New Hampshire: Free State?

[Elwar]

Ok, since people here are focussed on New Hampshire I hope you have all at least heard of the Free State Project. If not, ask your questions here while we wait.

At its most basic level it is a plan to get 20,000 to pledge and follow through with this statement:

"I hereby state my solemn intent to move to the state of New Hampshire. Once there, I will exert the fullest practical effort toward the creation of a society in which the maximum role of civil government is the protection of life, liberty, and property."

New Hampshire was chosen partly because of the small population where 20k people can have a significant impact on the political landscape, they have no income tax, no sales tax, their state motto is "live free or die", they rank #1 in most pro-liberty quantifiers, ie. gun rights, homeschooling, civil liberties, etc...

Anyone here who hasn't heard of the Free State Project?

 

[Shink]

Ok, since people here are focussed on New Hampshire I hope you have all at least heard of the Free State Project. If not, ask your questions here while we wait.

At its most basic level it is a plan to get 20,000 to pledge and follow through with this statement:

"I hereby state my solemn intent to move to the state of New Hampshire. Once there, I will exert the fullest practical effort toward the creation of a society in which the maximum role of civil government is the protection of life, liberty, and property."

New Hampshire was chosen partly because of the small population where 20k people can have a significant impact on the political landscape, they have no income tax, no sales tax, their state motto is "live free or die", they rank #1 in most pro-liberty quantifiers, ie. gun rights, homeschooling, civil liberties, etc...

Anyone here who hasn't heard of the Free State Project?

Does NH's economy rely on an uninflatable currency, which would make the investment of moving worth it?

 

[margomaps]

To me, the free state project sounds like a good way to help turn NH into the libertarian state that a lot of people wrongly assumed it already was.

I do know that Ron Paul himself is a fan of the free state project. He spoke at both last year's and this year's liberty forum, hosted by the FSP. When he was in Manchester early in the fall at a big rally, the president of the FSP asked him what he thought of the FSP, he endorsed it. That alone should get some of the more dedicated Paul supporters to check out the FSP a little more closely.

 

[margomaps]

Does NH's economy rely on an uninflatable currency, which would make the investment of moving worth it?

Nope, but there is a group of free state members who are starting their own silver currency -- sort of like the Liberty Dollar, but without the "legal tender" connotation that got the LD into legal trouble. I think the link is:

http://shiresilver.org

...but it looks like they're just getting started with it.

 

[Shink]

Nope, but there is a group of free state members who are starting their own silver currency -- sort of like the Liberty Dollar, but without the "legal tender" connotation that got the LD into legal trouble. I think the link is:

http://shiresilver.org

...but it looks like they're just getting started with it.

If that takes off, I'll try to get my wife in on the idea....but it'd be such a tough sell. Mostly because of the weather.

 

[Freedom Lover]

There is a similar project in the west called Free State Wyoming.

New Hampshire is becoming more and more socialist, they have a Democratic state government right now.

Wyoming has a smaller population and some feel it would be easier to create a free state there. Just another idea.

http://www.freestatewyoming.org/

 

[margomaps]

If that takes off, I'll try to get my wife in on the idea....but it'd be such a tough sell. Mostly because of the weather.

The weather in NH is awesome. It's not any colder than Iowa in most parts of the state -- in fact I'd wager it's warmer on average. The spring, summer, and fall weather is really perfect. Doesn't get too darn hot in the summer -- just the occasional hot spell. Most houses don't even have A/C (some window units).

I saw you should try to take a trip here with your wife. The beauty of the state will sell itself. Come in the fall when the leaves are changing. Or any time. It's just great here...for friends of liberty, that is.

To all Massachusetts statists who might be reading this: the weather here is horrible...at least 100 degrees colder than over the border in MA. It routinely snows 25+ feet at a time. In the spring time, the floods usually wash away most homes, so you have to build a new home every year. 1 out of every 3 residents is struck by lightning each day. Please, stay in MA where the government will keep you safe.

 

[Sam_Adams]

Wait until NH is annexed by Boston...

 

[MicroBalrog]

I'm already a member.

 

[margomaps]

There is a similar project in the west called Free State Wyoming.

New Hampshire is becoming more and more socialist, they have a Democratic state government right now.

Wyoming has a smaller population and some feel it would be easier to create a free state there. Just another idea.

http://www.freestatewyoming.org/

New Hampshire did elect a Democratic government for the first time in like...forever...recently. The reason was the overwhelming unpopularity of Bush. NH still has a far better economic outlook than a place like Wyoming. And the NH FSP already has 500+ members in the state, with 1000+ committed to moving by the end of '08. They seem to be gaining some traction here -- a FSPer was actually elected to the state legislature last year.

