"What if Libertarians Were in Charge?" from John Stossel

[LatinsforPaul]

Let 1,000 Nations Bloom (New Show Tonight at 10pm on Fox Business News) (http://www.foxbusiness.com/on-air/stossel/blog/2011/09/29/let-1000-nations-bloom-new-show-tonight-10pm-fbn)


I titled my show tonight, "What if Libertarians Were in Charge?"

I don't expect the world to become libertarian any time soon. But perhaps "free cities" will take hold and give people options to move to a more libertarian society.

The best example of a "free city" is Hong Kong. In just 50 years, it went from being one of the poorest places in the world to one of the richest: per person income rose from $676/year in 1960 to $45,446/year now. That happened because Hong Kong's British rulers sat just around, and - aside from enforcing laws against murder and theft - left their subjects alone.

Now, Michael Strong and Magatte Wade have started a movement called the "Free Cities Project."

"We want to encourage thousands of people around the world to create new governments that have different kinds of rules, each competing for customers," Strong says.

Stong's wife, Magatte, is an entrepreneur in the African country of Senegal. She says that "free cities" are especially important for the developing world, where big government keeps people in poverty. She knows that from running a business in Senegal, where "You cannot fire an employee. ... [Starting my company] was an ordeal."

Tonight she and Strong explain their hope to create a "free city" in Senegal and elsewhere. The free city would have none of those burdensome regulations.

Tune in tonight at 10pm for more examples of "free cities"

[Knightskye]

Imagine how high wages could rise in the next 10 or 20 years if we had libertarian governance.

[TCE]

I like this idea, it is better and easier than the Free State Project, which looks like it may never reach 20,000 members. Had the FSP started off with this and, say, tried to move 5,000 people to a city in New Hampshire, this idea could have already been implemented.

[low preference guy]

I like this idea, it is better and easier than the Free State Project, which looks like it may never reach 20,000 members. Had the FSP started off with this and, say, tried to move 5,000 people to a city in New Hampshire, this idea could have already been implemented.

i think it's too early to tell whether the FSP failed. it was thought as a long term project. i'd watch what happens in the next 5 years before pronouncing a negative judgement.

[Keith and stuff]

I like this idea, it is better and easier than the Free State Project, which looks like it may never reach 20,000 members. Had the FSP started off with this and, say, tried to move 5,000 people to a city in New Hampshire, this idea could have already been implemented.

People tried that before. A liberty person in Ft. Collins, CO asked liberty folks to move there. There is no evidence you can get liberty lovers from all over the US to move to a single city for a liberty movement. However, since people continue to move to NH as part of the FSP, there is evidence you can get liberty lovers from all over the US to move to a single state. Heck, a bunch of people on this forum have made the move and several more are committed to making the move.

And you cannot just become a free city. You have to have state approval. Cities are given power by the state government, so even if you have everyone in the city on your side, the state can still control the city.

Anyway, you do know about the amazing progress in NH right? There is nothing else like it on earth.

Here are some of the 2010 bills that became law
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?303849-2011-New-Hampshire-Liberty-Related-Bills-Report

House bills that became law:

HCR9
Approved by Gov. Lynch
This resolution urges the President and Congress of the United States to immediately address the serious constitutional and safety concerns presented by advanced imaging technology employed by Transportation Security Agency employees at the nation’s airports and, if these concerns cannot be satisfactorily addressed, urges the discontinuation of their use.
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...ul-s-H.R.-6416
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...illnumber=HCR9

HB26
Passed with Gov. Lynch’s signature
This bill clarifies the definition of gross misconduct for purposes of unemployment compensation, reduces the amount of a work-related theft resulting in the loss of wage credits, and disqualifies an unemployed individual who is discharged for single or multiple thefts in an amount greater than $100 but less than $250 from receiving unemployment benefits for 4 to 26 weeks.
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...illnumber=hb26

HB30
Passed with Gov. Lynch’s signature
This bill allows persons who received a certificate from PAVE, the Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence, to apply for licensure with the board of veterinary medicine.
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...&txtsstatus=11

