Free Keene

Comment by SamIam

July 13, 2008 @ 11:01 am

I love these calls. The way the bureaucrats respond keeps getting better each week. I think they are beginning to understand, and at least get closer to Mark’s position.

Comment by Frederick B. Parsells

July 14, 2008 @ 3:16 pm

Listening intently to Ian’s verbal observation on the radio recently, I was interested in knowing more. I communicated with the government administrator in North Oaks, Minnesota. In deed all of the roads and lands are privately owned. Now for the catch. Every resident that chooses to live there is foced to join an association that takes care of snow plowing and road maintenance. However, they are also “coerced” as Ian would say, into paying property taxes on top of the association dues to pay for police services, etc. So, this seeming utopia of no government owned roads or lands in effect double taxes its residents. They call one, tax association dues, and the other for what it is, a property tax. You see boys and girls, there is no free lunch. I have lamented to Ian that the FSP has no leadership and no clear focus, as such it is doomed to fail. So far only Miss Julia is the only FSP member with the courage to step up and seek elected office. The rest of you just complain a lot, but God forbid you should try to make actual change by being actively involved. As an example, Russell talks a lot about “government papers, but instead of continuing to challenge the system, he is willing to accept the government’s dictate as evidenced by the fact that he no longer wishes to see Lieutenant Maxfield while he, Russell, is operating a car without his government papers. Way to stand up for your conviction(s) Russell.

Comment by Slim

July 14, 2008 @ 9:10 pm

Fred no one that I know who is a FSP participant wants any free lunch. I personally want to pay for what I use, if I want someone to protect my property I would pay for that service, if I want someone to come to my home if there is a fire I would gladly pay for that just like I pay for my motor vehicle insurance.

As for FSP participants seeking elected office I believe I heard that there are 30 or so people that are FSP participants seeking elected office this November.

I don’t think Ian ever said that North Oaks was the optimal situation it just proved the fallacy that government has to own the roads and if the government did not own the roads there would be tin pot dictators that would shut down their owned roads and stop others from getting out of their property. Currently I live in a community that has privately owned roads that connect our homes to the main state owned road. The private owned roads are paid for by the community everyone in the community is presented a contract before they move in and consent to the rules and punishments for violation of the rules. The people who sign the contract also know their financial obligations for the services they utilize. The private roads are in much better condition then the state owned roads and the snowplowing is where you can see the stark difference between the state owned roads and the private owned roads. Last winter the state owned road was shut down because the state did not clear the snow many times and one specific time that I recall the state owned road was impassable without a 4 wheel drive truck but the private road was clear.

Comment by Denis Goddard

July 15, 2008 @ 3:12 pm

Mr Parcells,
There is more than one Free State Project member currently in the NH House of Representatives — in fact, NH had several FSP members in the House before the FSP even held its vote on which state to choose for the target of the migration. We also have people elected on various School Boards, as Selectmen in several towns, and in various other elected local offices.
The number of politically active Free Staters dwarfs the number who choose not to engage the political process. As it turns out, in no small part due to Mr. Bernerd’s influence, Keene is the favored destination for non-political activists.
Do be aware that the Free State Project is extremely decentralized. Not only is there no leader, in a very real sense there is almost no organization at all. The FSP is in the process of turning into merely an idea, a “meme” — the notion that people who want less government should move to New Hampshire and become active in their own way. Even if the FSP President and Board of Directors were to quit and declare the project a failure, new activists would keep moving in, egged on by those of us who are already here.

