Free State Project nears 20,000 signers, setting stage for libertarian influx

[jct74]

Free State Project nears 20,000 signers, setting stage for libertarian influx

By NICK REID
January 16, 2016

In about two weeks, the Free State Project expects its 20,000th signer to agree to move to New Hampshire. Then, a five-year countdown begins for its libertarian participants to hold up their end of the bargain.

The milestone will come nearly 15 years after the first signature was penned, following a 2001 manifesto written by founder Jason Sorens, a political theorist who has a doctorate in political science from Yale and lectures at Dartmouth College.

The nonprofit group envisions relocating thousands of people to the state who would become active in various ways to severely limit the government’s scope. Nearly 2,000 signers who have already moved are playing out the idea.

...

Carla Gericke, the president of the Free State Project, attributed the recent jolt in signers to an ad campaign on Facebook that targets people who like libertarian pages.

About 3 percent of the people who click on their ads go on to sign up for the Free State Project, she said. Meanwhile, 20 to 30 new movers are coming to the state each month, which is high for the winter, she said.

Next month the group will hold its annual conference in Manchester, called Liberty Forum, which will feature a video chat with National Security Agency whistle-blower Edward Snowden. Gericke said she expects this summer’s PorcFest, an annual gathering in the North Country, to see a boost after the 20,000th signature is attained.

...

read more:
http://www.concordmonitor.com/home/20557462-95/free-state-project-nears-20000-signers-setting-stage-for-libertarian-influx

[jct74]

Free State Project Reaches 99% of Goal, to Complete This Week!!

by Ian
Jan 31, 2016

It’s been fifteen years in the making – the official move for the Free State Project will be kicking off this week! With fewer than 150 signers to go, the FSP has reached 99% of its goal of convincing 20,000 liberty-loving people to move to New Hampshire and get active.

Once 20,000 is reached this week, the early mover phase ends and the official move begins. The 20k will have a five year window to get here and get active.

I’ve you wanted to wait until the last minute to see if we’d make the goal, it’s now the last minute. It’s clear now at around 50 signers per day, the FSP is happening! Don’t miss out on helping make history. If you love liberty, you should join the Free State Project now and start planning your move!

If you thought the activism here was awesome and record-setting, you are right, but just wait until thousands more join us! The fun has just gotten started. As shown clearly in the excellent documentary, “101 Reasons Liberty Lives in New Hampshire“, we have a liberty community unlike anywhere else in the world.

Questions still remain. What will happen to the FSP organization after the 20k goal is reached? Will they continue to recruit signers past the goal? Will the organization dissolve after five years? Stay tuned here to Free Keene for the latest on the coming mass migration of liberty activists to the Shire.

http://freekeene.com/2016/01/31/free-state-project-reaches-99-of-goal-to-complete-this-week/

[TheTexan]

Big influx. Uh huh. Yep. Sure.

Pretty sure most people's plans have changed, it's been a decade since they signed up...

[jct74]

//

[Ronin Truth]

When does the influx bus arrive?

[Indy Vidual]

Libertarians are likely to keep their word and honor the pledge, so this is great news.

[phill4paul]

Then, a five-year countdown begins for its libertarian participants to hold up their end of the bargain.

Good luck with that.

[jct74]

Big influx. Uh huh. Yep. Sure.

Pretty sure most people's plans have changed, it's been a decade since they signed up...

Yes, it's been a decade since some of them have signed up. A lot of the pledges have come recently though when they started a new advertising campaign, and over the past few years. But yeah, not all of them will actually move. Perhaps not even a majority of the pledges. The FSP founder Jason Sorens says he expects one third of the 20,000 pledges to actually follow through.



When does the influx bus arrive?

Over the next five years.

[jct74]

Why Libertarians Are (Still) Plotting to Take Over New Hampshire
After 15 years, a plan to create a small-government utopia inches a little closer to reality.

By Madison Pauly
Feb. 1, 2016 6:00 AM EST

On February 18, hundreds of libertarians will flock to the Radisson Hotel in Manchester, New Hampshire, for the ninth annual Liberty Forum, a four-day conference featuring presentations on topics such as religious freedom, school choice, and "Anarchy: Dressing for Success." A big draw will be Edward Snowden's keynote speech, delivered over a live video stream. As the exiled NSA whistleblower speaks, conference goers may mull their own flight from government oppression—not to Russia, but to the haven of New Hampshire.

The Free State Project, which runs the Liberty Forum, has spent 15 years trying to recruit 20,000 libertarian-minded activists to take up residence in the Granite State. By accruing a critical mass of small-government advocates in a state with just 1.3 million people, the project seeks to exert substantial influence on state politics to create a utopia of social liberties and deregulated markets. Those who sign the Free State pledge promise to make the move to New Hampshire once 20,000 participants have signed up. Now, with 19,858 signers, the project's organizers say they are finally recruiting the last of those volunteers.

However, the organizers readily admit they don't know how many of the would-be Free Staters will actually come to New Hampshire. "That is the million-dollar question," says Free State Project president Carla Gericke. "It's all speculative at this stage." The most fervent believers are likely already in the state. Free State Project founder Jason Sorens says he expects about a third of the remaining signers to move. The group plans to track down those who may have forgotten and nudge them with direct mail, phone calls, and email reminders about their commitment.

...

read more:
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/02/libertarians-new-hampshire-free-state

[fcreature]

I really don't think anyone is going to do this. Hell, I pledged but it's been 8 years and I can tell you right now there is about a 1% chance I'll be able to hold myself true to that pledge. Circumstances change over a decade.

[jct74]

I really don't think anyone is going to do this. Hell, I pledged but it's been 8 years and I can tell you right now there is about a 1% chance I'll be able to hold myself true to that pledge. Circumstances change over a decade.

If they can get just 10%, or 2,000 of the people who pledged to follow through, that will double the number of Free Staters currently there. And the Free Staters there have already had a significant impact. Currently 20 to 30 new Free Staters are moving to NH every month according to the OP article, and they haven't even hit the pledge goal yet. The FSP founder says he expects one third of the 20,000 to follow through.

Do they give you the ability to rescind the pledge BTW? You should probably do that if you now think there is only a 1% chance you will follow through.

[phill4paul]

If they can get just 10%, or 2,000 of the people who pledged to follow through, that will double the number of Free Staters currently there. And the Free Staters there have already had a significant impact. Currently 20 to 30 new Free Staters are moving to NH every month according to the OP article, and they haven't even hit the pledge goal yet. The FSP founder says he expects one third of the 20,000 to follow through.

Do they give you the ability to rescind the pledge BTW? You should probably do that if you now think there is only a 1% chance you will follow through.

I'd say 10% is a reasonable expectation.

[Thor]

As more and more Free Staters show up, and more and more get elected locally and they start really changing things (they have already to some degree), more and more like minded people will probably follow to be where freedom and liberty are greater, and the momentum will grow and grow...

I remember when the project was launched. I had high hopes for it then, and still do today. Just not sure NH is where I want to be. Wyoming I think was second choice if I remember correctly.

[NoOneButPaul]

Big influx. Uh huh. Yep. Sure.

Pretty sure most people's plans have changed, it's been a decade since they signed up...

Ill be the first to admit I signed up about 4 years ago and since then I quit my terrible job, moved from Chicago to Denver, and now i'm growing Marijuana for a living.

Unless they're going to legalize it I don't see myself holding up my end of the bargain. Sorry, FSP.

[jct74]

Free State Project Participants: It's Time to Move to New Hampshire For Real!
The plan to relocate 20,000 libertarians to New Hampshire "triggers" its commitment, as 20,000 people have now pledged.

