Why I Support “Free Keene”
You know…. as I read all the insults and hatred that is directed at both myself and fellow Free Keene contributors, I can’t help but think the vast majority of you making these rude remarks haven’t the slightest clue as to what exactly this blog is about. I think this because I’m fairly sure that if people really knew the logic behind things here that we would be supported, joined, and encouraged.
I think this because at one time I vehemently disagreed with Ian Freeman’s (the owner of this website) view of how a society can function without institutionalized violence. Not only do I now agree with him, I volunteer to help him by writing for his blog.
I am a native New Hampshire-ite. I am also a former NH law enforcement officer with eleven years of service.
Why am I here?
Why did I quit a decent paying job and walk away from an excellent retirement plan that people in the private sector could only dream of?
Why do I voluntarily subject myself to the vitriolic comments which this and my previous blogs attract?
Why did a girl who grew up in the Keene community decide to voluntarily swan dive her reputation in a similar fashion?
It’s simple. Our slowly increasing numbers don’t think violence is an appropriate solution to solving non-violent problems…. and we have the gonads to say it.
Every ordinance (no matter how trivial) that the Keene City Council enacts is a threat of violence or violence itself as a solution to a largely non-violent problem.
The alcohol ordinance is the hot topic. You think that people peacefully drinking alcohol in public is a problem? Okay, solve the problem without authorizing, threatening, and using violence and I guarantee you the Free-Keene-movement-minded people (like me, Heika, Ian, and Sam) will shut up about it.
The current non-violent “problem” of open alcohol containers is currently “fixed” by a police baton, a can of pepper spray, a taser, a cage, and ultimately a gun. Don’t you get it? I’ll tell you stories about how I turned to “legal” violence against people who did non-violent things if it better helps you understand.
We’re loud, persistent, and to some of you annoying BECAUSE we are hell bent on eliminating institutionalized violence as a solution to solving peaceful problems. It is amazing that being opposed to the **initiation** of violence is such a controversial position to take.
Is violence REALLY such a good thing that people who don’t want it to be socially acceptable deserve to be insulted, attacked, and opposed?
Do you believe that violence should be used to solve non-violent problems? I would have answered “NO!” seven years ago as I pushed around a Crown Victoria. My answer would have been “NO!” because I didn’t know any better. Once I knew better… I had to quit. I never want to be violent to the non-violent. But I was… 40+ hours a week.
Imagine how differently history would read if violence were never an acceptable solution to solving non-violent problems.
Imagine how different and peaceful the future could be if violence stops being an acceptable solution to solving non-violent problems.
The Earth doesn’t have to stay flat.
Par for the course around here: Advocate a society without institutionalized violence against peaceful people = get toasted in the comment section 
Comments
67 Comments on Why I Support “Free Keene”
no, the earth does not have to stay flat- unfortunately this enlightened perspective fell flat during the temper tantrum i witnessed during that interview between sam and james.
I am an anarchist and I would never lash out in anger. Mostly because I am not a very big person so anger and violence have never helped me to any good in my childhood.
There was no reason for Sam to act aggressively like he did and according to Smeg does quite often. It seems from my perspective that Sam needs to take some time off and face his anger issues. At this point he is a loose cannon and it is only a matter of time before it goes off for real and hurts someone.
I agree guys… Sam was out-of-line in how he responded.
Excellent post Brad and your story is truly inspiring.
Mitch,
Thank you very much for your kind words.
I’d just like to add to my previous comment about Sam that I respect him. He is a good guy who I think can do better.
I think he will.
I don’t see how Sam’s behavior is relevant to this opinion editorial. I agree Sam was out of line, let’s get past that. Brad hit the nail on the head with this piece, he struck the root, keep striking the roots people.
Looking forward to seeing Jardis Protection Agency in the free marketplace.
“Looking forward to seeing Jardis Protection Agency in the free marketplace”
^^^THIS!
Great post Brad! I think I’ll stick around for the comments.
I can’t wait to set my home security system to call Brad
Yep. Time for Brad to start up his own protection agency. I’ll buy.
Sorry officer, we won’t be in need of your services today…or likely ever. We’ve got Brad working for us.
I don’t want to go on about what he *will* do for us, as I’d rather speak about what he won’t do:
1) He won’t order us to identify ourselves or face a cage.
2) As a customer, he won’t beat us, or be rude, or call us names.
3) He won’t arrest us for drinking or smoking something in our front yard.
4) He won’t threaten us if we try to end the contract with him.
There’s more but I think you get it already.
Brad, thank you for writing for the Free Keene! It inspires me to know that someone who once had a career in institutionalized violence can see the situation objectively and become such an impassioned and articulate advocate of Liberty. Never mind the detractors. They are only proof that your message is hitting nerves as it should! Take care!
