What's the point of the Free State Project..

[Nate K]

If their intent isn't an eventual secession??

WTF is their goal?? Just to "chill with other freedom lovers??"

Hate to break it to you but you're still going to abide by the federal laws, whether you like it or not.

My point is, for those who support this, that if you want to accomplish taking over local government, you have to consider seceding and not being a part of the Federal government.

 

[pinkmandy]

You pretty much answered your own question grassroots. Easy to take over. The largest legislature is in NH. Every 200 or so people have a delegate for the best representation in the country. Delegates get paid $100/yr so people don't run for money/power. They often run unopposed- perfect for us to take over a state legislature. In said legislature we can vote on all kinds of things...like refusing federal funds for certain projects, refusing the ID card, refusing whatever we hold, as a state, to be against our Constitution. We set an example for the rest of the country. Others will follow. RP repubs are ALREADY in the legislature, working with the governor, holding local seats. And...the exec branch in NH is weak. Power rests with the legislature.

One law we need to get changed asap is their voting law. Anyone who lives there for 10 days or some nonesense can vote. I think that's what f'ed us during the primaries along with other underhanded methods of cheating.

 

[ItsTime]

the freestate project is over rated. They can never take over the New Hampshire government because liberals moving from Mass > than Free Staters by a large number.

But they are trying hard to get Ron Paul Reps into NATIONAL offices as well.

 

[pinkmandy]

the freestate project is over rated. They can never take over the New Hampshire government because liberals moving from Mass > than Free Staters by a large number.

But they are trying hard to get Ron Paul Reps into NATIONAL offices as well.

Can you share your data? I'd be interested in seeing those numbers.

 

[ItsTime]

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/state/#val=NH
Speaks for itself

Can you share your data? I'd be interested in seeing those numbers.

 

[pinkmandy]

I think almost 20,000 people voting for Paul is pretty decent in such a small state.
And how many of the other votes are from real residents and not folks bussed in who met the 10 day requirement to vote?

The FSP is a go. People are there, a lot more on the way. You may not like it but I don't see the benefit of trying to come down on those of us who are involved. Are you doing something better? Do you have a better idea? Are you offering an alternative solution to taking our country back, state by state?

 

[Orgoonian]

Something that should be noted,is that the freestaters in NH are mostly activists,and actually making differences slowly,but surely.
There may very well be lots of escapee's from Taxx,but are they active,or vocal?

Check out some of the Ridley reports,very motivational.
I can't wait to get there,and actually do something worth while.

 

[Nate K]

You pretty much answered your own question grassroots. Easy to take over. The largest legislature is in NH. Every 200 or so people have a delegate for the best representation in the country. Delegates get paid $100/yr so people don't run for money/power. They often run unopposed- perfect for us to take over a state legislature. In said legislature we can vote on all kinds of things...like refusing federal funds for certain projects, refusing the ID card, refusing whatever we hold, as a state, to be against our Constitution. We set an example for the rest of the country. Others will follow. RP repubs are ALREADY in the legislature, working with the governor, holding local seats. And...the exec branch in NH is weak. Power rests with the legislature.

One law we need to get changed asap is their voting law. Anyone who lives there for 10 days or some nonesense can vote. I think that's what f'ed us during the primaries along with other underhanded methods of cheating.

I don't understand the delegate system, can you tell me how it works?

I'm not opposing this project, I'm just a secessionist. And I likely won't fund anyone who wouldn't consider seceding.

Seems radical, but hey, I'm looking long-term.

 

[pinkmandy]

Not a problem, Nate. The FSP isn't closed on the notion of secession. That's the "if all else fails" viewpoint.

Every state has state delegates to represent the people at their own state level in their house for shaping and passing state laws. NH has the highest # in the world from what I read with every 200 or so people having someone represent them as a voting block. The people are the best represented there than anywhere else, it's where real change takes place. Now imagine filling up their legislature with RP people. Imagine the changes we could bring to this one state...refusing to acknowledge the feds on so many things. Showing other states that you don't need federal funds or mandates to have educated kids, showing them that if you don't send potheads to prison society won't crumble...setting an example, like Dr. Paul advocates.

I HIGHLY recommend going to www.freestateproject.org and reading the 101 Reasons on the right side of the page. It covers all this and then some.

 

[FreeStater]

A couple things:

First, the free state project is not anti-secession, there are a lot of people in the Free State project who are in favor of it, it simply isn't the first goal of the Free State Project. The FSP wants to promote a free state, where government is limited. If we can do that without seceeding, fine, if we have to seceed, fine. The Goal is Freedom, most members of the FSP see secession as a potential tool, not a end goal.


Another note about the influx from Taxachusetts. Many of the people coming over are coming because Mass got too liberal, and they want somewhere with a smaller government. Smaller government to someone from Mass may be bigger than someone from NH, but they're on the right track. For example, many of the mass people I've talked to who moved to NH have said things like "I wont vote for anyone in favor of an income tax, if I'd wanted that, I'd've stayed in Mass". A lot (not all) of the mass people are refugees who don't want NH to be New Mass. There are a lot of people from NH who are going to Mass to enjoy socialism as well.