Brian Doherty
Feb. 2, 2016 8:40 pm

The Free State Project (FSP) is dedicated to moving 20,000 libertarian-minded folk to gather together in one small-ish state, New Hampshire, with the hope that they will shift the political culture of the place toward freedom. It has been gathering commitments to move since 2004.

Since the power of numbers thing only works if everyone can be encouraged to all do it more or less at once, the FSP "statement of intent," committed signers to all actually moving if 20,000 people all signed up, to avoid them having to waste their time if they came to the freedom party nearly alone. An interesting way to solve the "no, you go first" problem with these sort of group endeavors. It was a clever idea. And it worked.

That 20,000 signers goal has now been reached, as FSP founder Jason Sorens and current president Carla Gericke will be announcing at a press conference tomorrow morning at 11 a.m. eastern at the Radisson in Manchester, NH. (Just a month ago Nick Gillespie reported about them hitting the 90 percent mark.) This makes FSP "the most successful intentional migration movement in American history," as they stated in a press release this afternoon.

That release goes on to explain why this accomplishment should be of interest to those wanting to see even localized libertarian change in these here United States:

...

read more:
http://reason.com/blog/2016/02/02/free-state-project-participants-its-time

[Thor]

Ill be the first to admit I signed up about 4 years ago and since then I quit my terrible job, moved from Chicago to Denver, and now i'm growing Marijuana for a living.

Unless they're going to legalize it I don't see myself holding up my end of the bargain. Sorry, FSP.

And as more and more move there and take office, it will be legalized...

[jct74]

Could the Free State project succeed after all?

Sentinel Editorial
January 22, 2016 12:00 pm

Fifteen years in the making, the Free State Project is close to getting its 20,000th pledge to move to the Granite State. The number is impressive, but that’s not its main significance. According to the plan, the brainchild of political scientist Jason Sorens, that 20,000-member threshold should trigger a mass migration of libertarians to the Granite State.

...

It may be that the project will never achieve enough influence to make much of a difference in turning New Hampshire — already an ill-funded, small-government operation — into a libertarian utopia. Granite State lawmakers, we suspect, would be somewhat reluctant to slash services voters have come to expect just to satisfy a small minority.

However, we wouldn’t count out the effort, either. Even the level of engagement the current Free Staters here have shown is impressive.

Sorens told the Monitor there are 18 Free Staters in the N.H. House — 5 percent of that body. That’s a hefty ratio for the size of the group, with roughly 1 in 100 Free Staters serving in the Legislature. Overall, about 1 in 2,830 Granite Staters serves in either the House or Senate.

The group has also attacked the status quo in other ways, protesting to call attention to instances in which members believe the state oversteps, and challenging state and local laws and tax levies. The results of those actions have been mixed, particularly in Keene, but every success brings the project closer to its goal.

...

read more:
http://www.sentinelsource.com/opinion/editorial/could-the-free-state-project-succeed-after-all/article_f494b09e-7d91-5b22-9929-7086b4f046d2.html

[BamaAla]

I'm cheering for them. Can't say that I would move to N.H., but I really do hope they're successful.

[Cabal]

As more and more Free Staters show up, and more and more get elected locally and they start really changing things (they have already to some degree), more and more like minded people will probably follow to be where freedom and liberty are greater, and the momentum will grow and grow...

I remember when the project was launched. I had high hopes for it then, and still do today. Just not sure NH is where I want to be. Wyoming I think was second choice if I remember correctly.

This sounds like a reasonable assumption to me. A lot of people are probably doubtful about whether or not it is actually worth it to uproot themselves, but if there is real, practical evidence of local success to show them, they will be much more likely to be willing. As well, as it becomes larger, and more influential, its broader appeal will inevitably grow, thus acquiring more, and more interest and movers. This all assumes it can produce the practical evidence of success though. Getting over that first hurdle will be the biggest obstacle, I suspect.

NH wouldn't be my first choice either, but the NE isn't all bad. I lived in Connecticut for a couple years as a kid, in a relatively small town. Fond memories, and the scenery was quite nice as well.

[PRB]

15 years later :

Ron Paul ran for President twice
Patriot groups grew under Obama for 8 years
Four states of legalized marijuana
All states are forced to recognize gay marriage
Liberty Dollar creator in prison
Not a single state seceded
3D printing, bitcoin, dark web expanding every day

So, good luck with a "free state project"

[Southron]

People move all the time for a bigger paycheck. I don't see why moving for something like this would be so difficult for most.

[Mani]

I'm surprised the free staters haven't made more headway with this.

I didn't know NH was the only state in the New England that had jail time for simple possession of any amount.

http://www.thedailychronic.net/2015/51378/new-hampshire-marijuana-legalization-bill-filed-for-2016/


CONCORD, NH — A bill to allow adults 21 or older to legally possess up to two ounces of marijuana in New Hampshire has been pre-filed for the upcoming 2016 legislative session.

House Bill 1610 is sponsored by Reps. Michael Sylvia (R-Belknap) and Robert Hull (R-Grafton).

If passed, the bill would allow adults 21 or older to possess up to two ounces of marijuana, grow up to six cannabis plants (three of which may be mature), and give up to one ounce of marijuana to another adult without financial compensation.

As written, the bill does not authorize retail marijuana sales, similar to a law passed in Washington DC in 2014.

Despite the lack of establishing a retail marijuana industry, this bill is an important piece of legislation in a state who’s motto is “Live Free or Die” but is the only New England state where simple possession of marijuana remains a crime. Police in New Hampshire arrest some 2,900 individuals annually for simple marijuana possession offenses, according to NORML.

Possession of any amount of marijuana in New Hampshire is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $2,000. Recent attempts to decriminalize marijuana possession, replacing criminal penalties with a fine-only violation, have passed in the House but were defeated in the Senate, including measures in 2014 and 2015.

Recent polls have found strong support for legalizing marijuana in New Hampshire, including a July 2015 poll that found 60% of Granite State voters in favor of legalization.

New Hampshire residents are urged to contact their state representatives in advance of the 2016 legislative session and ask them to support this legislation. If you are a registered New Hampshire voter, you can contact your representatives via NORML’s website.

[bunklocoempire]

Resist the best way that you can.

[timosman]

Resist the best way that you can.

Resist we much - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CifYWxJXaI

[JenH88]

Do they give you the ability to rescind the pledge BTW? You should probably do that if you now think there is only a 1% chance you will follow through.

The few times i helped gather signatures for the FSP we were encouraged to get people to sign "even if they werent sure" because the pledges would get us closer to our goal and encourage others to make the leap. From what i understood the pledge was always more of an "i intend to move to NH if possible" instead of an "im absolutely moving" type thing.

I love part of the FSP crowd and have some dear friends up there.. i just wish more of them were serious about being involved politically instead of arguing that any voting is an endorsement for statism.

[IDefendThePlatform]

This is really great news. It also makes it more worthwhile for libertarian type presidential candidates to be more bold. The first in the nation primary is in a state with a high concentration of fairly hardcore liberty types. And yes some of them don't do politics, but Ron got a solid 2nd place and 21% in 2012, versus Rands poll numbers being in the single digits before he withdrew.

New Hampshire hope for liberty. I won't be moving but I've donated to the FSP in the past and I'm sure I will in the future as well.

[Suzanimal]

If NH weren't so cold, I would move in next to donna and get her hooked on Franzia. :)

[Anti Federalist]

If NH weren't so cold, I would move in next to donna and get her hooked on Franzia. :)

She'll drink To-Kill-Ya Sunrises and Moscow Mules.