HB71
Passed with Gov. Lynch’s signature
This bill allows New Hampshire communities and private entities in conjunction with law enforcement officers to establish controlled and non-controlled pharmaceutical drug take-back programs. Under this bill, the department of justice, the pharmacy board, the department of safety, and the department of environmental services shall establish guidelines by rule, pursuant to RSA 541-A, for communities and private entities to follow if they choose to establish a pharmaceutical drug take-back program.
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...&txtsstatus=11

HB82
Passed with Gov. Lynch’s signature
This bill makes various changes to the statute governing annulment of criminal records.
This bill is the result of the committee to study the statute governing the annulment of criminal records established in 2010, 307.
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...&txtsstatus=11

HB90
Passed with Gov. Lynch’s signature
This bill permits enforcement of the requirement of boaters to have a safe boater education certificate when the operator is issued a written warning for a violation or offense or when the operator is involved in an accident.
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...&txtsstatus=11

HB109
Veto overridden
This bill prohibits local planning boards from requiring the installation of a fire suppression sprinkler system in proposed one- or 2-family residences as a condition of approval for a local permit.
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...&txtsstatus=11

HB133
Veto overridden
This bill modifies the state minimum hourly wage.
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...H-minimum-wage
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...llnumber=hb133

HB142
Passed with Gov. Lynch’s signature
This bill repeals the prohibition on the sale of artificial flowers and miniature flags by street vendors.
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...&txtsstatus=10

HB143
Passed with Gov. Lynch’s signature
This bill repeals the prohibition on the sale of stove polish and related compounds used as polishes.
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...&txtsstatus=10

HB148
Passed with Gov. Lynch’s signature
This bill prohibits the acceptance of federal funding for motorcycle-only roadside checkpoints.
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...NH-bucks-trend
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...&txtsstatus=10

HB155
Passed with Gov. Lynch’s signature
This bill permits a municipality to issue a raffle permit that expires one year from the date of issuance rather than on the date of the raffle.
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...&txtsstatus=11

HB156
Became law as part of the budget (which passed without Gov. Lynch’s signature), not a stand alone bill
This bill reduces the rates of the tobacco tax on cigarettes and on tobacco products other than cigarettes [for at least two years.]
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...x-by-ten-cents
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...llnumber=HB156

HB187
Passed without Gov. Lynch’s signature
This bill changes the carry forward periods for the business enterprise tax credit against the business profits tax.
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...-taxes-forward
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...&txtsstatus=11

HB229
Passed with Gov. Lynch’s signature
This bill repeals the tax on gambling winnings.
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...e-gambling-tax
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...llnumber=hb229

HB262
Passed with Gov. Lynch’s signature
This bill establishes a nano brewery license for businesses that manufacture up to 2,000 barrels of beer or specialty beer annually.
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...hol-regulation
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...&txtsstatus=10

HB276
Passed with Gov. Lynch’s signature
This bill permits wine manufacturers to sell wine at annual fairs or similar events. This bill also eliminates the requirement that wine provided as samples by a wine manufacturer be purchased from the liquor commission.
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...hol-regulation
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...&txtsstatus=10

HB291
Passed without Gov. Lynch’s signature
This bill defines permissible fireworks as consumer fireworks, with certain limited exceptions. The bill also revises the membership and duties of the permissible fireworks review committee.
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...ireworks-in-NH
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...&txtsstatus=10

HB295
Passed without Gov. Lynch’s signature
This bill requires the board of medicine to post a statement on Lyme disease treatment on its website.
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...&txtsstatus=11

HB316
Passed with Gov. Lynch’s signature
This bill removes the penalty of loss of appeal for property owners who refuse to grant consent to assessing officials to inspect their property or who fail to file an inventory form.
This bill also permits the owner of involuntarily merged lots or parcels to have the lots restored to their premerger status.
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...forcement-bill
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...&txtsstatus=11

