Free State Project

[Ian]

I've just been informed that MSNBC is going to be doing a 3-minute or so spot about the Free State Project tonight at approximately 8:40pm (CST, I think). They'll be speaking with the Project vice-president, Elizabeth McKinstry. I have no idea what sort of slant they'll put on it (aka, how bad they'll try to make it sound ), but it's probably worth watching in any case.

 

[Blain]

Sounds worth watching to me, the FSP is a great concept, hey, I'm signed up!

 

[ahenry]

I like the idea, but I’ll never voluntarily leave Texas. I’ve turned down careers and job offers with plenty of dough attached so I can stay in Texas and I’m not about to cut and run to some other state, I’d participate if they decided to come here though (not that they will, just saying). More power to those that are on board with the plan though. I’ve followed the idea almost from the beginning, and I hope things pan out for the participants.

I don't get MSNBC anymore, so somebody tell me what they said about it.

 

[Soap]

Once I have a large amount of capital, I'll probably see y'all there.

 

[Justin]

Sweet!
You guys were also mentioned in the newspaper here a few weeks ago.

MSNBC will probably look at'cha all with some scorn. They're better than CNN, but their still a bunch of New Jersey statists.

 

[Sindawe]

I understand how you feel ahenry. I've held the same opinion about Colorado for most of my adult life. I've also turned down career and job offers, even during periods of unemployment, to stay here. The Free State Project is the only thing that has me considering a move out of state, and frankly only if its a western state.

Texas is too populous for consideration in this project, but there is nothing stopping ya from taking the principals and applying them there.

 

[benewton]

FSP is getting a fair amount of mention on our local talk outlets, which is great!

Hope to see those guys here, ASAP, since I need as much help as I can get.

 

[Sisco]

I had never heard of the Free State Project until I read this post, did a net search and read up on it.
Interesting concept. Like others I'm not in a position to relocate but I'd like to see it happen just to see if it would work.

One thing that concerns me, I found this quote on WorldNetDaily.com:
"We could repeal laws regulating guns, drugs and other victimless crimes. We could abolish asset forfeitrue, abuses of eminent domain, inefficient regulations and state monopolies".

Why do i envision thousands of addicts & drug dealers flocking to such a state? "Far out man, drugs are cool and they can't take away our van just 'cause we have a meth lab in the back!"
Not sure these people would make good neighbors.

 

[Seminole]

I just have one question: why are all of the possible states so COLD?! Is a state in the sunbelt completely out of the question?!

 

[Ian]

Personally, I have no particular attachment to any state. I'm in college, and I plan to go wherever the Project chooses when I graduate. Economy be damned, I'll find a job doing something, however menial, to support myself until I can make use of my engineering degree. Freedom is worth it to me.

Seminole - Our biggest factor in narrowing down the states is population. Anything more than 1.5 million is too much for us to reasonably expect to influence with 20,000 immigrants. Sadly, all the warm states are too popular for us to thrive in.

Sisco - If we did legalize narcotics, their prices would drop dramatically, thus removing the huge profits from small-time dealers. The manufacturing cost simply doesn't sustain a high price without the massive legal risk involved in production currently. Within the state, drug addicts would quickly become an extinct group - if they're not fit enough to earn a living, they'll have no choice but to leave or starve; we're not giving them any welfare payoffs. Those who enjoy recreational use of their drug of choice are not a problem in society, and they would be able to engage in those pastimes as they see fit (that's what freedom is all about). Narcotics would probably be a booming grey market export, and would bring a lot of money into the state, though. If the other states caught on and legalized the products as well, then the money in drug trading would mostly vanish because of a glut in risk-free supply. This would eliminate drug-related violence just as the end of Prohibition largely eliminated alcohol-based crime organizations.

 

[Ian]

Boston T Party (author of Boston's Gun Bible, among other books) spoke at a CO Libertarian meeting last weekend, and announced that he will be publishing his novel "Molon Labe" shortly. It is based on the premise of a project very similar to the Free State Project - 20,000 libertarians moving to Wyoming and dramatically reducing government influence there. He is going to be joining the FSP upon publication - another major freedom activist with us!

 

[DigitalWarrior]

Hate to say it, states rights are gone

I was reading that their goals are to become something of a libertarian paradise. Only problem is that the federal government would shut down the project with a quickness. DEA and ATF all over the damned place. They would be enforcing the existing Federal Laws. The only thing that I can think of that might make things different is if a state declared that all non-felon residents of a given state were members of that states militia.

