Liberty Activist Pays Property Tax in $1 Bills

Ann,

Your comments above are fairly even-handed. I would, however, like you to clarify what you mean by “man bites dog”, "quasi-street theater du jour prank", "shoot themselves in the foot" and "immaturity".

Childishness and immaturity seem to be common adjectives hurled at Keene activists by a handful of people in the community.

I'm not sure if it's because there's a lack of understanding regarding the philosophical reasons activists do what they do, a belief that they should do something else or what.

What do you think is immature about their activism and what do you think they should be doing instead to change things for the better?

Ann,

I just found out about the FSP as a concept. I moved to Providence from NYC recently and am in no immediate hurry to move; I would like to finish my undergrad. Law school will most likely determine my next home.

If there was a good school in NH or in one of the neighboring states, that could work. I want to begin attending and getting involved in municipal government, but Providence is a frustrating town. The most popular politician ever was Buddy Cianci, a twice convicted criminal, and the most infamous politician was Nelson Aldrich, a criminal for a whole different reason. This city and state are very statist, very corrupt and very frustrating. I don't think I could affect much change here (although I will continue to try), so I really like the idea of the FSP and all these liberty-minded individuals picking NH as a place to make a stand. It's a romantic concept and a noble cause. It's something to ponder for the future at least.

Thanks for your awesome response to my question.

It must be disappointing that the relationship/awareness between the project and community is minimal. Isn't it the goal of the project to foster a closer relationship with the community to expand consciousness of liberty?

-a

I was just watching this clip again and had to laugh as I often do at most of the free-stater's attempts to advocate for themselves, which generally backfire.

Ian, do you really think ranting at City Hall was a good way to communicate? Who are you trying to attract, exactly?

Your tactics only turn away mainstream educated people living in Keene. Anyone who can read laws can see that you guys constantly misinterpret them, and anyone who buys into the project is ignorant and on the fringe and will only worsen your image in the long-run.

I challenge you guys to try and attract the average citizen, not the crackpot outcast.

Paul,

You continue to prove my point with your sarcasm, which is an ineffective way to communicate.

Again, I challenge you guys to attract the average citizen in Keene. It will take a serious change in your tactics, but only then will you be successful.

Ian,

True enough, "average" is very subjective, though you can look up statistics on the average age, income, political and religious views, etc of people in Keene. It may not be a bad idea as part of your research to target more people in the community.

Two points for you to ponder:

You were not successful in making a positive relationship with the man in city hall who was so appalled that he called you on your behavior. Wow.

I can't remember which video it was, but the guy making cartoon noises running around the room hiding the penny definitely doesn't attract the average Keene citizen.

…just food for thought on how you all might be more successful…

Hahaha…. I honk and wave at the guy wearing a hot dog costume, but I don't stop to buy a hot dog.

Delusions delusions….it's more likely that the man ended the conversation because he realized he would get nowhere while you continued your rant and you weren't worth the effort.

Take it or leave it, but the average citizen of Keene does not find you approachable. Instead of getting defensive you should consider how you might change that image. You have to be objective and critical to progress and achieve goals…

Quite average, really…

I'm just under Keene's median age, but in the second largest age cohort. I earn almost exactly the median income at my (very normal!) job which is shared by 7 million other respected professionals in the country.

Average is measurable.

I think positive suggestions are always useful, and willingness to help enact them even more so.

April, "immaturity", etc, what do you think would be the most effective means to reduce the use of aggressive violence in Keene, especially by government, and to raise awareness about these issues?

Paul,

I'm not sure what the most effective means to affecting change. This is exactly the issue I am dealing with personally. I think the most important aspect of changing our communities, states and nations, et cetera , is education. This act of paying property tax with $1 bills is an attempt to bring about awareness, ie: education. I agree with the purpose of this political act but the people in the tax collectors office we should assume do not share our beliefs. If the presentation of the tax money was not done with pizza and the giggling theatrics, but done with a seriousness, than maybe the workers in the tax office and the other citizens in line would take this issue more seriously. When I first watched this video, I enjoyed the theatrics but I don't think the purpose of this act was to merely entertain.

