Voter Intimidation Continues in Keene

November 13, 2009 by Ian
Filed under: Hypocrisy, Issues, Update

On the day of the general election I went to Ward 4′s voting location with the intention of voting for Free Keene’s Nick Ryder. As the city clerk had promised, I had indeed been removed from the voters’ rolls because I’d registered to vote with my “domicile” as my box at the UPS Store. On the day of the general election I was homeless and decided to register to vote as such. As happened during the primary, they did everything they could to prevent me from taking part in their system. (Interestingly, people like me who prefer outside-the-system activism are incessantly told that we should work within the system, but if we try to, this is the kind of crap that happens.)

So I tried to register as a homeless person and despite signing TWO forms under penalty of perjury (the “domicile affidavit” and the “voter challenge affidavit”) they STILL refused to accept my registration! I immediately pulled out my blackberry and QIKked their explanation. Turns out because the “checklist supervisor” didn’t FEEL like I was homeless, that was enough to deny me the right to vote. It didn’t matter one iota that I’d sworn an oath to my claim being true. My supposed right to vote was DENIED. Watch as it happened:

Now that they have denied me any method of actually working within their system, allow me to cite their own rules in the form of part of article 12 of the NH constitution’s bill of rights:

Nor are the inhabitants of this state controllable by any other laws than those to which they, or their representative body, have given their consent.

I certainly do not consent to this insane system and its rules and now that they’ve denied me the right to vote, no one could claim that the NH representatives are my “representative body”, so I should be free and clear to stop paying them, right?

Oh yeah, my interpretation doesn’t matter, only the interpretation of their men in robes calling themselves the “Supreme Court” matters. Every day I get closer to not caring though. When I decide to stop paying these criminals it will be crystal clear to the world that they are just a gang of criminals as they steal my home and kick my family into the street.

Comments

44 Comments on Voter Intimidation Continues in Keene

Keith on Sat, 14th Nov 2009 12:56 am

What the government workers did in that video was not legal. Thanks for sharing their illegal action with the world.

Davy on Sat, 14th Nov 2009 1:18 am

it’s good that you’ve shown them on film as generally making stuff up as they go along, but don’t all the beurocrats know you aren’t homeless after the couch incident? Rather than claiming things people aren’t likely to believe, why not just fill in their form with a fake address? I only say because presumably you wanted to vote for your friend in this instance?

Webber on Sat, 14th Nov 2009 2:33 am

I’m not sure I understand why you want them to think you are homeless? Are you really homeless? I thought you were the guy with the couch in your yard?

Patrick Shields on Sat, 14th Nov 2009 4:29 am

Might help some readers to explain why you were trying to register as homeless. I get it, but I read the forums.

LSNL on Sat, 14th Nov 2009 6:51 am

If he was homeless at the time, why would he lie, and perjure himself? Ian isn’t employed by the state.. He doesn’t have the option of lying whenever he feels like it without consequence.

They shouldn’t have asked him to fill out the documents if they were going to deny him anyway. If they believe that he is a resident there, why would they want to deny him a vote? It’s because they know they’re not righteous, and they don’t believe in anything except their authority.

ART WALK-er on Sat, 14th Nov 2009 10:21 am

“…the world that they are just a gang of criminals as they steal my home and kick my family into the street…” <— WHOA! Be careful what you ask for, Ian! Don't you know that that is exactly what they'd love to do? They did it to me! You don't think your "buddy" Fred Parsells will intervene on your behalf, do you?…Also, Ian, you weren't voting for *ANY* "NH Legislators"…it was a *CITY* election only. Try exercising your NH Constitution Article X rights…Of course, if you do, you might need to decide which gov't you are replacing the old one with…*grin*…*THAT* should be easy for you! The NO GOVERNMENT, right???…ciaO!…

steve on Sat, 14th Nov 2009 10:30 am

This is absolutely disgusting.

Mike Barskey on Sat, 14th Nov 2009 10:52 am

You used the system, following it’s arbitrary and intricate procedures, and *still* were denied what they tell you is your right. What excuses will the in-the-system activists have for this? Instead of “use the system to fix the system,” what will they use now as a reason to eschew and reject out-of-the-system activism? Denis? Keith? Matt? I’m curious.

