Simplicity is one of the great strengths of Libertarianism. It allows a person to understand the legal consequences of his actions without consulting high priced lawyers or studying huge tomes filled with their ever changing statutes. This is probably the reason that there are so few Libertarian lawyers. Simplicity is the enemy of any privileged class.

Some people believe that they should, in some cases, be permitted to do violence against people who do things they don’t like, even though these people are harming only themselves. They argue that a person who takes drugs, for example, might possibly someday do some sort of harm to someone else, so he should be punished before he has the chance. Of course, this belief is absurd. Punishing someone because they might someday aggress would require, if applied consistently, the punishment of every person, since any human might someday commit an act of aggression. The law, however, should punish only criminals, not potential criminals.

Still other people believe that a sufficiently large majority should be permitted to do violence against a sufficiently small minority, in the democratic tradition. The belief that numerical “might makes right” is the ‘moral’ basis of democracy. The idea that the majority is always right can be easily dispelled with a simple thought experiment. Imagine a true democracy which consists of 9 men and 1 woman on an island. The men vote that the woman must have sex with all of them. According to the democratic ideal, this is perfectly acceptable, since the men outnumber the poor girl, and should she refuse their demands, then she  is a criminal. This is why Benjamin Franklin described democracy as “Two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner,” and why America was founded as a Democratic Republic, not a democracy. Sadly, modern America is closer to the democratic than the republican ideal. (Note: Please do not confuse these words with the political parties similarly named. The connections are lost in the mists of time.)

Libertarianism is, in my humble opinion, the only truly moral political philosophy. Whether it is expressed through a minimal State–like that specified by our Constitution–or through anarchy–private arrangements in the absence of any State–it is the only political philosophy which can bring peace and harmony to our society. If you would like to learn more about this philosophy, please check out the short youtube video “The Philosophy of Liberty,” the Free State Project, the Libertarian Party, or meet some real live Libertarians and the 4:20 rally which occurs every afternoon on the Keene Common, or the Night Cap which occurs every night around 11:00pm in the same place. You may also write to me at the address below:

Rich “420 Guy” Paul
C/O Cheshire County Jail
Cell Block ‘D’
825 Marlboro Street
Keene, NH 03431

Click to Enlarge

This comic was inspired by a controversy over the Shire Society Declaration.  The construction of the declaration was begun with a work by Libertarian author, L. Neil Smith.  Many changes were made after a lengthy discussion, but they remain quite similar according to a number of people.  I haven’t actually read the original work and I got turned off to the discussion for reasons described here.  I did ultimately find myself in enough agreement with the final product to sign it.

L. Neil Smith feels he has been plagiarized and has even mentioned that he CCed an email complaint to his lawyer, though I have yet to hear of any explicit threats of legal action.  This has resulted in a lengthy discussion of the notion of intellectual property and whether it’s a valid claim of property from a voluntaryist viewpoint.

One of the most eminently reasonable comments I’ve read about this controversy is from the Free Talk Live forum:

Even if you subscribe to the theory that L. Neil’s words and ideas are his even if you buy them from him, he still would not own the application of such, which is what the Shire Society did.

That would be like John Shaw writing a book on making flat screens or film editing and then claiming to own all the flat screens or films that readers may create in the future.

And in fact, it seems like he’d be really proud that someone was inspired enough to want to put his idea into motion in such a bold way.

My own views of intellectual property are a bit nuanced.  I definitely don’t believe anyone is entitled to damages or restitution because someone copied, not stole, your shit.  In that sense, I’m completely anti-IP.  On the other hand, I believe in the notion of IP in the sense that you can own an idea to the extent that you can “protect it” without violence.  You can either keep it secret or you can do a good enough job of branding it or at least date-stamping it so others will have difficulty claiming it as their own.  That doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be able to make money off of copies but it might help you to counter that and make the money yourself in a peaceful manner.  I’m also a big fan of people expanding on ideas and making them better.  I think claims of damages for copying are unreasonable and they impede that creative process which many consumers stand to benefit from.  I’m also a big fan of reverse-engineering actual physical products and making your own versions of them, possibly improved or just at a lower price.  Patents are bullshit.  This is something else that consumers stand to benefit greatly from.

The work above is actually an original work by Davi Barker.  Sure, he constructed it with slightly modified pieces of my comics, but it’s an original work that I feel he deserves credit for creating.  My comics are instantly reproducible and therefore not at all scarce.  It’s my responsibility to figure out how to make money from such a product.  I do feel I deserve the common courtesy of being given credit for the building blocks of it, but that doesn’t imply damages or restitution of any sort, and he did give me credit.  He was able to construct his comic without doing any damage to me or my property whatsoever.  It seems absurd to claim “damages”.  Such a claim relies on the absurd notion that you are entitled to make money off your works.  In fact, because he did provide such an obvious credit to the building blocks of his work, his comic will most likely act as free promotion of my works!  Why should I complain about that?