Cold? Pffft...that's what sex and warm clothes are for.

NH is a beautiful state, been here almost 15 years and over 20 in northern New England, and I encourage anybody that even is remotely considering the FSP to come on up.

Carve yourself a little piece of freedom in an unfree world.

[fr33]

I'd rather move to Wyoming or Montana. Away from all the people rather than towards them.

[TheTexan]

People move all the time for a bigger paycheck. I don't see why moving for something like this would be so difficult for most.

the best way for FSP to work is to focus on a small town first and work your way out from there, but any town small enough to take over would be too shitty for anyone to want to move there to begin with.

[jct74]

Free State Project ‘Triggers the Move’: 20,000 Libertarians to Move to New Hampshire in Next 5 Years

What kind of impact will 20,000 liberty-loving people make when they move to a small state, like New Hampshire? The country will soon find out.

MANCHESTER, NH (PRWEB) FEBRUARY 03, 2016: As of today, The Free State Project is the most successful intentional migration movement in American history. This is because today the organization has announced that 20,000 participants have signed the Statement of Intent to move to New Hampshire, where they will “exert their fullest practical effort toward the creation of a society in which the maximum role of government is the protection of individuals’ rights to life, liberty and property.”

The 20,000 mark is significant, because it ‘triggers the move’ – the mass migration of the Free State Project participants who have all agreed to move to New Hampshire within the next five years. So far, almost 2,000 have already relocated to the state.

“In the last few months, using various social media targeting tools, we expanded our audience and a significant number of new people signed the pledge,” says Carla Gericke, President of the Free State Project. “Early movers have already made their mark on the Granite State by passing life-saving drug reform legislation, expanding school choice and protecting first amendment rights – this has drawn in a whole new crowd of participants. Just imagine what can be accomplished with 10 times as many people.”

Since the first early movers flocked to New Hampshire, Free State Project participants have followed their individual passions to the center of some of the state’s most contentious political fights. They were instrumental in organizing resistance to Real ID in 2008, legalizing same-sex marriage through the legislature in 2009, and establishing a medical cannabis program in 2013.

The Free State Project started in 2001 with an essay by Jason Sorens, who was then a graduate student at Yale. Sorens, who is now a lecturer at Dartmouth College, theorized that if 20,000 committed activists moved to a single state with a small enough population, they could push policy and culture in a more free, open direction. In 2003, early participants chose New Hampshire as the state to migrate to. Now that the move has been triggered, the Free State Project will continue the effort to attract more participants, and inspire signers to move to the Live Free or Die state sooner rather than later.

"I'm thrilled by how far the Free State Project has come since the essay I wrote 15 years ago. Freedom lovers from around the country have turned concept into reality by moving to New Hampshire and building all kinds of exciting efforts to secure liberty and prosperity for all--efforts I could never have imagined back in 2001. Good ideas are powerful, and the idea of freedom is spurring many thousands of Americans to commit to move to the Granite State for a better life."

This news comes on the heels of the announcement that NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden will be the headline speaker at the Free State Project’s 9th annual Liberty Forum, held in Manchester, New Hampshire from February 18-21.

“This is the culmination of over a decade of grassroots and volunteer work, and I am thrilled to be announcing that the Free State Project has surpassed the 20,000 signer mark,” says Gericke. “Early movers are bringing their businesses, families and charities with them to New Hampshire – not to mention disposable income. So far we’ve purchased more than $30 million in real estate alone, and I can’t wait to see what kind of larger impact will be made as a result of individual efforts within this growing and thriving community.”

The Free State Project will hold a press conference to announce this news at 11AM on February 3 in the Frost Room of the Radisson Hotel in Manchester, NH. If you’d like to reserve a media pass for the press conference, or want to interview Carla Gericke or Jason Sorens, please contact Brinck Slattery at brinck(at)contentfac(dot)com or at (603) 703-2846.

https://freestateproject.org/blogs/press-releases/free-state-project-%E2%80%98triggers-move%E2%80%99-20000-libertarians-move-new-hampshire-next-5

[TheTexan]

Free State Project ‘Triggers the Move’: 20,000 Libertarians to Move to New Hampshire in Next 5 Years

Yep, I'm gonna get right on that

[jct74]

Yep, I'm gonna get right on that

Well you have 5 years to fulfill the pledge if you signed it, so no hurry really.

Serious question (seeking non-sarcastic answer) - Isn't the Free State Project something that anarchists such as yourself enthusiastically support? I would think so with all the civil disobedience and other non-voting political activism that the Free Staters engage in.

[TheTexan]

Well you have 5 years to fulfill the pledge if you signed it, so no hurry really.

Serious question (seeking non-sarcastic answer) - Isn't the Free State Project something that anarchists such as yourself enthusiastically support? I would think so with all the civil disobedience and other non-voting political activities that the Free Staters engage in.

When a project has failed, it's best to learn your lessons from it and move on.


Part of being a winner is knowing when enough is enough. Sometimes you have to give up the fight and walk away, and move on to something that's more productive.

[jct74]

When a project has failed, it's best to learn your lessons from it and move on.

I wasn't aware it failed and you're the first person I've heard make that claim.

[jct74]

VIDEO: Free State Project Officially Announces 20,000 Signers – 100% Reached

by Ian
Feb 3, 2016

Nearly one hundred liberty-loving early movers were in attendance for the press conference this morning held by the Free State Project at the Radisson in Manchester. FSP founder Jason Sorens spoke on the creation of the FSP and why the first 5,000 participants chose New Hampshire as the destination. Jason said,


“The free state project is working because it gives people hope”

That’s definitely true for me. When I moved here as an early mover for the FSP in 2006 I was pretty angry about the government. I felt very lonely in Florida, with little more than a handful of libertarians in the area. Now there are more liberty-minded people living at my intersection in Keene than there were in the entire city where I’m from.

With over 1,600 having moved across NH from all around the globe as early movers, (the official FSP move begins today) and having a major impact, it’s clear that there is hope for liberty here in the Shire. I’m not angry anymore and haven’t been for many years. I expect other libertarians who feel isolated or cornered where they live will have a similar transition when they are surrounded by people who actually care about liberty and are willing to do something about it. It’s quite encouraging to be here. Here’s the full video of the press conference:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcTnxW-8Ptk


After Jason Sorens’ speech, FSP president Carla Gericke got up to address the crowd and journalists in the room, officially announcing that the FSP has reached its goal of 20,000 liberty-minded folks signing and promising to move to New Hampshire within five years of today, Feb 3rd, 2016. It’s now been dubbed “Porcupine Day”, and happens right after Groundhog Day. (The porcupine is the mascot of the FSP.) Once here, the FSP movers are to put forth the maximum practical effort to achieve liberty in our lifetime. Carla explained to the audience what it took to get the project to completion, including a sustained, expensive ad campaign on Facebook, for which much credit was given to Vince Perfetto who is well known in the NH liberty community as the producer of the excellent documentary, “101 Reasons Liberty Lives in New Hampshire“.

All the speakers touched on various successes of early movers, especially within the political system. It’s clear that the FSP’s early movers have had more political successes in a decade than the libertarian party has ever had, nationwide, in forty years.

To the surprise of some in the crowd, Carla did announce that the FSP would continue to accept signers, as their goal now is to ensure 20,000 libertarians make the move here. She promised that more on the future of the Free State Project as an organization will be announced at the upcoming convention thrown yearly by the FSP, “Liberty Forum“, happening 2/18-2/21 (also held at the Radisson in Manchester).