For those who want to stay out west though, Wyoming is a great choice -- and I hope the Free State Wyoming project succeeds!

 

[Soccrmastr]

Lyman actually moved to NH through FSP. I am planning on doing this one day... (I'm only 15)

 

[margomaps]

Wait until NH is annexed by Boston...

It's already happened, gradually, though cultural migration from MA to southeastern NH. NH as a whole is still very liberty-friendly though.

 

[Shink]

It's already happened, gradually, though cultural migration from MA to southeastern NH. NH as a whole is still very liberty-friendly though.

Oh boy....the cops of The Departed are gonna invade NH.

 

[LibertiORDeth]

If that takes off, I'll try to get my wife in on the idea....but it'd be such a tough sell. Mostly because of the weather.

What is wrong with the weather?

 

[TheGrimace]

There is a similar project in the west called Free State Wyoming.

New Hampshire is becoming more and more socialist, they have a Democratic state government right now.

Wyoming has a smaller population and some feel it would be easier to create a free state there. Just another idea.

http://www.freestatewyoming.org/

Wyoming's population is less than 500,000, there are more than that in some counties in NC!

"Molon Labe" by Kenneth Royce (aka Boston T. Party) basically describes the Free State Wyoming idea, it's a decent book to read for the most part.

 

[LibertiORDeth]

The weather in NH is awesome. It's not any colder than Iowa in most parts of the state -- in fact I'd wager it's warmer on average. The spring, summer, and fall weather is really perfect. Doesn't get too darn hot in the summer -- just the occasional hot spell. Most houses don't even have A/C (some window units).

I saw you should try to take a trip here with your wife. The beauty of the state will sell itself. Come in the fall when the leaves are changing. Or any time. It's just great here...for friends of liberty, that is.

To all Massachusetts statists who might be reading this: the weather here is horrible...at least 100 degrees colder than over the border in MA. It routinely snows 25+ feet at a time. In the spring time, the floods usually wash away most homes, so you have to build a new home every year. 1 out of every 3 residents is struck by lightning each day. Please, stay in MA where the government will keep you safe.

 

[LibertiORDeth]

Lyman actually moved to NH through FSP. I am planning on doing this one day... (I'm only 15)

I'm in the exact same boat.

 

[colin1]

hey margomaps...thanks for the best laugh I had all day with your message to the Massholes about NH weather! too funny!

My fiancee said No Way when i tried pitching the move to NH. I even tried to bribe her with a convertible for the amount of taxes we'd be saving, but no dice. I tried telling here it's not any colder than it is here in PA...maybe i need to take a trip up there? Anyone have any recommendation about where the best places to visit might be to sucker my woman into moving there eventually?

 

[Maltheus]

This may not be the best day to advertise this. If Paul doesn't get at least third place, then I'd say NH was a bad choice for the FSP. For me personally, he'd have to get in the top two before I'd even bother. Perhaps Nevada would have been a better choice? I guess we'll see with that one as well. Still I sympathize. Colorado use to be fairly conservative too until outside liberals ruined it here.

 

[margomaps]

hey margomaps...thanks for the best laugh I had all day with your message to the Massholes about NH weather! too funny!

My fiancee said No Way when i tried pitching the move to NH. I even tried to bribe her with a convertible for the amount of taxes we'd be saving, but no dice. I tried telling here it's not any colder than it is here in PA...maybe i need to take a trip up there? Anyone have any recommendation about where the best places to visit might be to sucker my woman into moving there eventually?

Man, you can't go wrong with most of the state. If your fiancee isn't into breathtaking natural beauty and amazing scenery, then avoid the northern half of the state. If she's more into quaint little New England towns with coffee shops and the like, swing through the Seacoast region. Portsmouth is great to visit, as well as Exeter (not far away). You should definitely hit the lakes region. I'd actually recommend driving from Concord up to Plymouth (pretty college town in the mountains), and then over to Meredith -- a scenic little beach town on lake Winnepesaukee. If you want to see the western part of the state, drive over to Hanover/Lebanon. Keene is also supposed to be a cute little town. There are lots and lots of small and quaint towns throughout though.

I'd recommend Driving up route 3 (I think that's the highway) up through Dixville notch if you're into mountain scenery. Fall is my favorite time to take trips up there, but it's beautiful any time of year.