Perhaps it’s because once they move to NH, liberty activists and get involved in their community in whatever way they think is best. Many volunteered for Project Graduation this weekend. Lots of activists helped repaint a local church when it was vandalized by a supposed anarchist. Some have volunteered for organizations like the Community Kitchen and Hundred Nights shelter, while others have contributed financially to those organizations and the United Way. There have been many food drives for the Kitchen as well as a book drive for the new jail. Certainly there are many charitable things that activists have done on their own that I am not aware of.

Activists also get to work. They are young, single, and don’t have a lot of free time or money to spend, so they are working more-than-full time, building wealth, and becoming integral parts of their workplaces, continually building relationships and in many cases, taking managerial roles.

Families are beginning to arrive. The Monadnock Families for Liberty has been formed and has recently had an awesome get-together involving nearly two dozen adults and six kids.

Fact is though, we’re still only talking about a few dozen movers here. This is still the ground floor, and yet there has been so much attention given to the activism here. All of the local news coverage (not to mention national and international coverage by Cannabis Culture, the Drug Reform Coordination Network, Boston newspapers, the AP, and others) is just evidence of the effectiveness of this movement.

Of course, as it should be expected, the local newspaper keeps getting it wrong. They really misreported the School Sucks Project outreach, among other things. Is anyone really shocked that the mainstream press is attacking us? It’s because the activism here has been effective. “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.” I’ll let you decide what stage the Keeniacs are in.

For each of the haters there are others who love us. What are the ratios? No one knows. The negative experiences happen almost exclusively online and specifically at the Sentinel comments section. From the stories I hear, liberty activists are widely appreciated by their non-activist associates. If they have heard nasty rumors, they are quickly wiped away by the renown of the liberty activist they know. We’re winning hearts and minds, but it’s tough to get through to the black-hearted statists that read the Sentinel. You can’t please everyone and shouldn’t bother trying.

The same people that complain (in this case the Sentinel editors) would have been upset no matter what we did. Liberty activists are here to change the status quo to a peaceful, consensual society, and the supporters of the coercive status quo will be upset, period. Rumors will fly and the best way to eliminate the rumors is to touch people’s lives personally and positively so they no longer believe what they are hearing around town and in the Sentinel. All is well.

While I was serving at the restaurant where I work the other day, one of my tables consisted of a wonderful couple who shared my passion for politics.

They self-described as Democrats, but at one point during our conversation complained about the excessiveness of property taxes in this state and nodded their heads in agreement to my call for a smaller, more local government.

They even laughed when I told them the story of my friend who was open carrying in Manchester and a cop asked him, “Why would you carry a gun in the most dangerous ward in all New Hampshire?”

Side note: If Democrats who support smaller government, gun rights and are anti-taxation seem natural to you, then you’ve never met most California Democrats — gun rights is a scary, scary phrase there.

This started after an introductory conversation led to me revealing my birthplace, after which I had to explain why I moved all the way from warm, sunny California to freezing cold New Hampshire.

My typical reply is simply, “Politics.”

I feel that response leaves enough room for questioning if the person is interested enough to know more, but does not give too much away, too soon, that I might offend them (after all, I am waiting on their table during all of this and would like to keep my job).

Many times now I have had conversations start out just like that, and each time they have slowly led into more and more detail about various political positions that I hold, why I hold them, and, seriously, really though, why on earth would I move away from warm, sunny California to freezing cold New Hampshire?

I answer all their questions honestly and have been consistently pleased to find nothing but genuine curiosity and overwhelming sympathy for my pro-freedom, anti-government feelings.

The couple the other day was no different. In fact, almost all of my personal experiences with people in this wonderful state have led me to believe one thing firmly. And that is what, every day, helps me reach an increasingly clearer answer to that most persistent of questions: “Why freezing cold New Hampshire?”

Because nothing makes me happier than living in a state where I get to meet individuals who, according to people from many parts of this country, are utter contradictions, but who I see as blessed beacons of hope that liberty can and will be achieved in our lifetime.

I see that Pam Martens has brought her misinformation to the pages of your fine newspaper and felt inspired to respond, as one of the much-maligned “free staters.”

Pam wrote:

“A majority of Free Staters currently in New Hampshire have indicated they want to replace public education with home schooling and private schools; they want to end all government regulation of businesses, from licensing manicurists, to getting drivers licenses, to elimination of planning and zoning boards. They don’t believe government should be able to mandate taxation to pay for schools, roads, Social Security or any social welfare programs like nursing homes.”

