "Free State", that would translate as a green light for casinos, brothels, cocaine farms and gun supermarkets. Leaders would also do away with seatbelt laws, limits on gay marriage and most taxes. Schools and hospitals would be entirely privatised. Prof Sorens sees new New Hampshire as having economic parallels with Singapore and Hong Kong, and social parallels to the tolerant Netherlands. A British member, Matthew Hurry, a 24-year-old computer technician from Brighton, was already preparing to move to the chosen state. "It’s one of the few good ideas I’ve seen actually put into practice with a good chance of success. Freedom is important for people, and the western world is severely lacking in it," he said. But Francis Tyers, a 20-year-old University of Wales student, who studies in Aberystwyth but is currently on placement with the computer giant Hewlett Packard in Ireland, said Alaska would have been his first choice. "I specified on my membership form that I would move when they had legalised the cultivation of marijuana. I’m hoping that this will be one of the first things on their agenda. And secession from the United States would be great," he said. It is this kind of radical idea that Prof Sorens emphasises is not the FSP’s main thrust. "We have no wish to alienate the people of New Hampshire. We want to win them over," he said. |
| Posted by:Paul Moloney |
| #15 SuperH: Never fear, despite the influx of Massho-- ahem, "folks", there are plenty of us granite heads still here. We like to be left alone, and will mind our own business, but though tolerant are still decidedly conservative. "Oh, you wanted unrestrained hedonism ? You got yer map upside down. This here's the top right part of the U.S.; you're lookin' for the bottom left." The Free State Project types are as welcome here as anyone else, and I look forward to years of amusement reading their letters to the local papers. (The ones that don't leave after the first real winter weather, that is...) |
| Posted by: Carl in N.H. 2003-10-1 6:04:02 PM |
| #14 With respect to the WOT, that incident in Washington State should qualify. It involved using a biological agent to achieve a political aim. |
| Posted by: Superhose 2003-10-1 4:23:28 PM |
| #13 J.H. If you are interested in moving to a freedom-loving area, the people of NH would gladly welcome you regardless. New Hampshire doesn't really need anyone to teach them about independence and liberty, but I don't know that changing people from NH will be an effective strategy. They used to tend to make up their own mind. If the idea is to create a hedonistic spank-the-monkey-fest, I suggest Vermont or Nevada. Note - My knowledge of NH is dated. NH is changing or may already have changed due to an influx of folks that don't have the granite in their blood. Carl might know better. Grandson-of-a Carl in Hampton |
| Posted by: Superhose 2003-10-1 3:34:26 PM |
| #12 Just occupying a territory is not the point. The main point (at least as stated by the group) is to take over the reigns of a real state and then sue the federal government over infringement of state sovereignty (on constitutional grounds). The goal is not to go off and start some isolated commune somewhere. |
| Posted by: J.H. 2003-10-1 3:15:50 PM |
| #11 Carl I was born in Exeter. Two of my grandparents used to own/operate the local Newspaper in Hampton during and after the depression. They still believe that McCarthy was a great American and sent X-mas cards to Nixon every year until he died. The Libertarians would probably be smarter if they targetted a specific township/county to overrun. I think the Maharishis did that successfully in Washington state - until they tried to infect a large portion of the local electorate with botulinin in order to magnify the effect of theirown votes at the polls. |
| Posted by: Superhose 2003-10-1 3:11:31 PM |
| #10 SuperH: "None of the three (grandparents) will probably be interested in participating pot-growing, whoring and gambling portions of the Cloud-coocooland Project." Well, some of us neighbors might not mind so much -- I know I'm always willing to take up new hobbies. I have to check with my wife, though... |
| Posted by: Carl in N.H. 2003-10-1 2:46:11 PM |
| #9 But that would be ....actual work! |
| Posted by: Matt 2003-10-1 2:25:33 PM |
| #8 Oh goody. "We have no wish to alienate the people of New Hampshire. We want to win them over" Well, you can start with my firewood -- got a couple chords needs chopping. And come by about 5 AM after the snowstorms this winter and plow out my driveway. Then let's talk... |
| Posted by: Carl in N.H. 2003-10-1 1:29:15 PM |
| #7 Don't think this will work for several more years. I have three living grandparents (the eldest being 95.) All three reside in NH. None of the three will probably be interested in participating pot-growing, whoring and gambling portions of the Cloud-coocooland Project. I am hoping that they will also forgo the gun-toting portion of the soon-to-be modern paradice (two of three have cataracts which would hamper accurate target acquisition.) Historically, NH has been a tax refuge for Massachusetts retirees that can no longer make the high payments on socialist institutions. When the hippees all retire from Taxechuesetts, I'm sure pot growing will be more popular. |
| Posted by: Superhose 2003-10-1 12:12:56 PM |
| #6 How can they do this without UN approval? It's all about the snoooow. |
| Posted by: Matt 2003-10-1 11:26:26 AM |
| #5 Realistically, if they are serious they should pick one of the pacific territories like Guam, the US Virgin Islands, or Alaska. These locations are geographically isolated (which makes secession easier to accept) and with a low population that can be overwhelmed electorally with greater ease. Since they picked New Hampshire I assume they're serious in making a point, but in not fulfilling their stated goals. |
| Posted by: Yank 2003-10-1 11:08:06 AM |
| #4 Too many yuppies from Boston have moved to southern New Hampshire just to avoid Massachusetts taxes. They brought their other liberal baggage with them. |
| Posted by: Steve 2003-10-1 10:50:14 AM |
| #3 I'd shoot for Wyoming. They already have most of the attitude down pat. I'd also consider joining them up there. New Hampshire is far too close to Massachusetts and the Kennedys for my thinking. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2003-10-1 10:21:31 AM |
| #2 Live Free Or Die, baby! |
| Posted by: Raj 2003-10-1 8:18:19 AM |
| #1 Rats I was hoping they'ed pick Montanna, cause it already has theme music ready.... |
| Posted by: Shipman 2003-10-1 7:36:24 AM |