HB322
Passed with Gov. Lynch’s signature
This bill modifies the statutory cap on the fee that a manufactured housing park owner may charge if a tenant exceeds the park’s adult occupancy rate.
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...&txtsstatus=11

HB329
Veto overridden
This bill prohibits any abortion provider from performing an abortion on certain minors or incompetent females without giving 48 hours’ written notice, in person or by certified mail, to a parent or guardian unless a medical emergency exists. The bill provides a procedure for alternate notice in certain circumstances.
This bill also establishes a procedure for waiver of the notice in certain circumstances.
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...the-girls-life
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...&txtsstatus=10

HB331
Passed with Gov. Lynch’s signature
This bill requires agencies to post expenditure information in a check register format on the state transparency website.
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...ponsors=376919

HB333
Passed with Gov. Lynch’s signature
This bill repeals labeling requirements for oleomargarine sold in less quantities than the original packages contain and for serving colored oleomargarine.
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...&txtsstatus=10

HB347
Passed with Gov. Lynch’s signature
This bill exempts from nondisclosure the records of accidents involving and violations by county, city, and town employees and officials.
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...&txtsstatus=11

HB390
Passed with Gov. Lynch’s signature
This bill reinstates and repeals certain boards, commissions, councils, advisory committees, and task forces and is a request of the committee to study the list of non-regulatory boards, commissions, councils, advisory committees, and task forces established in 2009, 144:87, II.
The bill also repeals the New Hampshire commission on the status of women contingent on its merger with a New Hampshire nonprofit corporation qualified by the Internal Revenue Service as a section 501(c)(3) entity.
http://gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_sta...llnumber=hb390

HB404
Passed with Gov. Lynch’s signature
This bill includes self-composting toilets or incinerating toilets on the list of toilet facilities which may be provided in recreational campgrounds or camping parks.
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...ponsors=376919

HB424
Passed with Gov. Lynch’s signature
This bill enables premium taxes for nonadmitted insurance, including surplus line insurance, to be collected and disbursed. This bill also allows a foreign insurance company to be designated as a surplus line insurer under certain circumstances.
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...&txtsstatus=11

HB441
Passed with Gov. Lynch’s signature
This bill eliminates the prohibition on devices that may be used to adjust muffling devices on boats.
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...&txtsstatus=10

HB532
Passed with Gov. Lynch’s signature
This bill limits municipal liability for dog bites.
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...-for-dog-bites
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...ponsors=376942

HB544
Passed with Gov. Lynch’s signature
This bill adds knives to the list of firearms, ammunition, and firearms-related items over which the state has authority.
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...Preemption-Law
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...&txtsstatus=11

HB549
Passed with Gov. Lynch’s signature
This bill eliminates the requirement that a driver be examined upon reaching his or her seventy-fifth birthday.
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...NH-bucks-trend
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...&txtsstatus=10

HB580
Passed with Gov. Lynch’s signature
This bill establishes a committee to study collective bargaining by public employees.
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...&txtsstatus=11

HB589
Passed without Gov. Lynch’s signature
This bill repeals written majority authorization for an employee organization to be certified as the exclusive representative of public employees in a bargaining unit.
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...ses-card-check
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...llnumber=HB589

HB590
Passed without Gov. Lynch’s signature
This bill establishes a committee to review state participation in federal grant-in-aid programs.
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...ion-in-Fed-aid
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...&txtsstatus=11

HB601
Passed without Gov. Lynch’s signature
This bill establishes an oversight committee to provide legislative oversight, policy direction and recommendations for legislation with respect to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2009 Public Law 111-148, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, Public Law 111-152. This bill requires the insurance commissioner to obtain approval from the oversight committee before implementing any of the federal changes. This bill also directs the insurance commissioner to decline certain exchange planning grant funds [$660,000 so far] and to indicate to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services that the money is to be used to reduce the federal budget deficit.
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...ging-Obamacare
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...llnumber=hb601