I have also come by to thank you, Mr Jardis. As someone who’s been eagerly watching from afar, you certainly are a brave one to speak out about the War on Drugs (Americans), among other things. It’s very commendable that even in the face of such vitriol and hatred, you have maintained your composer, where others could not.
Bravo, good sir!
Maintained his composure, I think you mean.
Unless you’re praising him for keeping his Mozart garden gnome well lacquered 
.
But I agree with your sentiments, and those of the author of the post above you.
So all of you want Brad to start his own “Protection Agency”. Kind of like a private police force? Like the Nazi’s had?
Oops! Thanks for the correction. To wit; he’d make an excellent liberty composer.
The Nazi police force was a private company funded through voluntary contributions? I must have overlooked that section of my history book.
So all of you want Brad to start his own “Protection Agency”. Kind of like a private police force? Like the Nazi’s had?
OMG, do you know millions of people in this country drive automobiles, and the Nazis drove automobiles too11!! I hear they also ate bread sometimes, and there’s a panera RIGHT IN KEENE!! PAnic Panic!
Sorry, I hope you don’t mind my sarcasm .
The problem with the Nazis was that they murdered innocent people, both at home and in aggressive invasions (and implemented other sorts of tyrannies). Nobody here is proposing that (I certainly hope).
I would want to hire Brad, instead of the police, for two main reasons:
1. Instead of using a big chunk of my money to arrest and imprison innocent people, or behave in other ways I find absolutely immoral, he would focus on protecting me and my home from harm (unlike police).
2. I can fire him if he does a bad job, or charges too much (unlike police). That makes him actually accountable. He’d also be personally liable for damages (unlike police).
I don’t think Brad would be in business long if he threw his customers in ovens??????
The parallels are not relevant. No company I know of wants their customers dead, or as a result of their service wants another person dead.
The best protection agency is the one with the best track record, which will get the most business. The best protection agency would be the one that uses minimal force, if force at all, to achieve their goals when necessary to protect private property or a person. This means more business!!!! More happy customers!!!!!
But haterz of the free market gonna hate, what can I say.
The whole protection thing sounds a bit like the organized crime people from the 20′s and 30′s who threatened merchants to join their protective association or their businesses would get blown up. You people may have valid points, but the language you use tends to turn away and make haters of what you are attempting to accomplish. Some thought on what you say and how you say it might make people that don’t like you now actually listen to you and consider what you have to say.
Just for the record, I do not support you, but I do support your rights to free speech.
In a private marketplace in the 20s and especially now, things like reputation and customer service are of the utmost importance. We haven’t had a free market in protection for more than a hundred years. In today’s economy, in a free competing marketplace, if one protection agency were to shake down people they would be ostracized in a myriad of media outlets such as websites, facebook, blogs, newspapers etc. A shakedown type shady protection company would not last, customers wouldn’t use their services, and victims would hire a customer service oriented protection agency to protect themselves from the shake down protection agency.
How long do you think a private fire company would last if they had a reputation or were suspected of setting fires. Especially in today’s media age, people would be communicating about it, insurance and private investigation firms would investigate and the company would go out of business and have it’s market share captured by a reputable fire service.
Ken Haskell-
“The whole protection thing sounds a bit like the organized crime people from the 20’s and 30’s who threatened merchants to join their protective association or their businesses would get blown up.”
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How is that?
Saying that people want a choice in what business they contract with for protection is like the mob?
What is like the mob is the current gov’t police who will harm anyone who doesn’t pay them money (taxes). The police will usually protect people; however more often the case is that the police will enforce arbitrary rules that make them money and have no accountability or obligation to protect you.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_v._District_of_Columbia
Just for the record, I do not support you, but I do support your rights to free speech.
Ken,
Thanks for commenting.
Just to clarify: you DO support the initiation of violence to resolve non-violent problems?
“The whole protection thing sounds a bit like the organized crime people from the 20’s and 30’s who threatened merchants to join their protective association or their businesses would get blown up.”
Isn’t that the EXACT business model of your government?
Ken, see what happens if you decide not to subscribe to the state’s “protection” services.
Then ask yourself whose tactics resemble the crime syndicates of the past.
I thank you all for your kind words and words of encouragement to start a private protection agency.
My current ambitions are about ten years out. With the influx of people who respect liberty, freedom, and the golden rule I believe that a decade from now I could have a decent chance at getting elected to a county level constitutional post where I could use the power of the state to seriously curtail the power of the state.
I’ll have finished my law degree by this time.
People who think that they can continue to use institutionalized violence against the peaceful should seriously consider moving elsewhere. The Free State Project is gaining momentum. The days of the state hurting the peaceful are slowly coming to an end.
This is a test……. no struggle, no progress.
I’m tired of hearing “shouldn’t haves” from Free Keene. The incident from Sam was not an isolated one, nor should he be singled out just because he was on camera while being an asshole. Whenever one of you is arrested on camera, you make a spectacle out of it by acting in an aggressive manner to elevate the situation just get a point across; however, whenever you are wronged, you look to the same institutionalized violence to resolve your problems. Stop acting like children– otherwise you’ll just be ignored.