Ian on Sat, 14th Nov 2009 11:27 am

Webber, I am not homeless at this time, but was at that time.

name(required) on Sat, 14th Nov 2009 12:08 pm

Ian,

Those people dont “think” your not homeless they know you aren’t.Make your mark with your own private property rights as your first “success” then pay your property taxes with dollar bills for an encore and your homeless status tends to be up for question. Its a small town Ian. These elderly women(and man) who you bravely confronted were protecting you from perjuring your self. Part of voting is being honest on registration, to prevent things like voting multiple times. I have PO boxes in several towns, should I be able to vote in all of those towns? Yes, the angry homeless man with the Blackberry isn’t going to take it anymore. So the point you were trying to make was what? That you are a liar? That actively using deception and being called out on it is somehow unjust? Is your activism something that just activates when you cant get your way and happen to have a camera or is it some how premeditated? Reguardless of how I feel about your outlook and philosophy do you really think that using dishonesty towards people is a method that should be employed? This speaks to your character as a person and your movement as a whole when it ends up on this site, with positive reactions. Reputation is something that transcends political or philisophical affiliation. You seem pretty angry when you percieve that someone is lying to you. I guess the only question I have for you is where do you draw the line? When are you lying or embelishing and when are you telling it straight? As the propriotor of this site, who I have to admit holds quite a bit of sway within your movement, I think you owe it to people who read your information and use it to make a huge life altering move here that Ian isn’t just making believe. Lying is bad ian, or does your philosophy some how justify it when it suits your needs. Don’t worry though, I forgive you.

Ian on Sat, 14th Nov 2009 12:12 pm

You keep insisting I was lying. I was really homeless at the time I went to vote. Are you saying you’ve never gotten into hot water with your significant other? Just because I own a house in Keene doesn’t mean I am necessarily living there.

SamIam on Sat, 14th Nov 2009 12:22 pm

These elderly women(and man) who you bravely confronted were protecting you from perjuring your self.

What a delusional statement. They had him fill out the forms hoping he was lying, they sent the forms over to their attorney general, they denied him the right to vote, all at the apparent direction of the city clerk (I have that admitted on video).

What else? Come on, your not going to let the truth stop you from sticking up for this criminal gang, are you?

name(required) on Sat, 14th Nov 2009 1:25 pm

I think a legitimate homeless person would have to take issue with your definition. Any rational person who reads this understands that words have no meaning here.

Traffic violation = slavery
Fight with girlfriend = homelessness

My point still stands. People should understand that you will perform incredible feats of mental gymnastics to justify anything you say or do. It has little to do with freedom or Liberty. You can’t make things real just by creativity of context.

Sounds like Social Sunday last week went exactly like I said it would, by the way. Between your group of individuals acting independantly idiotic and cheap at the same time and the owner, a very cautious buisiness man by the way, realizing your group draws a certain amount of public enmety via the Sentinel, I gather you have about one week. Been scouting for a new place yet? I look forward to your justification for switching venues again….wait Its too big, that will work. Its a good thing you are nothing more than individuals because if you were to call yourselves a group you would look like real assholes.

Ian on Sat, 14th Nov 2009 1:37 pm

Homeless means without a home. At that time I was without a home, but willing to certify that I intended to “domicile” myself in Ward 4. That should have been enough to allow me to vote, but they denied me. That’s all you need to know.

Glad you aren’t putting us all in a group. I overtipped.

name(required) on Sat, 14th Nov 2009 1:57 pm

Yup,

figured you were going to pull something like that. Thank you for validating my comment. Ian Bernard takes home the gold in Mental gymnastics. You are so sad Ian.

Speaking of sad, looks like Social Sunday panned out as I predicted. Cheap and intrusive, well played.

Im anxious to hear your excuse for switching venues again once you are not welcome anymore. Wait dont tell me this place was too big.

Walls are closing in Ian..

Mike Barskey on Sat, 14th Nov 2009 1:58 pm

@Name: Why are you so negative? Why, instead, don’t you offer alternatives or suggestions? Why not offer assistance instead of insults?

Also, why didn’t you use your name?

Ian on Sat, 14th Nov 2009 2:04 pm

Pull something? Like use the appropriate definition for a word?