The speakers answered several questions from the audience, including on the common objections to the FSP from libertarians considering a move. Of course, one of the most popular being that, “it’s cold in NH”. Ultimately, the panel of speakers, which included Porcfest organizer Matt Philips, agreed that the cold temperatures keep away the fairweather activists and the talkers. We get the best activists here in NH as a result of this natural filtering process. Plus, the weather also keeps out statists, though it was pointed out that it was in the 50s today in February, historically the coldest of all twelve months in NH.

With nearly 10% here for the FSP already (1600+ movers plus nearly 300 FSPers who were here at the time of the vote), it’s clear to anyone paying attention that New Hampshire is the best destination for libertarians and voluntarists who are willing to get active rather than just complain. Start making your plans to move – the fun’s just getting started. Stay tuned here to Free Keene for the latest from across the Shire!

http://freekeene.com/2016/02/03/video-free-state-project-officially-announces-20000-signers-100-reached/

[jct74]

Free State Project reaches milestone
20,000 'liberty' people pledge to move to NH

By Brian Early
Feb. 3, 2016 at 8:01 PM

MANCHESTER — The Free State Project, the political migration organization that seeks liberty-minded people to relocate to New Hampshire, reached its goal Tuesday of gathering 20,000 signers who pledge to move to the state within five years of reaching the 20,000 milestone.

Free State Project President Carla Gericke announced the 20,000th signer at a press conference at the Radisson Hotel in downtown Manchester Wednesday morning, as many Free Staters traveled to the city to celebrate the event, which is to "trigger the move."

The pledge that 20,000 people have signed states, “I hereby state my solemn intent to move to New Hampshire within five years of the Free State Project reaching 20,000 participants. Once there, I will exert the fullest practical effort toward the creation of a society in which the maximum role of government is the protection of individuals' rights to life, liberty and property.”

Gericke said in an impromptu speech Tuesday evening at an FSP moving party, “We believe in peace, we believe in prosperity, we believe in making everyone’s lives better, we just don’t agree with the way it’s being done." Moving parties are among the various support networks FSP participants have created to assist others with moving into the state. It serves as a sort of welcome wagon to new participants into a new community.

“It’s really an exciting time for me personally,” Gericke said in an interview after the press conference. “I feel proud to have accomplished this historic thing.”

...

read more:
http://www.seacoastonline.com/article/20160203/NEWS/160209706

[jct74]

20,000 Libertarians Pledge To Move to the 'Free State' of New Hampshire


DANIEL OBERHAUS
February 7, 2016

The Free State Project, a Libertarian organization that wants to spark an exodus to New Hampshire, announced Wednesday that it had collected 20,000 signatories who pledged to move to the state within five years. The announcement comes nearly two years after the organization began a Trigger the Move campaign, which sought to get 20,000 people to move to the community.

...

In the 13 years since its founding, the group has made large strides toward establishing its libertarian utopia. This is most noticeable in the group’s widespread adoption of Bitcoin, which has earned the state the unofficial moniker of “Bitcoin Capital of America.” Self-identified Free Staters in New Hampshire launched Lamassu, one of the most popular Bitcoin ATMs, in 2013. SatoshiDice, the Bitcoin gambling website, was also launched out of New Hampshire in 2012 by Bitcoin mogul and Free Stater Erik Vorhees.

Although both of these Bitcoin businesses have been forced out of the US by various regulatory agencies, the Free State Project hopes to garner enough influence in New Hampshire politics to make the state more friendly to liberty-minded businesses. They seem to be well on their way to this goal, with 16 Free State Project members now serving in the state’s House of Representatives.

“Only 3,000 to 4,000 movers would be enough of an activist base to match anything that any of the other ideological factions in the state can muster, maybe even all of them put together,” said Jason Sorens, a professor of government at Dartmouth College and the founder of the Free State Project. “20,000 movers could turn New Hampshire into the Switzerland of North America.“

The group has attracted the attention of high profile politicians and activists, including Edward Snowden who is scheduled for a live video conference at the group’s Liberty Forum to be held later this month. Unsurprisingly, not everyone in New Hampshire is happy with the Free Stater’s plans to turn the state into a libertarian utopia.

...

read more:
http://motherboard.vice.com/read/20000-libertarians-pledge-to-move-to-the-free-state-of-new-hampshire

[jct74]

A group of libertarians has been plotting to take over New Hampshire for years—and now they’re closer than ever

by Kashmir Hill
February 8, 2016 5:52 p.m.

Fifteen years ago, a 24-year-old Yale graduate student proposed a radical experiment for those who are not huge fans of the government. He suggested that a large group of libertarians in the U.S. all move to a single small state and, essentially, take over that state’s culture and government to make it friendlier toward the free market. He named this plan the “Free State Project.”

The state the project chose was New Hampshire. Rather than just hoping libertarians would slowly move there over time, the FSP decided they’d have a pledge process. Those devoted to a more-limited government would promise to move to New Hampshire once their pledge reached 20,000 signatures. The signatures came trickling in over the years, but in the last four months, the number of people signing up for the move accelerated rapidly. It took 15 years for the movement to attract 18,000 signers, but it got 2,500 just in the last few months.

“We started doing Facebook ads,” explained Free State Project president Carla Gericke by phone. She says they A/B tested different ads and found that this one, targeted at people who supported Ron Paul, who looked like people who liked their Facebook page, or who self-identified as libertarians, had a strong conversion rate:

...

read more:
http://fusion.net/story/265808/free-state-project-move-trigger-20000-people/

[jct74]

Free State Project - Is It Happening?



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrykyhuCtTc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrykyhuCtTc



The Free State Project announced today that it has achieved the threshold of 20,000 pledges to move to New Hampshire in hopes of creating a more libertarian society. What's the project all about and does it have a chance of succeeding?

[jct74]

New Hampshire's Free State Project Eschews Presidential Primaries While Changing State Politics

Anthony L. Fisher
Feb. 9, 2016 11:34 am

This past weekend, a group of about 100 members of the Free State Project (FSP) gathered for one of their regular meetings in Manchester, New Hampshire. But this particular confab was different, because it was held just days after FSP hit its more-than-a-decade-in-the-making target to get 20,000 liberty-inclined citizens to pledge to move to New Hampshire in the hopes of creating a significant political force in the Live Free or Die State. While over 2,000 Free Staters have already moved to New Hampshire, the rest of the signers will begin migrating over the next few years.

As Brian Doherty noted after the milestone was reached last week, FSP already has a long list of accomplishments in the state, including "getting 15 of their brethren in the state House, challenging anti-ridehail laws, fighting in court for outre religious liberty, winning legal battles over taping cops, being mocked by Colbert for heroically paying off people's parking meters, hosting cool anything goes festivals for libertarians, nullifying pot juries, and inducing occasional pants-wetting absurd paranoia in local statists."

Though the first-in-the-nation presidential primaries were just days away and hundreds of journalists had been hovering for weeks around the mostly quiet northern New England communities, few of the Free Staters I spoke with had a preferred presidential candidate, if they even were interested in voting at all.

One Free Stater who moved from Dallas in 2009, Rep. Amanda Bouldin, is now a state legislator (and a registered Democrat to boot), representing 3,300 people in the Manchester area. She says she's voting for Vermin Supreme, the black boot-headed performance artist who is also a presidential candidate on the Democratic ballot.

Like most of the Free Staters we spoke with, Bouldin is disinterested in the dog-and-pony show of the presidential pageant, but as legislator, she's not at all cynical about the political process. She was one of the driving forces behind a bill that made Narcan, a drug that reverses the effects of a heroin overdose, legally available to anyone with a prescription. Previously, Narcan was only available to EMTs and police officers in New Hampshire.

