Free Keene

Comment by George Donnelly

November 2, 2009 @ 12:44 pm

So there is some necessary government licensing?

Comment by nick

November 2, 2009 @ 2:07 pm

I can’t think of any. I wish government teachers were more strictly licensed. But I wish there were not government teachers, so…

Comment by George Donnelly

November 2, 2009 @ 2:16 pm

So is the article just inaccurate when it says “abolition of unnecessary licensing”?

Comment by Patrick Shields

November 2, 2009 @ 5:43 pm

So for the voice of smaller government, and the principles FreeKeene.com supports, vote Ryder tomorrow at your appropriate polling location:

Nick, good luck with your campaign. I hope you recognize, though, that some people who frequent this website might not support your campaign. I feel uncomfortable with you positioning yourself as the candidate in complete alignment with the positions expressed on this website. I would prefer it if you didn’t claim to be “the voice [. . .] of the principles FreeKeene.com supports”.

FreeKeene.com is just a website. It can’t currently support any single set of beliefs, because it represents a variety of different viewpoints.

I’d vote for you if I could, but that’s just me. I don’t think anyone can truly represent everyone on this website. Please try to recognize the variety in the individuals’ beliefs on this web space.

@George: Where’s the inaccuracy? If anything the statement is redundant–probably to ease the transition for those who do believe in necessary government licensing.

Comment by George Donnelly

November 2, 2009 @ 5:50 pm

Hi Patrick, hope you’re doing well. The post suggests that Nick thinks some government licensing is necessary yet Nick suggests that no government licensing is necessary so I am simply trying to get to the bottom of it in my usual gadfly-ish way.

Comment by Paul

November 2, 2009 @ 6:34 pm

You know, George, it depends on the way you look at it. “Unnecessary” could be describing all of the licencure — something like, “Let’s fumigate all of those nasty termites.” The implication is not that there are some nice termites you hope will stick around.

Comment by George Donnelly

November 2, 2009 @ 7:01 pm

True, good point. Perhaps, in that case, it just needs to be worded more clearly.

Comment by thinkliberty

November 2, 2009 @ 7:28 pm

I don’t like that statist force everyone to vote for their failed violent religion. This election is rigged. They won’t allow you to vote for yourself or nobody, you HAVE to vote for statism.

You are not free to follow your beliefs, if you believe that the State is not the solution to society’s problems. Just like the early american christians with their witch hunts and the catholics with their inquisitions.

They will cage you, if you fail to pay their tithing. They will kill you if you try to escape their dungeons.

Comment by ahasp

November 3, 2009 @ 7:43 am

Just a couple of comments about the brochure…
“Ordinances which … business is unconstitutional and
not the role of civil government.” “is” should be “are”.

Don’t take such a pessimistic tone at the end…
“I agree with you.
I voted for you.
You didn’t win.”
If you tell people that you aren’t likely to win, why should they take the effort to go to the polls to vote for you?

I agree with the above comments concerning referencing freekeene.com. Use your brochure to sell your ideas, don’t send people to a website that isn’t yours that give a wide range of ideas and is full of other people’s opinions.

Comment by nick

November 3, 2009 @ 10:18 am

AHASP,

For your second comment, that portion of the brochure was edited to say “What if You Don’t Win?” That’s at least a little better. The one I uploaded here was old. Sorry.

FreeKeene is the best place to point people who want to continue to support the ideas in the brochure. Sorry. If someone really supports them, I don’t want them to feel lost after the election.

Thanks for the thoughts.

Comment by Frederick B. Parsells

November 3, 2009 @ 8:47 pm

Congratulations to you Nick for at least having the courage to try. Unlike so many who merely offer words, you got involved. You are to be commended for your effort to effect change the only way change can truly be made; from within. You didn’t prevail, but you did provide voters with an alternative. As a fellow small government believer I applaud you for doing so. That said, it appears that the 1700 voters (10%) who cast ballots today prefer the way Keene government currently operates. It also appears as though the 90% of registered voters who did not vote today, also like the way things are going. Perhaps your message will resonate more clearly in another two years as the state and federal governments continue to spin out of control and be unresponsive to their respective constituents.

Frederick B. Parsells

Comment by GRAFFITI

November 3, 2009 @ 9:05 pm

At what point is the government illegitimate? When 90% don’t participate?

Comment by fonzilla

November 3, 2009 @ 9:56 pm

“It also appears as though the 90% of registered voters who did not vote today, also like the way things are going.”

Is this statement a joke? I’m pretty sure people who choose not to vote are

a) Anti-gov’t
b) Sick of politics
c) Were not aware that elections were happening
d) Don’t give a crap

The people who voted are most likely city workers, city bureaucrats, and family/extended family of workers/bureaucrats. This is probably similar at the state and federal level, there are millions of state and federal workers. Soon they are going to have to make voting mandatory. Fred, your statement sounds like that of a tyrant who believes that if the people aren’t speaking out that they are happy. Please…..

Comment by thinkliberty

November 3, 2009 @ 10:06 pm

How much money and time was wasted on your campaign that changed nothing?

Do you think you will waste more money and time on the next election?

I know a lot of registered voters who did not vote today, because I convinced them that voting would not change anything. They also DON’T like the way things are going.

Perhaps you’ll decide that politics is a waste of time (like 90% of the registered voters that did not vote today.) in another two years as the city, state and federal governments continue to spin out of control.

Comment by Vince

November 3, 2009 @ 10:07 pm

[quote]It also appears as though the 90% of registered voters who did not vote today, also like the way things are going.[/quote]

LOL.

I’d think that if they were happy with the way things are, they’d go out and vote to make sure they stay the same.

Not voting means
1) You don’t believe in politics.
2) You don’t think that voting will make a difference.
3) You don’t care about the outcome.

or (a corollary of the first three)

4) You have better things to do.

It seems like 90% of registered voters voted for no government.

Hey Fred…how small of a percentage of voters, in your opinion, can still vote and constitute a “legitimate” government? Obviously, you are fine with 10% ruling over 90%. What about 5% ruling over 95%? 1% ruling over 99%?

Comment by thinkliberty

November 3, 2009 @ 10:24 pm

That 90% of people that did not vote to day is the number of people that have actually bothered to register to vote.

What percentage of people haven’t even bothered registering to vote?

Less than 10% of the people cared enough about the government to vote today.

The astatists are winning!

Comment by Frederick B. Parsells

November 3, 2009 @ 10:30 pm

With regard to my, “90% liking the way things are going comment”, I apologize to those of you who missed my sarcasm. Obviously many of you didn’t pick up on it.

Frederick B. Parsells

Comment by Keith

November 4, 2009 @ 12:08 am

Good work Nick. I felt good voting for you!

Comment by Research101

November 4, 2009 @ 2:22 pm

I’m proud of you for doing what you do, Nick. Keep up the good work. Maybe the next election will be win.