First, I highly doubt Pam has spoken with a majority of free staters, as there are more than 800 of them here in New Hampshire. Of course, the New Hampshire liberty movement is much larger than that. So-called “free staters” are merely the backup for the already existing liberty lovers here, many of whom are natives, unlike Pam.

What she doesn’t understand is that most liberty-oriented people I know are in favor of many of the things she talks about, minus the coercion. I’m fine with schools, roads and helping the poor. In fact, I contributed a significant amount to the United Way during last year’s funding drive, because I believe in charity.

However, government is not charity. It is force. I cannot support using the evil means of aggression to achieve good ends of helping people in need. We can help people in need without aggressing against our neighbors.

I support education, but not an education system funded by the threat of stealing peoples’ homes, which is how the government system is funded.

Who doesn’t support having roads? The idea that we can’t have roads without stealing from people is pretty absurd.

As far as regulation is concerned, I support responsible business, but I don’t believe the government is the organization to keep an eye on them, as I don’t support violent monopolies. It would make far more sense to have competing private certification companies and other market watchdogs, like local media and consumer groups rather than the one-size-fits-all government monopoly regulator/licensing bureaucracy.

Neighborhood associations are consensual ways to influence what your neighbor does with his property.

Planning and zoning departments of government are again, just more monopolization and violence. Houston proves there is no need for zoning. It’s one of the largest cities in America, and is unzoned.

Pam and others with a penchant for controlling people’s property should just move into deed restricted areas. Then they can argue over which paint color is appropriate. The rest of us who just want to be left alone should not be forced to have to deal with people with control issues.

The only part Pam got right is that free staters don’t tend to like taxation much. That’s because taxation is theft.

I don’t know who Russ Kotifla is. She claims he wants to stifle debate, but I and the other liberty-minded people in this area are more than happy to discuss these issues.

In fact, I have invited both Pam and her husband, Russ, onto my nationally syndicated radio program to have that discussion, and she hasn’t even bothered to return my call or e-mail.

I even invited her into the studio so she needn’t fear being hung up on.

It must be difficult to logically defend a system of institutionalized violence. No wonder she resorts to blasting out misinformation about those of us who support liberty.

IAN FREEMAN
39 Central Square, No. 313
Keene
Edited for length

Here’s the text of his letter:

Pam Martens calls for an “untrammeled debate” on the issues (“We have a right to speak our minds,” Keene Sentinel, April 4), but before getting into any specific topic, we need to address the elephant in the room: Where do our rights come from?

Mrs. Martens writes, “rights are derived … from engaged citizens in a participatory democracy.”

She believes rights are granted by society, and denies individuals any natural rights of their own; what some might call “human rights.”

Her opinion conflicts with the simple idea that each of us has our own inherent, unalienable rights, and that government, democratic or otherwise, should be limited to protecting those rights.

The founders of our state and nation understood that idea and wrote it into the New Hampshire Constitution and America’s Declaration of Independence.

The Free State Project’s Statement of Intent adopts part of that idea, too:

“… the maximum role of government is the protection of life, liberty and property.”

That is the extent of the Free State Project’s “platform”: encouraging engaged citizens to move to New Hampshire and work to protect everyone’s rights.

If Mrs. Martens wishes to criticize that “platform,” or claim “most people don’t agree,” she’s certainly free to do so, but I have a hunch that most good and honest people in New Hampshire believe they have rights that not even a democracy can legitimately take away.

Note: I write herein on my own behalf, not on behalf of the Free State Project as its president.

VARRIN SWEARINGEN

If you found this website via Cannabis Culture, please take a look around – there’s a lot more happening here than cannabis freedom activism.

Here’s the text of the piece:

CANNABIS CULTURE – Activists from Keene, New Hampshire are working to create more liberty by challenging and bringing attention to absurd and outlandish laws.

The scene is Keene, New Hampshire, and our intrepid hero is one Mr. Andrew Carroll. Amid a gathering of friends and onlookers, this brave soul held aloft a piece of plant matter. His black trench coat and shock of red hair in stark contrast to the snow-covered square, Andrew dared to openly possess this innocuous natural substance: marijuana. Having advertised this event in advance to ensure a spectacle, the throng numbered a few dozen. A short speech was made, select lines from Nietzsche were read, and Mr. Carroll then offered to pass around the bud, allowing others to participate in this act of civil disobedience.

And lo, in the distance, the king’s men approached. Andrew scrambled to find the person holding the bud so that he could complete the act as intended. Two officers from the Keene Police Department made their way to our hero and engaged him in conversation.

Greetings were exchanged and Mr. Carroll held out his open hand with this small green item visible in his palm. When asked by the lieutenant if it was marijuana, Andrew snapped back, “Yes it is.” The arrest was made, the trial was conducted, and Carroll, not wanting to pay the $420 fine–really!–and give revenue to the state, spent nine days at the local house of corrections.