You are repeating yourself now. Maybe if you keep chanting cheap it’ll actually make me cheap. Intrusive? Keep fantasizing. We held a gathering at a public venue – nothing intrusive there.

name(required) on Sat, 14th Nov 2009 2:45 pm

Mike Barskey,

to answer the first part of you question, I dont like the behavior Ian exibits and I am voicing this, to answer the second part, I dont have any alternatives for you other than to simply do what you want and face the consequences. Either live by the principals you claim to have and be the individual you claim to be or be the cohesive group that you are in reality and live in hypocracy. That is life, weather you face consequences from the state, your peers your friends or your enemies. Believing you have a unique philosoqhy does not take away the responsibility it takes to leverage risk versus reward and make smart decisions. Public grandstanding and accusing the elderly of intimidation is idiocy. The members of the group you belong to often make fools of themselves without a message any rational person can walk away from understanding. I do not want obnoxious foolish people to live near me, subsequently I relish in their failure.

To address the last of your questions, On several occasions, I have seen prominent members of your group directly or indirectly get the oppositions name and post up all of their information on the web. This is a “peacfull” tactic that pro lifers used to use with abortion doctors. It is a very dangerous and irrisponsible thing to do. There are members of your group that are mentally unstable and armed.
I would also like to avoid “peacefull” armed candle light vigils in my yard.

Ian on Sat, 14th Nov 2009 2:52 pm

Will you be attacking handcuffed men? That’s why Rivera is getting vigils at his house – he hurt someone. Don’t hurt people, and you’ll be fine.

Slim on Sat, 14th Nov 2009 6:09 pm

according to the catch phrases all the military men and women fought for our right to vote and 3 busy body ladies and a guy that is old as dust just took that right away.

I guess it is not who counts the votes it is who says who can vote are the ones that count.

Paul on Sat, 14th Nov 2009 7:04 pm

I agree, honesty is important, even when confronting dishonest people. Only Ian can know if he truly considered himself homeless at that point.

Also, I don’t know if there truly were any issues with social sundays, but I encourage people to tip well .

Paul on Sat, 14th Nov 2009 7:16 pm

I’d also like to say that each of us must choose our own priorities, but in my estimation, the ability to not give an address is not a hill worth dying on. There are other, more pressing liberty issues in my view.

Keith on Sat, 14th Nov 2009 11:59 pm

@ Mike Barskey

What is wrong with doing out of the system activism? I have enjoyed doing it for years and will continue to do so.

What happened here is some government workers violated the law. Are they law breakers? Yes. But we all are law breakers. Following the law is often confusing and complicated. You cannot expect every government worker to follow every law every time. If you learn about a law violate and it greatly concerns you, by all means report it to the appropriate authorities.

Max the Communist on Sun, 15th Nov 2009 1:32 am

……. um if you can’t prove you live in Ward 4 than why should you be able to have a say in Ward 4? Wards are for a neighborhood to have a voices all there own on the city council if you’re homeless you’re not part of Ward 4, any way aren’t you guys all about property rights, why is some one with out property trying to control property taxes and rights by voting in an election for city council, I mean you don’t pay the very high property taxes, so really you don’t pay any local Taxes so WTF mate? all and all very silly of you.

Paul on Sun, 15th Nov 2009 1:42 am

They require people to provide their addresses. The only exception, according to their rules, is that if a person is homeless, they can vote without providing an address. Ian was testing that, and claims to have been indeed homeless on that day.

Max the Communist on Sun, 15th Nov 2009 1:53 am

I believe the rule is for the truly homeless, not the between homes, if between the election and now he’s found a home I doubt he’s what the law thinks of as homeless, and most homeless people don’t have blackberries or their very own radio show, needless to say some one known for braking the law if he doesn’t like it shows up and says something fishy about being homeless, I shoot you down too, though it’s very very cute that you’re acting like you’d never brake the law and lie like that how dare they see you as anything but law abiding, see you at 4:20

Chris on Sun, 15th Nov 2009 8:38 am

Max, I think you’re confused.

If you live in NH, you pay NH property taxes, local and state. If you’re renting, taxes are overhead for your landlord, just like any other business, so they’re worked into your rent. If you own a home in Keene, you’re paying some of the highest taxes in the state.