HB623
Passed without Gov. Lynch’s signature
This bill prohibits preferences in recruiting, hiring, promotion, or admission by state agencies, the university system, the community college system, and the postsecondary education commission. It prohibits preferential treatment or discrimination based on race, sex, national origin, religion, or sexual orientation.
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...rmative-action
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...&txtsstatus=11

HB629
Passed with Gov. Lynch’s signature
This bill repeals the uninsured health care database.
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...llnumber=hb629

HB651
Passed with Gov. Lynch’s signature
This bill allows for the sale and possession of monk parakeets, also known as quaker parrots.
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...-Parrots-in-NH
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...llnumber=HB651


Senate bills that became law:

SB1
Passed without Gov. Lynch’s signature
This bill eliminates the requirement that the terms of a collective bargaining agreement automatically continue if an impasse is not resolved at the time of the expiration of such agreement.
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...repealed-in-NH
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...billnumber=SB1

SB2
Passed with Gov. Lynch’s signature
This bill authorizes cities and towns to adopt charter provisions establishing limitations on the growth of budgets and taxes.
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...nding-cap-bill
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...billnumber=SB2

SB3
Vetoed, became law as part of the budget (which passed without Gov. Lynch’s signature), not a stand alone bill
This bill makes various changes to the state retirement system including:
I. Increasing retirement ages of group II members for service retirement, disability retirement, vested deferred retirement, and split benefits.
II. Changing the definitions of earnable compensation and average final compensation used in calculating retirement benefits.
III. Changing the composition of the board of trustees.
IV. Transferring remaining funds from the special account into the state annuity accumulation fund.
V. Eliminating future increases to medical benefits premium payments.
VI. Increasing member contribution rates.
VII. Establishing a committee to study the establishment of a federal tax qualified voluntary defined contribution plan and a committee to study matters related to disability, medical subsidies, and COLAs.
VIII. Limiting when the option to become a member of retirement system applies, and defining part-time employment.
IX. Changing the eligibility for state employees to receive medical benefits.
X. Extending a temporary supplemental allowance for fiscal year 2013
XI. Changing the interest calculation attributed to contributions.
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...irement-system
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legi...11/SB0003.html

SB81
Passed without Gov. Lynch’s signature
This bill provides that commissioners of agencies have the authority to transfer or reassign personnel within the agency and to delegate, transfer, or assign the authority to administer programs or services within components of the agency. The bill also limits the extension of the service of a commissioner or agency head as a holdover from an expired term.
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...&txtsstatus=11

SB86
Passed with Gov. Lynch’s signature
This bill requires the department of labor to issue one warning to employers for certain violations before a fine may be imposed.
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...&txtsstatus=11

SB87
Became law as part of the budget (which passed without Gov. Lynch’s signature), not a stand alone bill
Eliminate the temporary $30-$75 surcharge on motor vehicle registrations
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...istration-fees
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...illnumber=SB78

SB93
Passed with Gov. Lynch’s signature
This bill expands the vaccines which may be administered by a pharmacist and changes the qualifications for pharmacists to administer vaccines.
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...ssionyear=2011

SB111
Passed with Gov. Lynch’s signature
This bill exempts short sales from certain requirements pertaining to foreclosure consultants.
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...&txtsstatus=11

SB120
Passed with Gov. Lynch’s signature
This bill modifies various alcoholic beverage advertising restrictions.
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...hol-regulation
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...llnumber=sb120

SB121
Passed with Gov. Lynch’s signature
This bill modifies the definition of “employer” for the purposes of notification under the worker adjustment and retraining notification act.
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...llnumber=sb121

SB125
Passed without Gov. Lynch’s signature
This bill modifies standards and burden of proof with respect to the business profits tax deduction for reasonable compensation attributable to owners of partnerships, limited liability companies, and sole proprietorships.
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...the-government
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...llnumber=sb125

SB146
Passed without Gov. Lynch’s signature
This bill requires state agencies to submit a [10% for each year] reduced spending level alternative as part of the biennial budget process.
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...budget-forever
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...ssionyear=2011

