Who plans on joining the Free State Project in New Hampshire this year?

[tbone717]

Thanks, my bad.



I don't mind that some people formed a group with somewhat similar goals in Wyoming. However, I just want to make sure everyone is clear (and I am not saying you said anything one way or another on this) that the FSP is not connected to christian exodus in anyway. It is true that the person that founded christian exodus claims that he heard about the FSP and used that as an example. Christian exodus isn't a liberty group/project/organization and I don't want to have any connection or association with it. It appears to be a very small group (even smaller than FSW), but I still don't want to be associated with it and what it does in anyway

I think this might be the remnants of the SC folks if anything does still exist.

http://www.southcarolinarepublic.org/

Christian exodus looks substantially different that I recall it when it first launched. Originally IIRC it was essentially a paleo-conservative movement.

 

[tbone717]

The selling point is to make what you go around here preaching all day long, actually work.

To get involved politically, and have it actually make a difference, instead of your efforts getting washed away in a sea of apathetic "democracy".

Understand that part of it, but activism (as much as I do it) is not my entire life. I have a business, family, friends and other things that have absolutely nothing to do with political activism -- many others are the same way. My point being it is a very hard sell for someone that has a successful career and an extended family in a given area to leave that just so they can become more politically active and enjoy the benefits of a lower tax and regulatory burden.

 

[tbone717]

Question: Has anyone from FSP moved there and started a business that could employ hundreds if not thousands of people? That would seem to be a good thought, and a way to attract more people to the concept.

 

[Jonathanm]

Out of curiosity, does anyone know how much demand there is for computer programmers in NH? I'm looking to get a degree in this field in the future, and NH seems like an ideal liberty-friendly place.

How are the police up there, particularly when concerned with the likes of the *gasp* evil marihuana? It'd be great to live in a state that wouldn't raid me, kill my parrot "because it's dangerous", and then proceed to steal my house because I decided to avoid the likes of xanax and kidney-destroying bipolar medications.

Also, AF and donnay are husband/wife? If so, coolest couple ever.

 

[Schiff_FTW]

Out of curiosity, does anyone know how much demand there is for computer programmers in NH? I'm looking to get a degree in this field in the future, and NH seems like an ideal liberty-friendly place.

How are the police up there, particularly when concerned with the likes of the *gasp* evil marihuana? It'd be great to live in a state that wouldn't raid me, kill my parrot "because it's dangerous", and then proceed to steal my house because I decided to avoid the likes of xanax and kidney-destroying bipolar medications.

Also, AF and donnay are husband/wife? If so, coolest couple ever.

Nashua is known for its tech sector. As far as marijuana, real progress is finally being made largely thanks to the efforts of FSP movers (see http://www.mpp.org/states/new-hampshire/ and http://www.nhcommonsense.org)

 

[Aden]

Also, AF and donnay are husband/wife? If so, coolest couple ever.

Heh, I started to type up a response asking what the heck you were talking about. Then I reread it and was like, "ohhhhh. He said "donnay" NOT "Danno." Scary thoughts I was having.

 

[Aden]

go to Indeed.com. There are like 2,500+ IT jobs in NH.

 

[Keith and stuff]

Question: Has anyone from FSP moved there and started a business that could employ hundreds if not thousands of people? That would seem to be a good thought, and a way to attract more people to the concept.

People have started companies. Companies don't always do well. There was a beer brewery started but the regulations were too strict for it to even try to compete. It was closed but the brewer worked with a Ron Paul endorsing state Rep. to get the law changed. The bill passed but it wasn't enough of a change. There is another bill to further deregulate brewing laws in NH.

A Ron Paul endorsing state Rep. stated a big Irish pub in Manchester. It's probably employed over 100 people since it's been around including quite a few free staters. A guy that moved here last year is working at the place right now. The owner of the pub has had so much success that he started a diner recently. He also created a fun sports league for adults but I'm not sure how many people he hired to help with that.