I just purchased a home (not in Keene) and my taxes are outrageous. I pay just shy of half of my income in taxes of all forms. From the tax I pay on my phone service, gasoline and heating fuel to my federal & state income taxes, my property taxes and all the taxes in between.

All just to fund the near constant harassment of my friends, family and neighbors. What a lovely system.

thinkliberty on Sun, 15th Nov 2009 1:24 pm

@Max

Homeless people do have blackberries. Especially the recently homeless. If you have lost your job or had your home foreclosed on and can’t afford rent should you give up your phone number?

How will you find a job without a phone number and email address? After you send your resume to a company how will that company contact you?

Maybe Homeless people should just throw away their cell phones, when their homes are foreclosed on after losing their job? Because in this economy they won’t be able to find a new job.

Not everyone gets a government bailout to keep their businesses open.

Those recently homeless people don’t have the right to vote?

Ian on Sun, 15th Nov 2009 1:36 pm

Max,

I understand your confusion. Have you ever voted? What they want to know is that you are “domiciled” in a particular ward. They have no way of verifying where someone really lives, so they have affidavits that one can swear to one’s “domicile”. Normally when said affidavit is filled out, one is allowed to vote. In this case I was denied, despite swearing living in Ward 4?

Think for a moment about what you’ve said. Do you really think the government should be verifying where a homeless person’s tent for the night is? That’s an impossible request, therefore do you think homeless people should not be allowed to vote since they don’t necessarily stay in one place?

Fact is, the only thing that should really matter is whether the person is only voting in one location. For that purpose, swearing that one lives in a specific ward should be enough. There’s no reason besides demanding obedience from the serfs to get an exact location.

ELKFART on Sun, 15th Nov 2009 2:24 pm

TO: Name(required): I can’t, don’t & won’t agree 100% with your criticisms to Ian, above, but I do agree(somewhat) with your assessment of the “freestaters/keeners/whatevers…”, and in this case, Ian. What I most want to point out, and reinforce, is that you made several valid criticisms, but they were ignored. In the responses you’ve gotten, they have all focused on minor irrelvancies, and ignored the larger, more substantive issues that you’ve raised. Yes, guys, there are many, many “allies” here in Keene, and we would like to help you guys be more effective in what you do. But, if you insist on remaining so *SELF-brainwashed & SELF-deluded*, and can’t, don’t or won’t, at least begin to learn some of what we’re trying to help you guys with…well,…How long has Kurt been in jail???…What legal documents have been filed where, on his behalf???…what Lawyer is involved with his case???…”the more things change, the more they stay the same. C’est la vie, c’est la guerre, c’est la mort…//// As for ” mark with your own private property rights as your first “success” then pay your …” well, how well did *THAT* work out for Randy Filiault???…OH! Sorry, Randy, I’m a city employee, but I don’t know what ward your new condo is in! Oh! I know! Ward 2! No, wait! Ward 3!..How about ward 1!…And no, Ian, you were *NOT* “homeless” when you went to vote. Fight with your girlfriend? Hey, it’s your house, kick the bitch out. Man up, pussy….*grin*…ooooh!…

Ian on Sun, 15th Nov 2009 2:27 pm

Many documents have been filed. Aubern is working with a liberty-oriented attorney who is working for free and doing an amazing job. If you know of a document that would work, I recommend posting on the Free Keene Forum, where the discussion is happening.

This blog is more news and idea oriented. The activism is mostly happening in the forum.

How do you know I didn’t kick myself out? I can be homeless if I choose to be.

ELKFART on Sun, 15th Nov 2009 4:20 pm

“How do you know I didn’t kick myself out? I can be homeless if I choose to be.”