First off, good job Brad on this post. I think it is critical for the Free Keene movement to allow cooler heads to prevail whenever engaging the public. While the shop owner with the coffee cup obviously was obnoxious & childish, he also was exercising his right to free speech and to demonstrate. I only saw the clips posted here and concede I may not have the full story. However, it appeared the incident occurred on “public” property & Mr. Shopkeeper had every right to be there.
I think the best way to have handled this situation, and those similar to it moving forward would be to treat the childish interloper as a child…ignore him, even if it means halting filming until he scurries away. Inconvenient, yes. But, it would probe a peace means by which to de-escelate a situation and you leave the “offender” with little ammunition to use against the movement.
A similar method could be used against government mob bosses (aka police). Instead of bodily interfering with an arrest of an activest (or any other non-violent (alleged) offender), vocally but respectfully object to the offending officer’s kidnapping. If the officer proceeds, have each individual witness separately file a variety of reports from ethics violations to civil rights violations citing specific and relevant statutes, case law or departmental policy. Of course, ensure the local media and blogosphere receive copies of the complaints.
I think this would be along the lines of the recent suggestion that reclosable bottles would tie up law enforcement resorces.
That’s my 2-cents. Thanks for hearing me out.
On another note, I’m looking to expand my BBM liberty chat group. So, if you’re a Free Stater, local Keenean, supporter, observer or even opposer, please hit me up on BlackBerry Messenger: pin:22C32540.
The incident from Sam was not an isolated one,
If others are acting like Sam did, I’m very sorry to hear that, and that needs to stop now. I hope anyone observing behavior like this by any individual, will bring it to people’s attention (as Sam’s was), rather than let it go unchecked.
Whenever one of you is arrested on camera, you make a spectacle out of it by acting in an aggressive manner to elevate the situation just get a point across;
Look, I don’t mean to be too strident, but if we’re really going to get down to it, arresting an innocent person IS aggression. If it were a private person kidnapping someone, what kind of responses would you say would be appropriate?
No, I don’t think yelling at cops is constructive behavior either, but you’ve got a severe double standard here. Also, there have been many, many folks who have been arrested and gone completely quietly (maybe you don’t hear about those folks). Yours is a very untrue over generalization.
however, whenever you are wronged, you look to the same institutionalized violence to resolve your problems.
What do you expect? You outlaw grocery stores, and then are surprised when a pro-freedom person shows up in the government bread line? Your government has seen to it that there ARE no alternatives to government courts or defense.
Stop acting like children– otherwise you’ll just be ignored.
It depends on what you mean by “acting like children”. I think activists need to behave a lot more like Gandhi or MLK, and undergo arrests quietly, showing peacefulness and genuine in their manner. Some let their anger get the best of them, and I agree that that needs to change.
Bradley,
As somone who nearly didn’t read your yet again over the top self aggrandizing masterbation peice, allow me to respond. Perhaps instead of discounting all vitriolic postings here and chalking every one up to sadistic violence worshiping robots you should think of framing things a little less grandiose and black and white terms. Part of the tragic failure of your small group of attention starved LARPers is that you dont realize you aren’t fighting a batttle with the public over revolutionary Ideas.
“More genuine love in their manner” is what I meant to say, at the end.
And I probably shouldn’t call it “your” government, or say that “You outlaw” things, that’s unfair. Rereading it, that post in general sounded a bit negative, sorry about that.
I’d really like to hear your thoughts on what the best issues for activists to address are, and what you think would be the best ways, and manner in which to do civil disobedience on those issues.
Whaaa whaaa people dont understand our philosopy!! Who cares Bradley, it isnt peoples responsibility to “understand” you when they see people running around in the town they have been living in, acting like assholes. As someone who believes strongly that privitization of most things government would further consolidate the present power structure even further, the notion of your philosophy seems bankrupt at birth. Thats besides the point though. Respect is something that is earned. When people dont know you they go on what they see you do and say..FK people who make public appearences come off as petulant children…plenty of folks have said it, oh wait People angry= this must be working …Listening to Ian set up the tired old radio man on “Talk back” is a perfect example…Bravo Ian…You got an old townie to struggle on a tiny radio station in a tiny town over a loaded question…fast forward a few hours and watch the idiots on here stroke his ego and pat him on the back like it was a fucking Walter Chronkite interview…Why dont they understand liberty?? The list goes on and on…..
Also, how long has it been since you worked Bradley? Fine you aren’t a cop anymore, you dont have any other skills to offer the job market? Many who I have talked to resent people who in the midst of the nations worst economic conditions in memory can afford to protest some of keenes most trivial ordinences under the banner of Freedom fighers(often during work hours) ..It looks so silly from the outside..So is Rich Paul missing work right now? Is he self employed? What is happening to his customer base if he is? Does he pay rent?