SB148
Passed without Gov. Lynch’s signature
This bill provides that a resident of New Hampshire shall not be required to obtain, or be assessed a fee or fine for failure to obtain, health insurance coverage.
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...ging-Obamacare
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...llnumber=sb148

SB176
Passed with Gov. Lynch’s signature
This bill removes obsolete references to the 3-day waiting requirement for a marriage license and clarifies when a certified copy of a divorce decree or death certificate is required.
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...&txtsstatus=10

SB196
Passed without Gov. Lynch’s signature
This bill amends the length of time required for a teacher to be entitled to the rights of notification and hearing for failure to be renominated or reelected. This bill declares that in cases of nonrenomination or nonreelection because of reduction in force, the reduction in force shall not be based solely on seniority. This bill also limits a petition for review as the exclusive remedy available to a teacher on the issue of the nonrenewal of such teacher.
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...llnumber=sb196

[Icymudpuppy]

I've thought about the possibility of taking a small rural community and incorporating it into a city for the purpose of keeping state and county officials out of our business.

As a city, we could get allodial title, something a county resident couldn't get.

We could tell the sheriff to keep his drug enforcement folks out.

We could keep the county health inspector out of our community fund raisers with home baked goods, and unpasteurized milk and cider.

there are other benefits... Any ideas?

[Keith and stuff]

I've thought about the possibility of taking a small rural community and incorporating it into a city for the purpose of keeping state and county officials out of our business.

As a city, we could get allodial title, something a county resident couldn't get.

We could tell the sheriff to keep his drug enforcement folks out.

We could keep the county health inspector out of our community fund raisers with home baked goods, and unpasteurized milk and cider.

there are other benefits... Any ideas?

There are already very rural parts of NH without income, sales or property taxes. There are already very, very remote areas of Alaska with the same lack of taxes. I don't think health inspectors live within an hour of such areas.

The closest to this idea that is happening anywhere in the US is Grafton, NH. There are property taxes in Grafton but they aren't high and could be a lot lower with 50 additional voters (since the voters decide much of the spending in line by line voting.) Perhaps 40-70 liberty activists have moved to Grafton so far. The trade off for having property taxes is that Grafton is a 25-50 min drive from a 40,000 person MSA and 45-65 min drive from a 70,000 person MSA so there are jobs in the commutable area.

The total population there is around 1,500. However, many of the locals lean liberty. For example, maybe 5-8 of the leaders in town are libertarians including budget committee folks, the supervisor of the checklist, a trustee of the cemetery and the fire chief. They already don't have local building or zoning codes from what I remember.

[lx43]

Peter Theil has donated money to building libertarian cities at sea.

[Jeremy]

I think the Free State Project makes more sense.

[AGRP]

Wouldnt the state just make frequent visits to these "free cities?"

[Icymudpuppy]

There are already very rural parts of NH without income, sales or property taxes. There are already very, very remote areas of Alaska with the same lack of taxes. I don't think health inspectors live within an hour of such areas. Unfortunately, neither does much natural agriculture. Apples don't grow in those parts of Alaska.

[dbill27]

Unfortunately, neither does much natural agriculture. Apples don't grow in those parts of Alaska.

I believe cabbage grows in alaska not to mention the insane abundance of other resources to be tapped. Alaska has a ton of gold still underneath, I saw gold flecks in just aabout every creek I fished in while I was there, they have a great fishing industry on the coast, coal in the interior, lumber, and lets not forget about the oil in anwar we're always hearing about.

[lx43]

I think the Free State Project makes more sense.

I don't know, I'll take anything that would put pressure on the govt to shrink.

[Xenophage]

I believe cabbage grows in alaska not to mention the insane abundance of other resources to be tapped. Alaska has a ton of gold still underneath, I saw gold flecks in just aabout every creek I fished in while I was there, they have a great fishing industry on the coast, coal in the interior, lumber, and lets not forget about the oil in anwar we're always hearing about.

ANWR.

Potatoes, carrots, berries and other stuff is grown in Alaska as well.

[Keith and stuff]

I don't know, I'll take anything that would put pressure on the govt to shrink.