Jeezum crow, Ian, why not also add “neener-neener-neener”, or thumb your nose at me. or something. Like I said, “man up, pussy.”…***2X*grin***<—that's a doublegrin…

ELKFART on Sun, 15th Nov 2009 4:36 pm

….if I “know of a document that would work.”…WTF???…In thinking about this, I don’t even know what happened. “Obscured Truth” seems ubiquitous around here these days…I asked Sam how come the original video doesn’t start until *AFTER* Kurt is handcuffed on the Courtroom floor…but there is *AUDIO* from before that…I got the usual “double-speak” non-answer that we have(very sadly)come to expect from you guys…I’m nearly at the point of publicly denouncing you guys, and maybe even helping get rid of you guys…See, what name(required) was *ALSO* saying, in the post above, is that you people need to get your shit together, or get out. not gracefully phrased, I admit, but…….When your(“freekeene’s”)”reporting” leaves more questions than answers, folks either get turned off, or else they just don’t learn the whole story. Much as I disagree with most of NAME(REQUIRED)’s worldview, he(she?) makes good points. I think that name(required) is FRED PARSELLS!…his house is literally around the corner from Eli Rivera’s…No, I don’t “relish in their failure” of anybody. That’s a very sociopathic thought-process, which is one reason I think it’s Fred. (Maybe you guys should have made more effort to develop and maintain relationships with sympathetic locals…

Russell Kanning on Sun, 15th Nov 2009 7:09 pm

i guess if you want to vote in keene you will have to prove you live in some house

Ian on Sun, 15th Nov 2009 8:16 pm

Elkfart,

There was no video because no one had filed to record. I arrived late and began recording as soon as Burke left the room, hence why the video picks up when it did.

Hope that’s clear!

Ian on Sun, 15th Nov 2009 8:16 pm

Pretty sure Name is not Fred.

Hypocricy on Mon, 16th Nov 2009 3:27 am

Ian, you are one that always seeks precise definitions of words and it is clear you were being disingenuous when you stated you were homeless.

At no time were you one without permanent housing during this escapade. You first suggested some feud with someone living at your home that forced you out of the property and it just so happened to be on election day.

Now, you suggest you can kick yourself out of your own house for a few hours, be “homeless,” and then waltz right in hours later to conduct your radio show.

If you want to argue that anyone should be able to vote in Ward 4 without proof of residence then that is one thing, but don’t insult everyone’s intelligence while arguing you were a homeless victim that was disenfranchised on that day while still paying thousands of dollars in property taxes and complaining about it every week across America on the radio.

Not to mention your plan to get enough people to stop paying property taxes and your well-documented fight for your tenants “right” to have a couch on your lawn.

The folks manning the polls that day knew very well what you were alleging was incorrect. If you want to argue that anyone should be able to swear affidavits and vote wherever they like with full knowledge that that system is unworkable and would require much larger enforcement mechanisms, then go ahead, but I had the understanding that you were for less government and not more.

Most natives love the idea of the free state project, but be mindful of how you present the message to the masses, and most importantly how you act.

Why does it seem you want to make enemies with those who have enjoyed the greater freedoms that New Hampshire residents have fought and enjoyed for so long?

Your few thousand dollars in property tax payment in all one dollar bills is but a pittance in the blood, sweat, dollars, and tears that has built this live free, or die state in this liberty loving bastion amidst the authoritarian northeast and the rest of the totalitarian “United” States.

So join us, do not act as if the natives are your enemy.

Ian on Mon, 16th Nov 2009 8:47 am

I think I was fairly nice considering I was being denied the “right” to vote.

I don’t want larger enforcement mechanisms, I want the end of coercion. I think people swear on affidavits all the time to be living places they are not. They are allowed to vote simply by swearing an oath. These bureaucrats would not treat me the same way.

A month earlier they refused to allow me to just give my street and withhold my house number – they want total obedience, and I don’t want to give it to them. Sorry you feel this is a personal attack against you.

KDus on Mon, 16th Nov 2009 6:08 pm

Ian, your activism must be perfect every time or you’ll destroy the Liberty movement.