...

read more:
http://reason.com/blog/2016/02/09/new-hampshire-free-staters-presidential

[osan]

read more:
http://www.concordmonitor.com/home/20557462-95/free-state-project-nears-20000-signers-setting-stage-for-libertarian-influx

Well, I hope they succeed, but I remain doubtful. I was one of the early signers and life has taken its turns since that day. I am vested in my life in WV and will not be moving to NH, a bastion of liberalism.
R fif
I would also point out that the liberal flakes in NH appear to hate the free-staters with some venom. Given this, 20k people will have quite the uphill battle, and likely for a very long time in an environment of strident liberalism that will do everything to stop them. I would further point out the significant likelihood that the status of America will be settled long before and by means very different from that envisioned by these well intending sorts. I doubt that we will have twenty or fifty years to correct that which needs correction.

The likelihood I see is that FSP is too little, WAY too late. Hope I am mistaken.

[brandon]

Yeah... I signed this pledge 9 years ago when I was a young guy not tied down anywhere. Now I'm married and own a house - no chance I can still go to NH (Or even really want to) at this point. I wonder how many of the 20k signatures are in the same place as me.

[NoOneButPaul]

Well, I hope they succeed, but I remain doubtful. I was one of the early signers and life has taken its turns since that day. I am vested in my life in WV and will not be moving to NH, a bastion of liberalism.
R fif
I would also point out that the liberal flakes in NH appear to hate the free-staters with some venom. Given this, 20k people will have quite the uphill battle, and likely for a very long time in an environment of strident liberalism that will do everything to stop them. I would further point out the significant likelihood that the status of America will be settled long before and by means very different from that envisioned by these well intending sorts. I doubt that we will have twenty or fifty years to correct that which needs correction.

The likelihood I see is that FSP is too little, WAY too late. Hope I am mistaken.

Like I said on the other page I love my job and Denver. If the FSP wants to get me a job making at least 36k a year and a place to move into right away I suppose i'd consider it but the bottom line is many of us signed this when we were young (I was 22) and the idea we're all going to uproot now is absurd. I'm glad they hit 20k but knowing i'm one of those people, and many others in the same position are as well, tells me this wont amount to much.

I also feel like as awesome as New Hampshire is Montana, Idaho, or Wyoming would have made the better pick for this idea. The FSP has been doing nothing but fighting the socialists there since they emerged. There's a lot more space in the Northwest and not very many people...

[IDefendThePlatform]

Well, I hope they succeed, but I remain doubtful. I was one of the early signers and life has taken its turns since that day. I am vested in my life in WV and will not be moving to NH, a bastion of liberalism.
R fif
I would also point out that the liberal flakes in NH appear to hate the free-staters with some venom. Given this, 20k people will have quite the uphill battle, and likely for a very long time in an environment of strident liberalism that will do everything to stop them. I would further point out the significant likelihood that the status of America will be settled long before and by means very different from that envisioned by these well intending sorts. I doubt that we will have twenty or fifty years to correct that which needs correction.

The likelihood I see is that FSP is too little, WAY too late. Hope I am mistaken.

Currently seccession seems unlikely but if the federal government goes bankrupt or the dollar collapses and state governments become more prominent it certainly seems possible Libertarianism could be positioned to thrive in New Hampshire. Especially if it's inhabited by an extra 8-10k liberty activists.

[Thor]

Like I said on the other page I love my job and Denver. If the FSP wants to get me a job making at least 36k a year and a place to move into right away I suppose i'd consider it but the bottom line is many of us signed this when we were young (I was 22) and the idea we're all going to uproot now is absurd. I'm glad they hit 20k but knowing i'm one of those people, and many others in the same position are as well, tells me this wont amount to much.

I also feel like as awesome as New Hampshire is Montana, Idaho, or Wyoming would have made the better pick for this idea. The FSP has been doing nothing but fighting the socialists there since they emerged. There's a lot more space in the Northwest and not very many people...


Well, I hope they succeed, but I remain doubtful. I was one of the early signers and life has taken its turns since that day. I am vested in my life in WV and will not be moving to NH, a bastion of liberalism.
R fif
I would also point out that the liberal flakes in NH appear to hate the free-staters with some venom. Given this, 20k people will have quite the uphill battle, and likely for a very long time in an environment of strident liberalism that will do everything to stop them. I would further point out the significant likelihood that the status of America will be settled long before and by means very different from that envisioned by these well intending sorts. I doubt that we will have twenty or fifty years to correct that which needs correction.

The likelihood I see is that FSP is too little, WAY too late. Hope I am mistaken.


I always thought... Wyoming for the win...

[Uriel999]

I signed to join the FSP I guess now 8 years ago...I am finally moving to NH probably next month...and the FSP has nothing to do with it....lol, life and stuff....

[osan]

Currently seccession seems unlikely but if the federal government goes bankrupt or the dollar collapses and state governments become more prominent it certainly seems possible Libertarianism could be positioned to thrive in New Hampshire. Especially if it's inhabited by an extra 8-10k liberty activists.

NH has almost 1.4 million people in it. 10K activists are not going to do squat.

If the dollar collapses, we will either retreat into feudalism or the vast hordes of liberals will be so shit-scared that they will jump to virtually any order issued by government in exchange for food. I hold little doubt that, given the choice of getting on board with the agenda or remaining impassive, they would take up arms and kill every free-stater without hesitation when ordered. The average man has no sand.

I maintain that nary an American is even remotely aware of just how precarious is our position in the scheme of political things.

[Uriel999]

NH has almost 1.4 million people in it. 10K activists are not going to do squat.

If the dollar collapses, we will either retreat into feudalism or the vast hordes of liberals will be so shit-scared that they will jump to virtually any order issued by government in exchange for food. I hold little doubt that, given the choice of getting on board with the agenda or remaining impassive, they would take up arms and kill every free-stater without hesitation when ordered. The average man has no sand.

I maintain that nary an American is even remotely aware of just how precarious is our position in the scheme of political things.

There is a problem with that line of thought though...the liberals don't have guns, and even if they all got one tomorrow have no training with them because they think they are icky.

[CaptUSA]

So, they are saying today in the media that the FSP went for Trump.

Please tell me this isn't true.

If it is, then I question the whole premise.

[Todd]

So, they are saying today in the media that the FSP went for Trump.

Please tell me this isn't true.

If it is, then I question the whole premise.

Yep. How free can a state be where Trump trounced? Even if the state has a million libertarians, apparently they don't vote or are not very involved.

Go to Montana

[Badger Paul]

It's not just those who officially signed up. It's those liberty-minded people who didn't sign up but move there anyways because it's the place to go for what they want to be, that's what makes the transformation.

[Peace&Freedom]

About 230,000 voted in NH yesterday on both the GOP and Democratic side. If 15,000 or so of those libertarians, who are already activist minded to the point of relocating, regularly vote once there, they add a 5% presence that can swing a close primary more libertarian. If a NH (or MA, ME, VT) liberty candidate runs we could win the first major Presidential primary based on the favorite son factor alone.

[brandon]

About 230,000 voted in NH yesterday on both the GOP and Democratic side. If 15,000 or so of those libertarians, who are already activist minded to the point of relocating, regularly vote once there, they add a 5% presence that can swing a close primary more libertarian. If a NH (or MA, ME, VT) liberty candidate runs we could win the first major Presidential primary based on the favorite son factor alone.