 

[Alex Libman]

The value of "chilling with other freedom lovers" should not be underestimated. It will allow libertarian ideas to thrive in an actual community of like-minded people, so even if it fails politically, the FSP could be the think tank in which future ideas will flourish.

 

[Joseph Hart]

Recent News: A new gold currency is going to be presented into a new bill hopefully this year in NH. The bill will propose a 10% average of currency circulating within NH. If successful they will increase to a 60% and then eventually 90%. Their main goal is to influence not only the people of this state but to influence the people of other states. Once NH has flourish with gold then it would be the goal further on for New England.

Of course this is only one of many reasons why FreeStateProject is a GREAT movement.

 

[Nate K]

Not a problem, Nate. The FSP isn't closed on the notion of secession. That's the "if all else fails" viewpoint.

Every state has state delegates to represent the people at their own state level in their house for shaping and passing state laws. NH has the highest # in the world from what I read with every 200 or so people having someone represent them as a voting block. The people are the best represented there than anywhere else, it's where real change takes place. Now imagine filling up their legislature with RP people. Imagine the changes we could bring to this one state...refusing to acknowledge the feds on so many things. Showing other states that you don't need federal funds or mandates to have educated kids, showing them that if you don't send potheads to prison society won't crumble...setting an example, like Dr. Paul advocates.

I HIGHLY recommend going to www.freestateproject.org and reading the 101 Reasons on the right side of the page. It covers all this and then some.

Thanks for the reply. Now, are delegates and state representatives the same thing? I do know that they have 400 state representatives, the highest in the country, and the lowest "rep. to population" ratio (which is good). I made a thread about this and New Hampshire and Montana are the best states we can get.

I can understand their objective then if they're not closed to the option of secession. I'll look into and likely either move there or fund it.

 

[Nate K]

Something we should consider - start a state militia.

What a fantastic thought, eh?

 

[FreeStater]

Now that I think of it, Secession was a consideration in the selecting of NH:

NH has a seaport, and a border with Canada.

The New England States are also pretty close-knit, even if not politically. (People in Mass and NH make fun of each other, but they like each other much more than anyone from NY) And VT, RI, and Maine have Secessionist movements, though small, as does Mass (although its much less likely).

so if NH secedes, its much more likely to secede successfully (and take other states with it)

 

[Nate K]

WOW. After reading this, I'm 100% with you guys.

I was wanting to move south lately because of better farming, but I may just consider moving to NH!!!

I'm going to make this big.

 

[pinkmandy]

WOW. After reading this, I'm 100% with you guys.

I was wanting to move south lately because of better farming, but I may just consider moving to NH!!!

I'm going to make this big.

Go Nate!

I totally poo-pooed NH in the beginning, too. Then I started reading and reading and reading. 24 hrs later I realized there is no other place else like it. If it's going to work it will be there imo. I hate cold, I really do. I suck at driving in snow. BUT, I decided I can deal w/a colder winter and a milder summer than I'm used to if it means my kids will experience freedom. Hell yeah we can make a difference.

Oh, yes, delegate is a state rep within the state- not related to the DC crew.

 

[porcupine]

the freestate project is over rated. They can never take over the New Hampshire government because liberals moving from Mass > than Free Staters by a large number.

But they are trying hard to get Ron Paul Reps into NATIONAL offices as well.

You misjudge us entirely. National politics, for the most part, is not our focus. It's a lost cause. We want to take back one state.

You're wrong about the Mass immigrants. Most of them are low-tax types who are sick of the high taxes in Mass.

The great thing about NH is that the government is so split up (in order to keep any branch from becoming powerful) and the government is so localized that there are tons of offices you can seek. Most elections are uncontested (meaning you file and you win). It's very easy to move and get elected and when a few Free Staters do that, you make a huge difference.

Another example is the Grafton Town Meeting where there were 6 free staters that were able to vote down tens of thousands of dollars worth of city spending...just the 6 of them made a big difference.

This is just the beginning.

Does the state you're living in have Real ID? Does the state you're living in require car insurance? I know you're taxes aren't lower than NH. How many freedom loving people do you hang out with and will you and they be doing anything once this election is over? If you did, would it make a difference in your state? What we're doing is making a huge difference in New Hampshire.

 

[porcupine]

Nate, check out http://www.republicofnh.org/

Keep in mind, the Free State Project takes NO POSITIONS on anything politically. Its individual members do that. All the FSP does is unite liberty lovers in one place where we can finally reach a critical mass.


Oh and I edited to add this: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=3242717

It's not New Hampshire, but it'll give you an idea of the movements in New England.

 

[porcupine]

The value of "chilling with other freedom lovers" should not be underestimated. It will allow libertarian ideas to thrive in an actual community of like-minded people, so even if it fails politically, the FSP could be the think tank in which future ideas will flourish.

That's right. Movements don't start without communities to incubate them. You need that critical mass before good ideas can get a chance and libertarians have never had that...yet