HECAITOU on Mon, 16th Nov 2009 11:38 pm

To all & nobody in particular: I can, & will, show you where at least one “homeless camp”/ “tent in the woods” is in *EACH* of Keene’s 5 wards. Who knows which homeless who “lives” where???…and I hear the drunk-monkeys out behind Hannafords are actually working on a *CABIN*!…(as yet un-confirmed, but very plausible rumor as of 11/16/2009…) I was actually homeless, as in “tent-in-the-woods” homeless, (NOT, “girlfriend booted me homeless…*grin*), some years ago. When I voted, I went to the Ward I had last voted in, honestly, told the truth nicely, & was allowed to vote w/no problem…The whole point of Wards, in Keene, is this: Ward Councilors get 4 year terms, but must live in the ward they represent, and only votes in that ward count. “At-large” councilors only get 2 year terms, but they can count the votes in any & all 5 wards. It is sorts a like having a House & Senate…Works OK 4 me…

Scott on Tue, 24th Nov 2009 8:19 am

Ian. As an outsider, and fellow Anarcho-Capitalist, I would urge you to take a look at the goal of using the State against itself. For this purpose, activism of this nature defeats the purpose of using the State. You were clearly, not in a state of homelessness as you own property. Unless you either evicted yourself and abandoned the property and therefore allowed another to homestead your property in accordance with Rothbard, you were not homeless.

The goal of using the State should be to reduce and eliminate it. Taxation is number one. Providing equitable private institutions to replace existing theft funded State institutions is the solution, and is the goal. In light of this, it seems to me, you were being disingenious. Perhaps it might help to open For a New Liberty every once and a while to help get some perspective. I would only imagine that the Free Keener on the ballot was an Anarcho-Capitalist, it seems your quibble was trite.

Secondly, being a part of a group is not inherently against the philosophy of Anarcho-Capitalism. In fact, it is actually in line with it. It is an individuals right to associate and contract with whom he pleases under the contract he pleases. People get confused with voluntary associations and organizations, and coercive forceful involuntary ones. Collectivism is the latter, Anarcho-Capitalism is the former. Otherwise, you would never be able to run a commercial institution.

Ian, might I provide a little clarity. First and foremost while I applaud all the activism that you guys are doing, and hope to one day join, it should not be for transient and light reasons. We are (Anarcho-Capitalists) for the most part trying to educate and inform. Whether you like it or not, your behavior does reflect on the group as a whole. For this reason, civil disobedience against unjust laws that violate NAP and Natural Law, criminality like theft (AKA Taxation), should be performed if one so chooses. Taxation should be the number one priority, as it is inherently immoral, and moreover the number one intervention and distorter of the market besides the Federal Reserve.

I’ve heard that many natives say they generally support the cause of liberty, but every revolution has only happened with the education of a significant number of people. With a change in philosophy. We should be trying to reach out to these people and get them reading Jean-Baptiste Say, Murray Rothbard, Anne-Robert-Jacques Turgot, Ludwig Von Mises, Hans Sennholz, and the School of Salamanca. I believe working in and out of the system both by participation to eliminate via election and using the power vested in the State against itself for the purposes of liberty (Nullification, Interposition, etc. from the Federal Government, and then privatization of the State institutions, while eliminating all taxation), and by using Agorism and Civil Disobedience outside the system.

As a prospective mover and joiner of the FSP, and participatory member of the activism, I would urge you and, indeed — those who are anarcho-capitalists, to harken back to Rothbard. Think of voting as a contract. If you knowingly or unknowingly enter into a contract fraudulently, it is nullified. Now, I know for a fact these women most likely do not understand homesteading, but, they did at least get it right (That you were indeed not homeless).

Now, maybe I’m more entrenched in the intellectual encampment than the pure activist, who knows. I’m doing my part to trying to educate people about our ideology. I would like to see civil disobedience to taxation, and criminal imprisonment and restitution levies. Those are against NAP and Natural Law and resonate with (generally) the native population. How I would love to see NH nullify legal tender laws, and the Federal Reserve. Sometimes movements need clear goals and objectives. Establishing a sound monetary system in line with Hayekian principles would be a fine start! Allow private mints and businesses to accept any payment for goods and services, and the payment of debt. This I think, is a prime mover and could spark a general fire in the population.

In any event, I applaud the activism in Keene and NH itself. Hopefully, oneday, when I arrive I will bring a fresh perspective. Remember, we are libertarians, not libertines. Continue the activism!

libertydrew on Sat, 26th Dec 2009 1:22 pm

“I certainly do not consent to this insane system and its rules and now that they’ve denied me the right to vote, no one could claim that the NH representatives are my “representative body”, so I should be free and clear to stop paying them, right?”

nicely said and i really liked the nobody attempt
that should be on the ballot especially, if you only have one person running

keep up the good work