“many of us volunteer at the homeless shelter” Let me tell you something, making your bed when you get up at a homeless shelter isnt volunteering.
Ian an Sam are making money from all of this, but what about every one else?
People who smoke pot everyday aren’t really setting themeselves up for the win. Drinking and getting partialy nude in public arent things most productive adults engage in. Then your outside the school trying to touch…er I mean outreach to the students. The screaming fits, the idiocy and then the resentment when you arent taken seriously. This is how children act…
Oh and Bradley, you need to stop with the ex cop martyr to the cause bullshit..You were a burnt out small town cop who probably couldnt hack it. Your werent fucking Serpico you were Barney Fife… Heika was an unstable cocktail waitress who had been unraveling before being scooped up by the codependant toilet swirl of Free Keene..
First they ignore you
Then they laugh at you
Then they refuse to hire you and you have to move back to your moms basement
Even though you have a lot of anger in your heart, I still love you Name (required).
Brad, I hope you pay no mind to the insults, I think you wrote a fabulous piece, please keep up the good work. There is nothing wrong with taking some time for yourself after having the job you did for so long. You keep telling your story, you are an inspiration! I’m sorry you must see such negativity from others; but remember there are many others that simply adore you and I hope you choose to focus on that!
my thoughts exactly Heika
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There’s much to be said for appropriate behavior and as a supporter (albeit it from afar) of Free Keene and the Free State Project, there are some actions and behavior I would be reluctant to be associated with.
While I’m all for civil disobedience, I think self-control and conduct are key elements in getting our message across versus simply gaining attention just to have the movement dismissed.
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This poster obviously has a closed mind toward the ideals of liberty, and probably stands to lose more from a free society than most of the rest of us…work for government much lately?
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Agreed to an extent. While respect of an individual is certainly earned, respect for an individual’s inherent rights should be automatic. Government does not act on this principal.
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Agreed.
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Agreed. Actions often speak louder than words and the message could be lost in the deliver. Constructive criticism should always be welcome, and I thank you for pointing this out, though it is clear than many in the movement are aware of “bad apples” who are hot headed and quick to react.
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It does go on and on, mostly because it is extremely challenging to tell a person that everything they’ve staked their lives on is a lie. That their parents were wrong about “civic duty” and that their teachers were wrong about “moral laws” and the such.
We have to challenge people’s status quo daily and it’s tough to bear. I’ve been on the receiving end and it was hard facing the hypocrisies of my political beliefs.
Education is such a key part of any movement and it’s a slow battle that is counteracted by years of on-going government school indoctrination.
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That is such an irrelevant comment and it is as childish as you claim the Free Keeners are.
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Who cares what another adult does. Are these activists asking the state for handouts? I bet not. That is part of the problem with America’s mentality, they judge people (in and of itself not a bad thing) then want to enact governmental policies to deal with those people. How do you know that they don’t have jobs that only require an Internet connection and a phone number?
Mind your own business, which means stop supporting laws/ordinances that butt into my business.
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Does it matter? Has he stolen from your or panhandled your customers? Is he stealing from you, via government sanctioned welfare programs?
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Another cheap shot that I wonder if it holds any validity.
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Good for them.
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Why is it y our business? We don’t ask YOU how much you’re making or not.
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Agreed. But, it’s still one’s right to engage in non-violent, non-aggressive activities.
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Libel.
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What’s wrong with giving our youth the tools they need?
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Agreed. And, to an extent, this is how you come off in your rant.
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Do you know this for fact? Or, are you just trying to ruin a man’s reputation or credibility.
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Fact or fiction? And what does “unraveling” even mean?
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I knew a bunch of Germans who reacted this way, but it wasn’t basements the recipients of the hostility moved into.
Agent Scribe,
Were these Germans Nazis? Did you really wittness what I think you are implying?
Hey name (required). Notwithstanding your frequent insults and attacks… I will still respond to you in a way that hopefully you view as respectful.
Whaaa whaaa people dont understand our philosopy!! Who cares Bradley, it isnt peoples responsibility to “understand” you when they see people running around in the town they have been living in, acting like assholes.
The activists around Keene are doing these things to further their beliefs. There has been some activism that I disagree with… but I think the real “asshole” meter you are using to judge the activists is dwarfed by the cruel manner in which the state treats them for doing things that haven’t harmed anyone else.
As someone who believes strongly that privitization of most things government would further consolidate the present power structure even further, the notion of your philosophy seems bankrupt at birth.
So you support the initiation of violence against peaceful people to solve non-violent problems? It really is that simple.
If you do, I am sorry…. I wish you wouldn’t be so violent. I’d ask you to help us think of better ways to solve non-violent problems.