So Rand would have got like 8% instead of 3%? I'm pretty sure a large portion of free staters are ideologically opposed to voting anyway.

[Seraphim]

I may actually move to NH at some point.

[jct74]

Live free, or try
New Hampshire’s Free State Project reaches critical mass

From the print edition
Feb 13th 2016

AFTER successful careers in engineering, Dan and Carol McGuire could have pursued retirements of highbrow ease—the couple’s interests range from American history to collecting modern art. Instead they moved across the country from Washington state in response to an essay by a young libertarian, Jason Sorens, arguing that if enough believers in limited government moved to a single state (ideally one with a small population and a “live and let live” ethos), they could exert real influence.

That essay spawned the “Free State Project” (FSP), whose early members voted to make New Hampshire their testbed. This was a nod to the state’s modest scale, its culture of Yankee self-reliance and low taxes, and its unusually accessible political system, starting with the state’s House of Representatives, whose 400 members answer to a few thousand constituents each, and are paid $100 a year. The FSP devised a pledge for activists to sign, by which they agreed to move to New Hampshire if 19,999 other libertarians made the same commitment. Once that critical mass was reached, FSP members pledged to make their own trek within five years. The FSP announced on February 3rd that the 20,000 target has been reached.

In the past decade 2,000 pioneers could not wait and moved anyway. A total of about 40 Free Staters have been elected to New Hampshire’s statehouse at various points, among them the McGuires, husband-and-wife Republican legislators who represent overlapping districts. Free Staters have helped to legalise gay marriage and ease rules on everything from home schooling to selling unpasteurised milk.

...

read more:
http://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21692908-new-hampshires-free-state-project-reaches-critical-mass-live-free-or-try

[Anti Federalist]

So Rand would have got like 8% instead of 3%? I'm pretty sure a large portion of free staters are ideologically opposed to voting anyway.

Had Rand been more like his dad, he would have won NH.

And no, a critical plank of the FSP idea is to vote fellow FSP folks into office, which we have.

[jct74]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjD5Fu-X_rE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjD5Fu-X_rE

[ChristianAnarchist]

I signed at least 5 years back but I don't know if I can make the move in 5 years due to our ties to the community we are in. I am going to try to get moved in the next five...

[Anti Federalist]

I signed at least 5 years back but I don't know if I can make the move in 5 years due to our ties to the community we are in. I am going to try to get moved in the next five...

I've been here (in NH) almost 15 years now, and have no plans on ever leaving.

If there is any advice, tips, info or help I can give to assist, let me know.

[jct74]

New website created for assisting new Free Staters and connecting them with the Free State community.



FSPmovers.com Launches: Future of the Free State Project

February 1, 2016


Hello world!

Welcome to FSPMovers.com! My name is Randy Clemens, and together with multimedia master JJ Epic, we’ve launched this new site in February 2016 to coincide with the Free State Project reaching its goal of 20,000 libertarians pledging to move to New Hampshire for liberty. That has now “Triggered the Move”, and those 20,000 signatories are slated to relocate to NH within the next five years, though close to 2,000 individuals couldn’t wait that long and are already here, actively working toward creating a truly free society.

Since moving to Manchester, NH from Los Angeles, I’ve been blown away by the countless amazing projects, businesses, and activities created by the FSP Early Movers, who’ve come here from all walks of life. A few of these volunteer-driven initiatives and programs inspired me so much, that I knew I had to share them with the world in the hopes that others would find inspiration in them as well. And I wanted to make it my mission to not just highlight the programs, but also the FSP movers that make each of them possible. Regular, everyday folks like you and me who couldn’t hide from their calling to step up and be a leader.


First FSP Movers videos

In addition to sharing the latest and greatest news happening in the NH liberty community, we’ll also be working to capture and publish media, chronicling the sea of change brought on now that the Free State Project’s move was triggered in February 2016. The first three FSP Mover videos we decided to create center on several incredible voluntaryist community-building initiatives that continue to amaze me more and more each day:

Community Market Day Project — Community Market Day connects liberty-lovers who are looking to engage in voluntary exchange of products and services! It’s here that you’ll find your friends and neighbors bartering and selling handmade soaps, jewelry, crochet/knit goods, organic bulk pantry items, natural household cleaning products, gluten-free baked goods, along with homegrown meats, eggs, produce, and more! Clothing alterations, chiropractic treatments, hypnotherapy, yoga, and therapeutic massage are additional services that can often be found at Community Market Day events!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uoprj2mW1x8


Welcome Wagon & Porc Buddy Program — Moving to New Hampshire for the Free State Project and want help unpacking?! The Welcome Wagon for New Movers would love to help! Tell us what day you’re moving to NH, provide pizza & beverages, and you’ll have a group of FSP Welcome Wagon volunteers to help unload your moving truck in record time! Want to learn more about the New Hampshire area you’re moving to before you arrive? Get assigned a Porc Buddy: your one-on-one connection with a Free State Project volunteer that is available to help you get situated and introduced to your new area and the FSP community!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4o0wQlWm3f4


Porc Family Connection — Wanna connect with other families in NH that value ideals such as peaceful parenting and the Non-Aggression Principle? Interested in learning about new and exciting opportunities for homeschooling/unschooling? Do you enjoy family museum visits, indoor/outdoor playground excursions, nature walks, and all kinds of other fun events constantly being organized all throughout the state? Look no further than the Porc Family Connection—a unique, decentralized network of FSP families that encourages the sharing of information, support, and fun through cooperation and mutual aid, including childcare exchange, playdates, clothing hand-me-downs, and more!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8j9QI_hPq2Y

...



more:
http://www.fspmovers.com/news/fsp-movers-future-free-state-project-nh/

[jct74]

more resources for libertarians thinking of making the move



Free State Project New Mover Parties

February 10, 2016

http://i2.wp.com/www.FSPmovers.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/moving-new-hampshire-party-fsp-1.png?w=1200


The Free State Project hosts monthly new mover parties to welcome recent movers to New Hampshire. (Come hungry and bring a dish! It’s a potluck!) More individuals and families are moving to New Hampshire all the time, and the FSP New Mover Parties are a great way for people from the Porcupine community to welcome and meet these 20-30 new movers each month. Now that the Free State Project reached its 20,000 signer goal and “Triggered The Move”, even more new movers are coming each month as the “influx of libertarians” moving to NH really ramps up!

FSP New Mover Parties are held at The Quill—a private, member-supported, pro-liberty community activism center on the west side of Manchester, NH—on the first Tuesday of each month at 7pm. Make sure to email moved@freestateproject.org to let Free State Project volunteers know that you’ve arrived in New Hampshire and that you’d like to attend the next New Movers Party; they’ll give you your official FSP mover number and all the info you’ll need to come get acquainted!


Resources for Free State Project new movers

There are several great resources available to people moving to New Hampshire for the Free State Project. Here’s just a sampling of the helpful groups to be found:

FSP Welcome Wagon for New Movers: Want help unpacking?! TheFSP Welcome Wagon for New Movers would love to help! It’s a Porcupine tradition! Tell us your move date, provide pizza & beverages, and you’ll have a group of like-minded individuals volunteering to help unload your U-Haul in record time!

Porc Buddy Program: Curious to know more about the New Hampshire area you’re moving to before you get here? Email PorcBuddy@FreeStateProject.org to get in touch with a Porc Buddy: your one-on-one connection with an FSP volunteer that can field any of your questions and help you feel right at home in your new community!

Porc Family Connection: a decentralized network of peaceful parents and friends that encourages the sharing of information, support, and fun through cooperation and mutual aid, such as play dates, childcare exchange, clothing hand-me-downs, homeschooling, and more!