There are 2 guys that do construction that hire other free staters from time to time to help with jobs. Another free stater had his home built and hired a bunch of free staters to help build it.

There are people doing agorist jobs that they created, sometimes they hire people to help. I don't really want to get into any of that.

Someone created Shire Silver. He may have people helping him, I don't know.

Some people moved and brought there computer/online job with them.

There is a guy relocating part of his out of state company to NH but I'm not sure how much of the business he is transferring to NH.

I'm sure I've missed some but the job market is much better in NH than most of the country. There is certainly no shortage of jobs in NH and free staters have put together vast resources to help people get jobs/homes. We tend to even have classes on it at our major liberty events in NH. I've never heard of a fsper moving to NH and then leaving because they couldn't find a job. Even if 500 people all moved on Friday, they shouldn't have any trouble finding work.

 

[Anti Federalist]

Understand that part of it, but activism (as much as I do it) is not my entire life. I have a business, family, friends and other things that have absolutely nothing to do with political activism -- many others are the same way. My point being it is a very hard sell for someone that has a successful career and an extended family in a given area to leave that just so they can become more politically active and enjoy the benefits of a lower tax and regulatory burden.

Yes, understood, that is difficult.

But, I did it, and I'm nothing special.

I did it before there ever was such a thing as the FSP.

Mrs. AF built and sold a business just for the purpose of making the move.

Granted, I have a job that I can work as long as I'm within a days drive of an airport, but still, I could work local if I had to.

And I had friends and family tell me I was nuts for making a move and deciding on a place to live based on political considerations. But how is that any more nuts than basing it on schools, or taxes, or quality of life, or crime, or employment opportunities? Aren't all those things affected by "politics"?

Most of the family that called me nuts are now living down the road from me. The rest are on the way.

Depends on how bad you want it, I suppose.

 

[Anti Federalist]

Out of curiosity, does anyone know how much demand there is for computer programmers in NH? I'm looking to get a degree in this field in the future, and NH seems like an ideal liberty-friendly place.

How are the police up there, particularly when concerned with the likes of the *gasp* evil marihuana? It'd be great to live in a state that wouldn't raid me, kill my parrot "because it's dangerous", and then proceed to steal my house because I decided to avoid the likes of xanax and kidney-destroying bipolar medications.

Also, AF and donnay are husband/wife? If so, coolest couple ever.

Answer to question the first: Yes, there is, although I have no idea how much it pays.

Answer to question the second: Mostly OK, but, just like cops anywhere, they are to be avoided if at all possible. On MJ, frankly, lousy, although I'm not sure there is any real aggressive prosecution. Still it's a gamble and relatively strict, especially compared to VT and ME. http://norml.org/laws/nh

Answer to question the third: Yes, and thanks. We met almost 20 years ago now, on a political forum much like this, run by, of all people, Rush Limbaugh on the old Compu-serve system, before there even was a www. The forum is still around, it's called Town Hall. http://townhall.com/

 

[specsaregood]

//

 

[tbone717]

Yes, understood, that is difficult.

But, I did it, and I'm nothing special.

I did it before there ever was such a thing as the FSP.

Mrs. AF built and sold a business just for the purpose of making the move.

Granted, I have a job that I can work as long as I'm within a days drive of an airport, but still, I could work local if I had to.

And I had friends and family tell me I was nuts for making a move and deciding on a place to live based on political considerations. But how is that any more nuts than basing it on schools, or taxes, or quality of life, or crime, or employment opportunities? Aren't all those things affected by "politics"?

Most of the family that called me nuts are now living down the road from me. The rest are on the way.

Depends on how bad you want it, I suppose.

For me personally, it could never happen as I described my situation. Having a business that has taken me years to build would be crazy to walk away from. In my business, personal contact is essential. For example I just delivered some products to a customer today and walked out with an order 10 times the size I walked in with. My wife and I are also starting another business (personal services), and should be opening the shop soon. While theoretically we could start this business in another state, part of us opening is based on our network of friends that will be our initial customers, and our referrals. Having hundreds of personal connections here in the area through my business, my wife's present career and our own friends is what assures us that we can start a new business and be successful from day one. And that doesn't even get into the family and friends aspect of what keeps us here.