 

[Ian]

A libertarian utopia would be a place with no laws and a perfectly functioning, crime-free, wealthy society. The FSP just wants to remove as many regulations as we can - that's a far cry from utopia.

Keep in mind, DigitalWarrior, the there are a lot of regs at the state and local level that have a greater effect on your day-to-day life than most Federal crud. Things like zoning laws, public education, sales and property taxes, vehicle reguations, and such. We may not be able to directly affect Federal legislation, but we also will hopefully have 2 Senators and a Rep in Congress who can at least do like Ron Paul and try to bring these issues into debate. And we can still make an effort to keep our citizens safe from the Federal fist - look at California's marijuana laws, or the actions of some western Sheriffs for precedent.

Most importantly, just because we might not succeed is no reason not to give it our best shot. If you have a better idea of how to go about trying to take our rights back, I'm all ears.

 

[Blain]

Why do I have the feeling that New Hampshier is going to rush past the competition for this project? Not only does NH seem to have the best or everything, but it is right near by me, as well! I can't think of a reason NOT to move to NH!

 

[Glock Glockler]

You know, Blain, I really like the way you think

Just today, I took a coworker shooting for the first time, and he really got into it. I also did my part to plant several libertarian seeds in him as well. He'll soon be moving to NH, and I'll be sure to keep grooming him to be an awake freedom lover.

One thing I think we all ought to keep in mind in regards to the Free State Project is that we shouldn't wait for it to begin our struggle for freedom. Every day we should seek out those who are sympathetic and stir the fires of freedom within them. We should set up franchise, just like Tyler would want, so that even if we were to go to state X, where the FSP is in, that they would carry on our work where ever they are.

Make it a habit, part of your daily life, to fan those flames wherever and whenever you can.

 

[twoblink]

BTP (Boston) was my instructor! The guy knows his guns.. Was always very very nice to me..

I'm game. Hey Flory, see you there.. And with any luck, I'll be bringing a Mrs. with me too!

As for drugs...

Let's see, prostitution is legal in Amsterdam, but teen pregnancy is lower than the states, and teens who start to have sex, are at a much higher age than that of the states. Drugs like weed is legal there, but there's far less drug use than say... DC.

When you legalize something like pot in a state, the "profit" goes bust.

Pot (if you don't know) is a weed. Throw some seeds in the bathtub, and watch what happens in a week! If you can grow it yourself for virtually free, why in the world would you buy it?? You might export it, but that's a different problem... But when you legalize it, you take the profit out from it.

Bought on the street, pot might be like $10 a bag. (dime bag) But grown, pot is basically free for a bushel... So drugs will not be a problem.

Also, I suspect that a capitalistic libertarian state will have a serious producerism attitude, and so if you can't produce becuase you are doped up, then you probably won't last too long in the state, and will have to end up moving to something like the PRK..

 

[dustind]

This is great, isn't this sort of like freedomship? a floating country, except in a state. I will research it, and probably join.

 

[Ian Sean]

I think it is a great idea and I would definately consider moving. The chosen state MUST be next to another one like it so it to can eventually be "re-freedomized". Imagine 4 senators voting freedom first.

 

[benewton]

So, you guys are all moving to New Hampshire when?

 

[dustind]

They should get the 5,000 members willing to move by October, then they will vote on which state to move to, based on the research done.

http://forum.freestateproject.org/

 

[Soap]

twoblink- Right on brotha! I don't plan on moving though until I have the resources to be financially independent. Logistics are a pain sometimes...

 

[Waitone]

Oughta be interesting.

Libertarians actually have to engage in governance. Suddenly they will have to engage in compromise. Making deals with the devil, so to speak.

I want the statium seating concession. I want to profit from the greatest show on earth---libertarians actually trying to govern.

 

[dustind]

lol waitone,

we plan to completely take over several counties by shear(voting) numbers, so we don't have to worry about compromise, not to mention moving to an already pro-freedom place. Compromise should be easy, its just a measurement of how much closer we get to freedom.

Libertarians don't really govern, so it shouldn't be too hard.

 

[.45Ruger]

Someone posted about the feds invading the place to enforce federal drug laws. This could happen but you have to consider it more carefully. Most people who are in prison for drug crimes are not in federal prisons, but in state prisons. If a state were to repeal all local drug laws and free police from enforcing them to persue other projects the Feds have few choices. The amount of crimes in that state that are solved will probaly go up because the police have extra resources now that they are not enforcing drug laws. Now the feds either have to use their resources to make up the differenceand they aren't likel to do that for some sob growing weed in his closet. THey would also have a fun time explaining why crime rates are going down even though drugs are somewhat legal.