Community Market Day Project: a local marketplace and off-the-grid business that facilitates the barter and sale of handmade soaps, natural household products, jewelry, organic bulk pantry items, baked goods, crochet/knit goods, along with homegrown meats, produce, eggs, and more!



Free State Project meetup groups around NH

There are several groups of FSP movers that host regular social meetups in areas all over New Hampshire. There’s a large community here that’s growing by the day as more movers come! No need to isolate… collaborate!

Merrimack Valley Porcupines—This meetup of FSP participants from the Merrimack Valley gathers the first Saturday of every month at a rotating liberty-friendly establishment. You are welcome to join as we eat, drink, talk about plans for the next month, participate in some activism, and brainstorm ways to move liberty forward.

Nashua Liberty—FSP movers in the Nashua area have an informal social gathering every Sunday at 6pm in the downtown Nashua area, usually at Martha’s Exchange restaurant & brewery.

Lakes Region Porcupines—For FSP movers settling down in New Hampshire’s picturesque Lakes Region, this group meets every third Saturday of the month at New Hong Kong Buffet in Belmont, NH. Other events include holiday toy drives, litter clean-up, beach barbecue days, and more!

The Freecoast—Every Thursday evening at 6pm, Freecoasters host a meetup in one of the Seacoast’s major towns, rotating between Dover, Exeter, Hampton, Portsmouth, and Rochester. The Freecoast also hosts a Bitcoin meetup on the last Sunday of each month at Burrito Liberation in Newmarket, NH!

Keeniacs—Movers in Keene, NH meet every weekend at Local Burger for Social Sunday at 6pm! Local Burger also hosts a monthly meetup for the Keene Bitcoin Network!

FreeWeare—FSP movers in Henniker, Dunbarton, Weare, Goffstown, New Boston, Francestown and environs are invited o join the FreeWeare liberty crew for fortnightly convivial conversation, community building and the requisite plotting at Stark House Tavern on the third Thursday of each month, beginning at 7:30pm.

Several other groups representing less densely populated areas also exist, such as North Country Porcupines (for movers up in Coös County, near the Canadian border), Upper Monadnock Valley Liberty (for Porcupines living in Hillsborough, Antrim, Deering, Henniker, Washington, Bradford, Warner, Bennington, Peterborough, and the surrounding areas), and Graftonites (for movers in Grafton).

For the latest Free State Project events listings, be sure to check out the NH Liberty Central Calendar!

http://www.fspmovers.com/events/free-state-project-new-mover-parties-nh/

[groverblue]

I've been here (in NH) almost 15 years now, and have no plans on ever leaving.

If there is any advice, tips, info or help I can give to assist, let me know.

I would be nice to know which companies are FSP friendly. Would help finding a new job. Also, any libertarian/FSP realty agents? There should be an "announcement" board of sorts where new people can announce their needs/intents, and anyone from the FSP can step forward (even just to say hi and provide a welcome).

Moving to a place where you have no support network around you is a big deal.

[Theocrat]

Over the past few years, I've tossed around the idea of moving up to NH for the "Free State Project," on the condition of there being a good church in one of its many communities. I have found one in Somersworth (http://tricitycovenant.com/), which is also a member of my denomination.

I'm just curious if any of you know what Somersworth, NH is like, in terms of its economy, culture, and climate.

[FSP-Rebel]

Over the past few years, I've tossed around the idea of moving up to NH for the "Free State Project," on the condition of there being a good church in one of its many communities. I have found one in Somersworth (http://tricitycovenant.com/), which is also a member of my denomination.

I'm just curious if any of you know what Somersworth, NH is like, in terms of its economy, culture, and climate.
You could also look around/ask questions over here: http://forum.freestateproject.org/. I lived on the seacoast for a few months but never had any business in Somersworth.

The coast does have the mildest climate in the state, I'll say that much. Mass folks shop there since there's no sales tax and cheap booze.

It may not be as socially conservative as you hope but w/i your denomination I have no idea.

[osan]

There is a problem with that line of thought though...the liberals don't have guns,

But Theye have plenty of guns and will cheerfully issue them to anyone willing to do as ordered.

Remember the nearly two billion rounds of ammunition Theye purchased? What do you think those are for? If you say "practice" I will find and whip you.


and even if they all got one tomorrow have no training with them because they think they are icky.

This presupposes the need for training. All the useful idiots need is to cause enough distraction such that those who are properly trained can go in a clean house.

Soften your focus; broaden your gaze.

[P3ter_Griffin]

Where is the good agricultural land at? I was looking at some statistics that had NH ranked 48th in most ag sectors for total production. The exceptions being Christmas trees and apples. Is there a market in NH for NH produced food? Is there a nearby state that is much better suited to ag? Anyone farming/homesteading out that way, or any recommendations of websites/YouTube channels of people who are?

And just a passing thought, with the 20k mark being hit and the move beginning (of which they are expecting 1/3 to move) there may be nice potential profits for buying large swaths of divisible raw land and domesticating it and building 1-5 acre off grid homesteads. I'd gladly work for land weed and food if anyone is interested. ;)

[Schifference]

Problem is property taxes, the need for heating the home, and corrosive shit applied to the roads in winter that destroy your vehicle. Be a part of something? Might just be better to move to a warmer climate, away from people and have some land where taxes are cheap. I think it is crazy to have to make huges wages in order to pay huge taxes.

[P3ter_Griffin]

Where is the good agricultural land at? I was looking at some statistics that had NH ranked 48th in most ag sectors for total production. The exceptions being Christmas trees and apples. Is there a market in NH for NH produced food? Is there a nearby state that is much better suited to ag?


Well some more digging and it turns out NH ranks number 1 in farm direct marketing sales as a percentage of total production (easier to do when the state produces so little ag product albeit) and nearly 1/3 of farmers have a direct farmer to consumer aspect to their business.

http://agriculture.nh.gov/publications-forms/documents/sample-market-bulletin.pdf

[FSP-Rebel]

Where is the good agricultural land at? I was looking at some statistics that had NH ranked 48th in most ag sectors for total production. The exceptions being Christmas trees and apples. Is there a market in NH for NH produced food? Is there a nearby state that is much better suited to ag? Anyone farming/homesteading out that way, or any recommendations of websites/YouTube channels of people who are?

And just a passing thought, with the 20k mark being hit and the move beginning (of which they are expecting 1/3 to move) there may be nice potential profits for buying large swaths of divisible raw land and domesticating it and building 1-5 acre off grid homesteads. I'd gladly work for land weed and food if anyone is interested. ;)

Many of the people I knew/know up there farmed via raised beds which didn't score a whole lot unless you made plenty of them, it is the granite state underneath after all. Check these guys out for off the grid farming on a 210 acre spread (where it's -6 F atm): http://bardofarm.com/. Some freestaters work for them and many more buy produce and beef/free-range chickens/pork from them.