Comment by Frederick B. Parsells

July 16, 2008 @ 10:56 am

Mr. Goddard….. Can those FSP members currently in the House of Representatives be somehow responsible for the 75 million dollar budget shortfall and the projected FY2009 200 million dollar deficit that we are facing? Do they vote as a block or as scattered at the FSP is in general? Are you able to identify any significant gains made by the various FSP members who do serve on local school boards and in selectman positions? I abolutley agree with the FSP, generically speaking, that government is too large and out-of-control, but nobody is prepeared to take the FSP seriously do to some of the verbal utterances and writings of some of its members. Have you read some of the asinine writings on the various threads? Perhaps its not fair to paint with such a broad brush, but if such individuals are the face of the movement, the movement is doomed. Ian has served as an excellent role model for the FSP, I only wish that I could convince him to seek elected office and organize the movement for its and everyone elses gain. As I see it, most of the members are going through a point in their lives that will pass in time. I have lived through the 50’s, 60’s ect. and have seen similar groups come and go. As an independent, liberal-minded person, I am waiting with great anticipation for the FSP to make some meaningful strides. Here’s a cause for the FSP. “The lack of term limits in Washington and elsewhere has been the single-most important factor in the downturn of our government(s).” How about if the FSP takes on this issue as its pet project. It would be a start.
Good to hear from you……bye-the-bye, my name is spelled Parsells. Parcells is Uncle Bill, as we call him in the family.

fp

Comment by Denis Goddard

July 16, 2008 @ 6:59 pm

> Can those FSP members currently in the House of Representatives be somehow responsible for the 75 million dollar budget shortfall

Nope.

> Do they vote as a block or as scattered at the FSP is in general?

They vote more tightly together than the House Republican Alliance and less tightly than the Democrat Caucus.

> Are you able to identify any significant gains made by the various FSP members who do serve on local school boards and in selectman positions?

My personal focus has been at the State level. I am not well-versed in events at the local level.

> nobody is prepeared to take the FSP seriously

I think you are confusing the FSP with Free Keene, Free Talk Live, and Ian Bernard.

> Have you read some of the asinine writings on the various threads?

I have *written* some of the asinine writings on the various threads.

> the movement is doomed.

I agree.

> Ian has served as an excellent role model for the FSP

I have to respectfully disagree with you on that. I would say Ian is an excellent role model for those who want to broadcast the philosophy of liberty in the media. I would also say that this is a critical task for the FSP.

> I only wish that I could convince him to seek elected office

I believe he would make a terrible representative and I would never vote for him. In contrast, he is a true broadcasting professional and a great radio personality.

> organize the movement

Contradiction in terms.

> I am waiting with great anticipation for the FSP to make some meaningful strides.

The FSP does nothing, aside from move liberty-lovers to New Hampshire.

> Here’s a cause for the FSP.

One thing you learn quickly is not to tell people what they should be working on. You start working on whatever it is you see needs work. If you inspire others to join you, so much the better.

> “The lack of term limits in Washington

Most of us have given up on Washington. That is one of the reasons we are focusing on a single, sovereign state.

Comment by Slim

July 17, 2008 @ 11:26 am

Mr. Parsells,

I would agree with Dennis on a lot that he said. One thing I would like to try and make clear about the FSP does not take a stance on any issues. (I am not a FSP leader but am a participant) The only goal of the FSP is to get 20,000 people who agree with the statement of intent to move to the state that was chosen (New Hampshire).

Statement of Intent

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

Once the 20,000 people sign up and move to NH the project will be over and I believe will be dissolved. Each individual that moves to NH are free to do as they think is best to achieve the goal.

I would also concur with Dennis about Ian seeking elected office. Ian is great with communicating but I do not see him dealing with other bureaucrats.

Comment by cyberdoo78

July 25, 2008 @ 9:15 am

Frederick B. Parsells,

Sir, I wish to inform you that this argument with terms limits was debated many years ago. In fact one only needs to turn to Federalist Paper #53 to hear the words of Madison as he urged for no term limits to be placed upon Congress.

As a self-proclaimed ‘liberal’, I assume you mean it in the modern sense and not in the classical sense, it would appear that history is not something to be considered into the equation. Often it has been seen that a ‘liberal’ will ignore logic in favor of emotion. The argument that you will agree with, perhaps, is that term limits are needed for they do not allow a single individual or group of individuals to rise to any power.

Would you ask an electrician who has been only practicing for two years to come wire your home, or would you favor the one with 10 years experience? Would you ask the landscaper with only 2 years experience come tend your yard, or the one with 10 years experience?

Logic would dictate that he who hath more experience be best suited for the job. Further, with experience comes leadership; comes the ability to teach; comes the ability to advise on a particular route to take. So term limits are a bad idea, for you deny those who have experience, who are good at the job, the right to represent those who give them authority.

I say to you, sir, what right do you have to deny anyone to select their representative however long they choose to hold that representative in their graces?

Good day, sir.