Thats besides the point though. Respect is something that is earned. When people dont know you they go on what they see you do and say..FK people who make public appearences come off as petulant children…plenty of folks have said it, oh wait People angry= this must be working …
I agree with you partly here. I can see how these things would be perceived by people that way. Can you help us think of better ways to get our message across? I’d surely listen.
Listening to Ian set up the tired old radio man on “Talk back” is a perfect example…Bravo Ian…You got an old townie to struggle on a tiny radio station in a tiny town over a loaded question…fast forward a few hours and watch the idiots on here stroke his ego and pat him on the back like it was a fucking Walter Chronkite interview…Why dont they understand liberty?? The list goes on and on…..
The way I came to understand liberty and the non-aggression principle is by logic tricks like the one Ian used on that interview. I find it useful to show people that their laregly held position of believing in non-violence is unworkable with thinking that the police should be out arresting peaceful people.
Also, how long has it been since you worked Bradley? Fine you aren’t a cop anymore, you dont have any other skills to offer the job market? Many who I have talked to resent people who in the midst of the nations worst economic conditions in memory can afford to protest some of keenes most trivial ordinences under the banner of Freedom fighers(often during work hours) ..
I understand what you are saying. Do you understand that it really isn’t the specific law that an ordinance addresses which is what we take issue with? We take issue with the manner in which the ordinance is enforced………. that being with violence. I agree that there are far greater laws that need to be scaled back before the open container one.
As holding an open container of alcohol in and of itself is an innocuious act, I think it is a good example of how the government will use threats of violence and actual violence to enforce it. I see what you mean… do you see what I mean?
It looks so silly from the outside..So is Rich Paul missing work right now? Is he self employed? What is happening to his customer base if he is? Does he pay rent?
I honestly don’t know, man.
“many of us volunteer at the homeless shelter” Let me tell you something, making your bed when you get up at a homeless shelter isnt volunteering.
Ian an Sam are making money from all of this, but what about every one else?
People who smoke pot everyday aren’t really setting themeselves up for the win. Drinking and getting partialy nude in public arent things most productive adults engage in. Then your outside the school trying to touch…er I mean outreach to the students. The screaming fits, the idiocy and then the resentment when you arent taken seriously. This is how children act…
I don’t make money from this… The only thing I get from writing things like this, generally, are insults from people like you and the hope that my contributions someday will lead to a society that can solve peaceful problems without violence.
Oh and Bradley, you need to stop with the ex cop martyr to the cause bullshit..You were a burnt out small town cop who probably couldnt hack it. Your werent fucking Serpico you were Barney Fife… Heika was an unstable cocktail waitress who had been unraveling before being scooped up by the codependant toilet swirl of Free Keene..
Yeah, I surely was no Serpico. I really wasn’t anyone important in law enforcement either. I was just a street cop who quit because he doesn’t believe in using violence against peaceful people.
I hope that by using myself as an example of a person who worked in a job that does immoral things I may be able to reach other police officers and help them understand that putting on a costume doesn’t make using violence against the peaceful a virtious thing.
I realize you think rather lowly of me. I respect your opinion of me.
First they ignore you
Then they laugh at you
Then they refuse to hire you and you have to move back to your moms basement
I know you disagree with many of the things that Free Keene activists do. Do you think that it is possible that we are well intentioned people who may be not always the most diplomatic at expressing our message?
Thank you for posting here and offering your opinions.
Brad for Sheriff!! Glad to hear about the law degree.
Name Required: actually many of the activists are involved in advancing stronger economic policies through the free market, myself included. The propblem is, you pick and choose what activism you pay attention to, which unfortunately are only the sensational events. Would you like to see more agorism take place? Wouldn’t that create jobs in these tough times? Or would you rather bitch about it in a very rude way? Have you become what you hate?
You’re also not the first person to suggest that Free Staters don’t have jobs, which is far from the truth. I work full time, as do most of my friends. And my mother doesn’t have a basement. I’m not going anywhere. I moved to Keene because this is where I want to be.
And how exactly would privatization of services (therefore breaking their respective monopolies) consolidate power? Wouldn’t it be the opposite? Wouldn’t many companies then compete for your business? How is the power more centralized if there are more organizations providing the goods/services?
I don’t think I said that I “saw,” but I did say “knew,” which also was inaccurate. I “knew of” through history and such….yes, the Nazis.
Agent Scribe,
I just wanted to clarify before I commended you on the intellectual laziness and disrespect for human tragedy it takes to pick the low hanging fruit of Godwins law… I playfully modify an over used Ghandi saying and I end up a genocidal facsist?..Bravo Scribe…might I suggest a trip to Poland next winter so you can explain to the Camp curator you can imagine what happened here, you after all came face to face with a Nazi on the interwebs..Next time you feel the need to evolk the memory of millions of dead souls in comparison to the mild taunting of spoiled children please feel free to exercise a little more humility..