[FSP-Rebel]

Problem is property taxes, the need for heating the home, and corrosive shit applied to the roads in winter that destroy your vehicle. Be a part of something? Might just be better to move to a warmer climate, away from people and have some land where taxes are cheap. I think it is crazy to have to make huges wages in order to pay huge taxes.
Vanuatu island is for you then. In NH, the property tax rates are voted on in each town's council meeting and Seabrook on the coast is one of the lowest where I lived. It's like a line-item vote where you show up w/ your neighbors and decide how your community will spend its money throughout NH. Overall, the tax rate (despite the property tax) is one of the lowest (top five) in the country. Going shopping for food, booze or appliances and paying no sales tax is worth a trip to the state, or even buying a car. ;) All that said, I'd advise any prospective movers to visit the state via Porcfest or the Liberty Forum (going on now) to get a sense of what you're looking at via the state in general and the burgeoning liberty movement that is afoot atm. You can make solid inroads/contacts with people that you'll know as friends/fsp community types for the rest of your life. On the fsp forum/ or pm me to set you up w/ instate folk, they are always willing to meet you/show you around and are always excited to know liberty lovers are coming to check the place out and/or move in the relative near future. Once you meet them, you'll be sold esp if you've never had such a large exp w/ liberty lovers in your area in a long time. I'm going back before the 5 years is up, hope to help you or see you there.

I know the porcupine realtor as well and can give him a call for ya if that is what you're looking for. I'd stress visiting first and getting plugged into the social and cultural pipeline which I can give you a headstart on. If you're Fed-like, they'll sniff that out easily.

[idiom]

Before you all give up 3 days into the project...

New Zealand is still an option ;)

[FSP-Rebel]

Before you all give up 3 days into the project...

New Zealand is still an option ;)
Living abroad is a problem for most people and that is why I'm tryng to sell NH for them, sir. I have throngs of insight and contacts into NH and I'd like for onlookers to get the best advice, which I can offer free of choice, charge, or change - and am willing to do so. Just give this thread some time for Heaven's sake.

[P3ter_Griffin]

Many of the people I knew/know up there farmed via raised beds which didn't score a whole lot unless you made plenty of them, it is the granite state underneath after all. Check these guys out for off the grid farming on a 210 acre spread (where it's -6 F atm): http://bardofarm.com/. Some freestaters work for them and many more buy produce and beef/free-range chickens/pork from them.

Thank you. That is awesome, they are living pretty close to our dream. Livestock farming offgrid.... what the hell can beat that?

[idiom]

Living abroad is a problem for most people and that is why I'm tryng to sell NH for them, sir. I have throngs of insight and contacts into NH and I'd like for onlookers to get the best advice, which I can offer free of choice, charge, or change - and am willing to do so. Just give this thread some time for Heaven's sake.

:P

I am an NH believer don't worry.

[Suzanimal]

Vanuatu island is for you then. In NH, the property tax rates are voted on in each town's council meeting and Seabrook on the coast is one of the lowest where I lived. It's like a line-item vote where you show up w/ your neighbors and decide how your community will spend its money throughout NH. Overall, the tax rate (despite the property tax) is one of the lowest (top five) in the country. Going shopping for food, booze or appliances and paying no sales tax is worth a trip to the state, or even buying a car. ;) All that said, I'd advise any prospective movers to visit the state via Porcfest or the Liberty Forum (going on now) to get a sense of what you're looking at via the state in general and the burgeoning liberty movement that is afoot atm. You can make solid inroads/contacts with people that you'll know as friends/fsp community types for the rest of your life. On the fsp forum/ or pm me to set you up w/ instate folk, they are always willing to meet you/show you around and are always excited to know liberty lovers are coming to check the place out and/or move in the relative near future. Once you meet them, you'll be sold esp if you've never had such a large exp w/ liberty lovers in your area in a long time. I'm going back before the 5 years is up, hope to help you or see you there.

I know the porcupine realtor as well and can give him a call for ya if that is what you're looking for. I'd stress visiting first and getting plugged into the social and cultural pipeline which I can give you a headstart on. If you're Fed-like, they'll sniff that out easily.

We're going to PorcFest this year but I don't think I could live in NH. :) Maybe we need a FSP in a warmer climate?

If anyone else is going shoot me a pm and we'll hook up for some Franzia or some of the fancy stuff Mr Animal drinks.

[H. E. Panqui]

...i am a 'native mainer' but i have lived in new mexico, colorado and wyoming...i used to devour field and stream as a child and had to go out west...and it's fantastic!..a little too hot and sunny for me but many many great days...

....my heart is 'back east' but i'm pretty sure if i'd been born 'out west' that's where my heart would be...

...everytime i fly over 'the west' and 'the east' i am struck by a sense of the profound 'green-ness'/lushness of 'the east' vs. the relative 'brown-ness'/sparsity of 'the west'...

...it seems to me the people are maybe a little nicer out west...less 'political'...

...i, of course, think maine would've been a better choice for the FSP because our 'caucus system' lends itself to the type of leverage a relative few 'activists' can employ...

...but nh is a wonderful, beautiful place...my second favorite place...i try to make porcfest and the jenny brook bluegrass festival in turnbridge? vt..(my third favorite place) and the scenery and air are incredible...the gold sparkling rocks of new hampshire and the black sparkling rocks of northern vermont..

[jct74]

If anyone is interested in looking through some past discussion about the Free State Project, I went back and tagged every thread related to the FSP that I could find, about 12 pages worth of tagged threads. You can view the list by clicking on this link:

http://www.ronpaulforums.com/tags.php?tag=Free+State+Project

or by clicking on the "Free State Project" tag at the bottom of this thread.



Also some resources for learning more about the Free State Project or keeping up with the latest news.

Free State Project - website (https://freestateproject.org/), facebook (https://www.facebook.com/FreeStateProject.org), twitter (https://twitter.com/FreeStateNH), youtube (https://www.youtube.com/user/FreeStateProjectNH)
Free Keene - website (http://freekeene.com/), facebook (https://www.facebook.com/freekeene), twitter (https://twitter.com/freekeene), youtube (https://www.youtube.com/user/FreeKeene)
FSP Movers - website (http://www.fspmovers.com/), facebook (https://www.facebook.com/FSPmovers), twitter (https://twitter.com/FSPMovers), youtube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCumpfpRTKBV2MG4tKAdNU9Q)
Porcfest - website (http://porcfest.com/), facebook (https://www.facebook.com/PorcFest), twitter (https://twitter.com/porcfest)
NH Liberty Forum - website (http://nhlibertyforum.com/), facebook (https://www.facebook.com/LibertyForum), twitter (https://twitter.com/NHLibertyForum)
Free State Project on Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_State_Project)
Ridley Report (https://www.youtube.com/user/RidleyReport)


If anyone knows any other good FSP resources please post.

[jct74]

Also, any libertarian/FSP realty agents?.

Mark Warden is the Porcupine Realtor.

http://www.fspmovers.com/fspmovers/fsp-early-movers-mark-warden/



Mark Warden: PorcupineRealEstate.com


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sy2-efkSaPQ


Mark Warden moved to New Hampshire from Las Vegas, NV for the Free State Project in 2007. While living in Las Vegas, Mark worked in marketing and sales for large builder-developers during the housing boom. Mark formed Team Porcupine Real Estate in 2009, serving residential and commercial real estate clients, particularly those relocating to New Hampshire for the Free State Project. He has been in the real estate business for 20 years as an agent, investor, and landlord, representing over $100,000,000 in residential transactions and more than 120 New Hampshire home purchases since 2011 alone!


“What’s nice is that I’m working almost exclusively with Free State Project participants and other libertarians. They want to have a real estate agent they can talk to that speaks their language. If they want to grow their own food on their property, or shoot on their own property, or find a place with low taxes and no zoning regulations, I get it! I understand. We do the best for people like that.” —Mark Warden, Porcupine Real Estate

Mark graduated from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, minoring in Spanish, which he speaks fluently. Mark donates a percentage of all his home sales commissions to the Free State Project and other liberty-oriented organizations, and is proud to be able to help facilitate buying and selling houses using Bitcoin.

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