The state government actually shrunk in NH this year in real numbers. As far as I know, that only happened in NH and TX (but to a lesser extent.)

www.nationalbroadside.com/?p=20020


In general and education trust fund spending, the House was able to secure a $4.42 billion budget, a 12.8 percent decline from the previous cycle. The budget cut is the largest in modern history—maybe longer.

nhhousegop.com/house-2011-session-accomplishments


The legislature passed a budget 11% smaller that the prior budget, reducing spending by over $1.2 billion and general fund spending by $536 million, or 18%.
The state budget includes no new or increased taxes or fees.
This budget does not bond any operating costs or do any additional borrowing from our future generations while using responsible revenue estimates.

[Keith and stuff]

Unfortunately, neither does much natural agriculture. Apples don't grow in those parts of Alaska.

Are you talking about the states in general or the areas in the states that are remote and have no income, sales or property taxes?

Those parts of NH tend to be mountainous and heavily forested. So, outside of timber and maple syrup, that's true. Southern NH is fertile and agriculture is common. http://forum.freestateproject.org/index.php?topic=24525.0


Most vegetables grow very well in NH.


Also, berries grow like crazy here (strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries) -- wild too, except for the strawberries.The apples are fantastic -- orchards are everywhere, with endless varieties. I've seen a couple peach orchards too -- the peaches aren't bad, but they're not as good as southern ones.

[Icymudpuppy]

Are you talking about the states in general or the areas in the states that are remote and have no income, sales or property taxes?

Those parts of NH tend to be mountainous and heavily forested. So, outside of timber and maple syrup, that's true. Southern NH is fertile and agriculture is common. http://forum.freestateproject.org/index.php?topic=24525.0

I was talking about Alaska, not NH.

I think NH would be fine in many ways. Unfortunately, I don't see how I can move right now. My business is not mobile.

[Keith and stuff]

I was talking about Alaska, not NH.


Oh hey, my bad.

As for John Stossel.

I wouldn't trust John Stossel. He came to New Hampshire to speak at a past Free State Project event, the New Hampshire Liberty Forum.

http://freestateproject.org/libertyforum/2007/speakers

John Stossel will be Saturday's keynote speaker. His speech, to be titled The Enemies of Liberty, will be delivered immediately following a delicious four-course meal. Mr. Stossel will also be available to sign copies of his books.

Heck, he even did a whole TV episode on Live Free or Die and the Free State Project.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evraJp70CUs


Heck, he even interviewed the founder of the FSP. Yep, it's official, I don't trust him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F25lkOUkzsk


BTW, John's column also appears in the Union Leader. Oh, the irony!
http://www.unionleader.com/article/20111007/OPINION02/710079983

[Czolgosz]

Why the lack of trust directed at Stossel's 'stache?

[TCE]

i think it's too early to tell whether the FSP failed. it was thought as a long term project. i'd watch what happens in the next 5 years before pronouncing a negative judgement.

While it may reach 20,000 at some point, at the current trajectory, it is going to be a long time from now. I understand some of the comments about cities being under the direct control of the state, but still, coordinating cities would have been nice. Free Keene is one example on a larger scale. The goal should be to try and get people to New Hampshire as opposed to trying for the 20,000. What is better, 2,000 people in New Hampshire, or 19,000 people pledged to do it?

@Keith: I'm not against the FSP, in fact, I'm totally for it and think it may very well be our only chance for freedom and if some ideas are implemented qithin a couple of years, it might be the strongest state standing after the economy continues spiraling down a black hole. As a bonus, the porcupine is my favorite animal. I'm hoping you guys get more liberty politicians elected to the State House and a few to the State Senate as well.

[GeorgiaAvenger]

Why the lack of trust directed at Stossel's 'stache?People on this forum are more hawkish than neocons

And like neocons, they are always wrong

[TCE]

People on this forum are more hawkish than neocons

And like neocons, they are always wrong

Uh...is that first line a metaphor? I'm hoping so, because you won't find too many pro-war libertarians here if you were serious.