That being said, if you want to know how I feel or think please take a look at my other posts, most of your questions have beed addressed there.. As you are watching this carnival from afar, no doubt all you can make out are the colors, lights and possibly the faint sound of the organ music on the horizon..The actual spectacle is far more obnoxious when it has set up shop in your yard..I don’t really know who you are but I grow tired of outside voyers from accross the country sounding off on characters they dont really know in a place they probably have never been. Every fan boy out there should go back to wanking into a flannel to the mental image of Milton Friedman and Ayn Rand trying to rape eachother.
Bradley,
Institutionalized violence does not end with the privitization of all recources services and infrastructures..They just become private market driven institutions. So your little trick of Im either with you or for hurting peacful people isnt exactly an intellectually honest argument is it? Im sorry you had to be duped with Ians word tricks and simplifications…Adults have meaningful conversations..When you begin to hear repetition in catch phrases, when the questions you are asked are fframed or contain a strawman its a bad sign bradley. Here read these three or four books and youll get it..We can all live together with the benevolant invisible hand to guide us….human frailty Bradley is what stands between you and your little world, not the government.
Luther,
Eradicate the government and all of the regulation that comes with it, and the anti trust laws that mildly kept Corporate consolidation from becoming absolute would quickly give way to the Mega Corps. where there was once only what you call a government monopoly Is now probably one company or two. I here a lot of “there hasn’t been a true free market” Its time to ask why? If it was the natural way it would have happened naturally. Would you rather be put on trial by Lockeed Martin Justice Affiliates or down at the courthouse? There is always a man with a gun when you live among men. What did you think, It would be some sort of liquidation sale and we all start off on the same page?? Did you think you would actually get to own your own stretch of road?? What if people want violent police for their gated community? You think the oppression is in the Government..Its like blaming the gun for the bank robbery..So the power brokers in Washington dont become private consultants?? Grow up..Power doesnt go away and it consolidates natrualy like oil when you put oil into water…
If you are brining jobs to Keene and adding to something other than obnoxious attention seeking controvercy welcome to Keene…If you are doing something interesting reach out to the community..Perhaps there is something people here can do for you. Also feel free to smoke as much pot as you want and drink till your heart is content, most folks would appreciate it if you didnt do it on the town square when folks might want to be their with the kids and stuff, Its pretty fucking rude.People associated with groups take the good with the bad Im afraid..Mabey the Free Keene brand has been overly tainted by the likes of Ian and Sam and some of the more gullible ones mabey its time to go out on your own..Non Douches for Liberty or something…hey tainted has the double meaning with Ian and Sam…cool
I don’t see what is wrong with peaceably (and quietly) drinking a beer or smoking a joint at the park. I don’t see it as rude at all.
Yeah, vince I don’t really either, i was really talking about bullhorns and the stuff that happens on the square..I dont think a sneaky joint down by the river is a big deal. having wine or a beer with a picknick is also nice. When people really want to do their own thing and be left alone thats what they do..I was talking about the spectacle..should have been clearer.
Yeah, I’m no fan of bullhorns, or intentionally impinging on other people’s ability to enjoy the day.
Try to accommodate your own needs/wants, and those of others, I say.
It wouldn’t be a spectacle if individuals were allowed to do these things. That’s why the spectacle was made, to raise awareness that these are things a person should have the choice to do or not to do. If we didn’t have laws hindering our right to do what we wanted without harming others, there would be no need to make a scene!
Heika, I certainly agree with standing up to bad laws, I just think it should be done in a way that minimally impinges upon other people. I like principled civil disobedience, but it’s important to take care not to drive folks away.
It’s no use worrying about the past, and I don’t want to sound overly negative — a lot of outstanding things have been done too. I just hope people in the future will think about how to take a stand, and disobey bad laws publically, but in a way that isn’t likely to impinge upon average people’s ability to enjoy themselves.
Heika,
Raising awareness, is that like teaching a lesson? If only people did this we wouldnt have to do that. Its funny to see how much like the state many of you are, the public needs to be educated weather they asked for it or not, so open up and take abig bite of the FK shit sandwitch..does that sound familiar to you? The police dont even enforce that law as it pertains to you…Real fascists…Heika, you are rude, I dont think you are evil or even immoral you are just sort of a dick head. While there isnt a law against that sort of thing the glue that keeps us together and lets us live together in proximity is a little thinner with you, your like the loud person in the restaurant who yells accross the room to ask what your friend wants..Explaining what you are doing to little kids is infringing on the liberty of people who want to have that talk a little later in life with them. Its not against the law to tell a 6 year old about Santa Clause(or any other makebelieve entity, jezus, John Gault) but its shitty. “just want to be left alone” “as long as we’re causing no harm” …….not really…..your definition of alone and harm are subjective.