But aside from me personally, I am sure there are many others that are in similar situations as myself. As anyone with aging parents knows, it is best to have them nearby and uprooting someone who has lived 70+ years in an area is very difficult. So while, it is a great idea, I just think it is a very hard thing to have people to do, which is why I think the growth of the project has been so slow.

Perhaps the concept needs to be brought to more people locally who can have that same type of effect in their own towns and communities by working together with a focus of influencing local and state government. In may ways this is what libertarian-conservatives have been working on for a long time, though not identified as a "free state" type movement.

 

[UMULAS]

Unless it is a libertarian organization, what is the point?

 

[Schiff_FTW]

Unless it is a libertarian organization, what is the point?

You mean Libertarian Party? I don't think many (small L) libertarians would disagree with the statement of intent. But the Free State Project is only a vehicle to get people to NH. Once you're there you're on your own. Many have chosen to work through the Republican Party, and IMO have been very successful...at least compared to the usual track record of libertarian political activists.

 

[MelissaWV]

I agree with tbone17.

The notion of living in NH does not really appeal to me, nor can I shake the idea of putting all one's eggs in one basket being a bad idea. I am helping my parents and grandmother here, and I have various ties to my community that I am unlikely to find it easy to duplicate in NH. My health would suffer there, and I can't really think that there is a better medical environment for me in that area. If I move, it will likely be back to somewhere in Appalachia, where the weather suits me better, the people are generally kind (or, if not kind, then totally honest), and the land and homes are cheap and oft-overlooked. I greatly enjoyed living in a state that people forget exists.

I also have had some casual interaction with some who are involved, and I prefer to live my life quietly when I am not actively trying to change things. I value my down time, my socializing, my quiet, my reading, my wanderings. The limited information from the aforementioned people, coupled with the "news" (fighting for the right to walk around topless, etc.) that reaches me here, do not make me think that NH is for me.

I wish them all the best, but I usually don't get that sentiment returned.

 

[Schiff_FTW]

It's a bit disingenuous to cherry pick some of the things from the more controversial activists and act as if it's the whole movement. Why not talk about the dozen libertarian state reps elected? The inside-the-system activists have changed the entire nature of the debate in Concord.

Obviously it's not for everyone. But I think the appeal is obvious to a certain group of people, especially if you're already from New England.

 

[MelissaWV]

It's a bit disingenuous to cherry pick some of the things from the more controversial activists and act as if it's the whole movement.

It's even more disingenuous to accuse people of this and then say "obviously it's not for everyone" like you're "allowing" us to not want to join. The title is "Who plans..." not "Praise for..." which I thought was an invitation to some of the reasons why people wouldn't join. The place is not for me, and I gave some examples. They are good enough for me, and no one else is deciding where I'm going to live.

 

[TheTexan]

The notion of living in NH does not really appeal to me

Same. I like nice weather, and as much as Keith tries to convince me otherwise, NH is fucking cold. However, I'd prefer to live free and cold than warm and enslaved. Small sacrifice.

nor can I shake the idea of putting all one's eggs in one basket being a bad idea.

Why? Because of this fear that the government will kill us all? Putting aside how ridiculous that sounds, at some point you have to make a choice: do I continue to live life as a slave because it's the safe choice, or do I stand up for myself and take my freedom back?

The limited information from the aforementioned people, coupled with the "news" (fighting for the right to walk around topless, etc.) that reaches me here, do not make me think that NH is for me.

People fighting for a right to do something that doesn't harm others is what would turn you against moving there? /baffled

 

[Czolgosz]

FSP is an important and useful project, for sure. I'd like to see a smaller community consolidation and would be willing to sign up and participate in said project.

 

[NewRightLibertarian]

I might do this at the end of the year if I cannot find work in broke, destitute Michigan