I'm not really sure Paul. If I cornered the market on how to successfully demonstrate the fallacy of our current government, I would have spread the word as passionately as possible and there wouldn't be a need for the Free State Project at all; we'd already live in a truly free nation. Since I am mostly unsure what the most effective way of demonstrating my message, in situations of civil disobedience I try to think how Ghandi or King would present themselves and hopefully I can ideally conduct myself in manner similarly dignified.

Ian,

Of course you have the right to defend yourself but it might be more productive to recognize whom you really need to defend yourself against and whom might potentially be an ally. "Immaturity" calls himself "average" and says you do not successfully entice himself to support your efforts. Yes, I would agree most people do not typically read this blog but that only means "Immaturity" is most likely in your target demographic of who you should try incorporate into your cause. He or she probably espouses your beliefs already. If this method of protest does not work for "Immaturity," then I would question what "Immaturity" would propose to protest taxation which pays for immoral imprisonment. If "Immaturity" does support your cause, does have ideas of how to protest in different manners, I would support him or her and help him or her in starting another tax protest. This cause is going to require a tapestry of many different people with many different ideas of achieving the same goal. If this method of protest does not work for "Immaturity," challenge "Immaturity" to take the lead next time in the protest.

Immaturity,

You need a better user name. Writing about you with no concept of which appropriate pronoun to use is clumsy at best.

April,

Apologies…I read Ann's statement and "immaturity" is what resonated with me. I didn't mean to get this involved.

I'll be honest, I'm not a free state supporter. I find many of the arguments intellectually stimulating as age-old themes but haven't seen any effective activism going on in town.

But I do have an open mind and I stand by what I said earlier…I challenge the FSP to change my mind with something better. I'd love to root for the underdog, but the free staters here have not done anything that I can latch onto. You're right, it always seems to be theatrics…from ripping up Central Square to harrassing kind hard-working people at the Community Kitchen, to laying out guns on the curb with small children around…that is nothing I can get behind.

I love your idea of keeping King and Ghandi in mind. I would support that.

So I've laid it out and I can't spend more time on here. I'll get ripped apart before too long anyhow. The challenge is to reach me, the average citizen who perhaps isn't so average because I think I have a more open and peaceful mind than many, with some activism that makes sense.

I am an average citizen, though less violent and more open-minded than many I think.

I did see the clip on channel 8 earlier today which spurred my initial post, which I stand by.

And I thought it unimportant to name myself since I was just having a conversation online. I think the name thing is really irrelevant…April was just trying to find an easier way to address me.

I still challenge you to partake in activism that attracts the average Keene citizen. I don't think it's an impossible task, but a goal you guys may want to change your direction towards.

Just sayin…

(this is all a little funny because I didn't say anything violent or mean-hearted…I guess criticism is tough to take)

April,

I didn't think I was bickering, I somehow thought I was making you all aware that a different type of activism might reach people like me better.

I didn't realize it was assumed that everyone on here shares the same ideals…what about people who share some of the same ideals?

At any rate, I thought much of what you said above made a lot of sense and was exactly the message I was trying to get out.

<blockquote cite="IMMATURITY">I was making you all aware that a different type of activism might reach people like me better.

What form of activism would you say would be most effective in reaching people like you?

from ripping up Central Square to harrassing kind hard-working people at the Community Kitchen, to laying out guns on the curb with small children around…

When did any of these events ever occur?

April,

I appreciate it. Again, I'm not mal-intentioned and I think you offered some great points to Ian that I could not have worded on my own.

I think it was a successful conversation

I'm off as well (for real this time!)

I'm surprised that anyone who advocates positive communication but acts like a pompous ass right out of the gate gets this much attention. Good job calling her out as a coward and a liar, Ian. I guess her nom de plume was more fitting than she realized. Irony. Gotta love it.