Also, of all the human tragedy that befalls our species on a daily basis, you have chosen to use your considerable energy on this…Its hard to take someone with so much passion for public drinking/drugg ordinence seriously…Why dont you join an NGO and go help people who need it..Pretty sure the Sudan is still fucked up…Pakistan is underwater..Don’t care about forigners? Louisiana is still screwed…If your going to flush half of your friends and family down the toilet at least make a real difference. And Im pretty sure they have Starbucks there….pretty prolific brand..
I think the use of bullhorns can be quite entertaining and informative if done correctly. Take a look at cveitch on youtube. They do some good stuff with the use of bullhorns.
Cveitch is great, that’s true. Perhaps if the volume is moderate and the tone is lighthearted.
heika, you want to have the right to use a bullhorn? that is the battle that you are picking? i just want to understand the basics here.
vince, do you see a problem with a person free-basing cocaine and injecting heroin in the park?
and i want to make it clear, i’m just trying to get a clear understanding of ideas- i’m not being aggressive towards anyone’s views or values, so please don’t interpret my words that way.
Max, the problem is with the ‘public’ ownership of the park.
If the park were privately owned, the owners could make rules either allowing or banning any type of activity, and park consumers could choose the park that most closely fits their value set.
Really, the activity is a side issue, and the one the government people will harp on because they don’t want people to see the REAL problem, which is that 30,000 people cannot ‘own’ the same thing and all extract value from it.
BTW I saw some of the comments above about Sam. I have indicated that I am going to boycott Sam’s work on this site and others because of his questionable behaviors.
I want to say that I hate to do this, as Sam and his phone calls to FTL and his move to NH were very inspiring and liberating to me.
My feeling right now is that I’m a litlle creeped out by Sam. I won’t go into the specifics here because Ian doesn’t like it and I have a lot of respect for Ian.
With that said, I forgive easily. Very easily. Don’t really have enemies, and don’t want any.
I’m just waiting for Sam to say the right thing, and be honest about himself. I have decared on these forums and on the radio that I was the worst kind of bigot and nationalist in the past, and I have been in trouble for (admittedly drunken, I no longer drink) violence against others.
I have owned my faults, admitted my mistakes, and learn from them, as well as answering whatever others want to ask of me about feeling and behaving in those ways, and how i converted to being peaceful in every way. FTL and FreeKeene have everything to do with that, and I will continue to frequent these pages and support these people and their ideas.
Thank you, Ian, and everybody else here, for showing me the road to inner peace. Sam, I love you buddy, be a man and admit fault for your failings so I can resume my enjoyment of your activism.
Thanks
NR: how would any corporation exist without a government, much less these “mega-corps”? Do you even know what separates a corporation from a regular business? Would you shop at a business that used violence to run out its competition? it seems to me that a company would rely heavily on its reputation to gain and/or maintain a healthy customer base. A great example of this are the private garbage collection companies in the area. In Florida, they were more expensive, less efficient, and had very poor customer since maintaining peoples’ business didn’t rely on good service.
I can’t help but notice that heavily regulated Florida (where I moved from) has fewer mom and pop businesses, as the cost of doing business is high making it harder for smaller operations to even start a business, much less run one. That doesn’t seem to be as much of a problem in northern New England, where there is less regulation. If what you’re suggesting is true, the correlation between corporatism and less regulated markets would be evident in this region. I would suggest brushing up on some basic economic principals. I highly suggest reading Mises, Rothboard, and Hayek.
NR: What businesses have you ever supported because they pissed you off? None, right? Wouldn’t they gain more business by making you happy? Isn’t that how commerce works? If goods and services aren’t being traded for the mutual benefit of all parties involved, then why would anyone enter into such agreements? If what you say about regulating the marketplace is true, then wouldn’t there be a correlation between less regulation and more corporations? Why aren’t there less mom and pop businesses here in Keene as opposed to other highly regulated places I’ve lived? Just look at the garbage removal services in the area. They are granted government monopolies in other places I have lived. As a result, they are more expensive and have poor customer service because the incentive to make their customers happy has been removed.
I suggest you brush up on some basic economic theory. I highly recommend Mises, Rothboard, and Hayek. Also, Dr. Mary Rewart’s book ‘Healing Our World” gives excellent, real life examples of how government regulation impedes small businesses from starting up and staying afloat. It’s available free on this website.
As far as smoking/drinking in the park goes, I see families there all the time, even during the 420 celebrations. Don’t the night caps take place late at night? How many children are out and about at midnight? If you feel these are bad habits, then it is your responsibility to talk to your children. If you use honesty, compassion, and logic, they will listen.
No one has forced you to pay attention to this message (except when a bullhorn is used, which I openly oppose); you make that choice yourself. I think the group that opposes some of the tactics used is very exciting news. I intend to join them in voicing my opinion about the tactics that I dislike.
Oops. That posted the first time. Sorry, not trying to be redundant.
I just re-lacquered my Mozart garden gnome. How am I doing, kids???…
Most of this bullshit belongs on the Forum. Any more OFF-TOPIC, and we’d be discussing doilies & Ring-Dings…Sometimes, I guess, “freedom from authority” also means “freedom from making sense”…
#
max allison on Tue, 24th Aug 2010 10:50 am
vince, do you see a problem with a person free-basing cocaine and injecting heroin in the park?
and i want to make it clear, i’m just trying to get a clear understanding of ideas- i’m not being aggressive towards anyone’s views or values, so please don’t interpret my words that way.
—–>Let me answer that one: When I was a kid, I watched a guy inject \”heroin\” -(I assume it was heroin, what else would it be?) – while sitting on a bench in the COMMON(what some of you still insist on calling a \”park\”…). Watching that guy \”shoot up\” was the one thing that kept me from doing \”needle drugs\”. So, that\’s one time, at least, that even a junkie bootin\’ up did some good…
keenenative, thanks for your story. i’d still like to hear from vince
Viper, you’re a good man for your honesty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
KEENENATIVE, that’s exactly what this lots trying to make legal in Keene. I’ve had 3 friends die from drug usage.
I’ve seen enough!
The free lot wants dead people from drug usage in the Central Square area to show they have succeeded in getting their work.
Mind you there would be no government services to deal with it, as they are footing the bill for ‘clean-up’.
Ever seen “the Stand”?
They want that.
do you see a problem with a person free-basing cocaine and injecting heroin in the park?
I don’t support drug use, especially hard drug use. I think people who use hard drugs need medical care, intervention by friends, etc. I also think the war on drugs is doing massive amounts of damage, both in lives and property, on a far more massive scale than even alcohol prohibition.
I consider certain behaviors in the park to be inconsiderate of others, and I hope folks will take care in the future to be more considerate.
Ultimately, I wish the park were owned by a community organization, and people were not forced to fund it. Then, rules could be set as to what behavior will be allowed or disallowed in the park. As it is, we’ve got a tragedy of the commons situation.
paul, thanks- i find everyone’s perspectives interesting and appreciate them.
Dennis, a violent group demanding that people not consume this substance or that on penalty of punishment will not stop people from consuming those substances. If it would, it would have worked by now.
Look at the example of Portugal, where drug use was decriminalized, and while there was a small spike in drug usage immediately thereafter, overall use has gone down, and black market drug related deaths have plummeted, as people can now seek help for their addictions without fear of punishment.
I know it’s hard to watch loved ones perish over a stupid buzz, but seriously, man, forcing people not to do something has never worked and it never will.
Understanding and compassion beat control and punishment every time.
HEY! I got a “2-fer” on the cut/copy/paste thingy!!!…WOO HOO! And, they are both relevant! I’m sorry that you’ve only lost 3 friends. I have lost more than 3, and some of those died from LEGAL, PRESCRIPTION DRUGS! —>1st copy/paste, from COPBLOCK.com: “If these cops can’t find anything better to do than strongarm their way into elderly peoples’ home to look for marijuana, its time for them to trim their force down.#”….Now, Dennis, I haven’t seen “The Stand”. Isn’t that a movie from a Stephen King novel? What’s it about? I agree that there are no easy answers to the “drug problem”, but that “WAR ON (some)DRUGS(sometimes), is WORSE THAN THE PROBLEM. Like, why do we need a methadone clinic in Swanzey???…Where does all that heroin come from? Um, Afghanistan. Turkey. Mexico. If it weren’t for the DRUGWARS, the street cost would be a fraction of what it is. No more grossly-inflated street prices, for one thing…When you suggest that anybody here wants to see people die of a drug OD, are you just being stupid, or are you just stupid? You sound scared. Just because there’s a movie called “The Stand”, do you think that means it will happen? Maybe that means it WON’T happen. As for “Nazis”, look what Pol Pot, Idi Amin, Stalin, Mao, etc…did to their own people. The “nazis” have no monopoly on evil. Again, I am truly sorry that your 3 friends died of “drug usage”. What drugs did they use? I want to be sure to avoid those drugs. Just as I avoid pharmaceuticals. Pharmaceuticals, & alcohol, killed as many NH folks last year, as illegal drugs did. What have you got to say to THAT, kiddo???…
Dennis on Thu, 26th Aug 2010 4:30 am
KEENENATIVE, that’s exactly what this lots trying to make legal in Keene. I’ve had 3 friends die from drug usage.
I’ve seen enough!
The free lot wants dead people from drug usage in the Central Square area to show they have succeeded in getting their work.
Mind you there would be no government services to deal with it, as they are footing the bill for ‘clean-up’.
Ever seen “the Stand”?
They want that.”
…&if you really BELIEVE that, you really are full of crap…
Can’t argue with any of your sentiments Brad. I think your priorities are slightly out of whack however. I’d push this alcohol thing down the list a tad and start giving the topless crusade the attention it deserves. It’s a much better path to non-violence, IMHO.
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