Dozens of New Hampshire activists are working to create more liberty by challenging and bringing attention to absurd and outlandish laws. Some have moved here with the Free State Project, an effort to recruit 20,000 liberty-loving people to relocate in a single area. Others are natives, or have come for such reasons as employment or schooling. Unless otherwise stated, everyone named resides in the Keene area.

These are individuals who have chosen to commit their blood, treasure, and sacred honor for liberty. Make no mistake: This is not just a couple of random dudes smoking and joking; there is a robust support network in place, and a community that can be rallied to support a person with very little notice. Andrew Carroll went to jail as mentioned above–but he did so by marching there from the place of his arrest, nearly thirteen miles, with a group of fifteen activists, holding signs and bringing more attention to the absurdity of imprisonment over a plant. That was almost a year ago, and the number of activists has swelled as more people move to New Hampshire, drawn by the movement that is just getting started.

It’s a Celebration!

Keene is a quaint little New England town, surrounded by forested hills and mountainsides, with an old-fashioned town center. It was September 12, 2009, and a political rally was being held at the Central Square; Rich Paul, Noah Wood, and several friends visited the rally and decided to smoke a joint. They had no idea of the fate that awaited them and the future of civil liberties in Keene.

The next day, Rich and Noah returned to the square at 4:20 P.M., and lit up again. This continued for several days–just the two of them and anyone who cared to join in, peacefully smoking a small amount of marijuana. No property damage occurred and no one was hurt. Our socio-economic system did not collapse due to the utter disregard for laws meant to protect us from ourselves.

Soon, Rich and Noah made mention of this daily ritual in their social circles. Over the next few days, more people began showing up, often bringing friends. Each time, marijuana was smoked and merriment ensued.

As destiny made inevitable, a reporter from a Manchester newspaper was in the area and decided to investigate the gathering. By this time, the smokers numbered around thirty, and, though ostensibly a private get-together, bystanders were invited. An article appeared in the Manchester Union Leader the next day, and, as though a switch had been pulled, the 420 gatherings turned from an under-the-radar revel to an open act of defiance against unjust and immoral laws.

Ian Freeman, host of the locally produced and nationally syndicated Free Talk Live radio show, leveraged his media resources, including the website FreeKeene.com, to drum up support for the next celebration, and the number of people in attendance began to soar. Activists from other parts of the state were alerted, and a rush of plans were made to head to Keene and take part in this activity. Many came through, and at 4:20 the next afternoon, the gathering boasted around seventy-five people, not counting the numerous onlookers across the street.

Reporters from other newspapers also made a showing, and the Keene Police Department arrived to observe the spectacle. The officers parked their cruisers and stood outside of them while not actually setting foot in the square itself. Many smokers could be seen passing joints or pipes, and selling brownies. The event went smoothly and peacefully, with no arrests.

Emboldened by the success of this first public event, the rallying cry sounded throughout the area. It was well-heeded: 130 people filled the square the next day. Once again, cannabinolic conviviality was conduced, and once again the police did not interfere with the smokers. They did, however, arrest one person on an unrelated warrant.

Watch videos from Keene 420 celebrations:
http://freekeene.com/2009/10/12/its-420-everyday-in-keene-day-5/
http://freekeene.com/2009/09/27/420-pot-party-day-3/
http://freekeene.com/2009/09/26/video-pot-smokers-help-stranded-motorist…

Crackdown!

September 26, 2009, turned out to be the sort of sunshiney Saturday made for good fun in the park with friends, a Frisbee, and a dog that will fetch errant throws. After two days of public smoking with police looking on, the activist spirit is fully charged and individuals are becoming more daring. Rich Paul and Noah Wood were being given credit in the media for starting and promoting the 420 at 4:20 smoke-out, and though they had run with the idea and done a great deal to promote it, it needs to be noted that there was no actual leader. Nevertheless, this day would prove to be a turning point for Keene.

Early arrivers were greeted by officers from the Keene Police Department, hovering around the fountain by the gazebo. Chuckles were had and quiet whispers were made as more and more participants crossed the street and entered the square. Conversation was attempted with the officers, but they were not there to exchange pleasantries.

With five minutes to spare before the fateful time, the officers left the square, much to the happiness of participants. When 4:20 struck, Rich Paul made a short announcement, and with a spark, the aroma of cannabis filled the air. Speckled with dots of daylight shining through the canopy of shade the trees provide, good friends filled the square with laughter and lively conversation. This day demonstrated that existence itself deserves celebration.

Fear and Doubt

The happy mood suddenly changed as two police officers crossed the street and entered the square. Several activists immediately trained cameras on them. Notice was given that they were being audio- and video-recorded as they started milling through the crowd, seeming to be searching for criminal activity. There was a tension in the air as participants wondered what would happen next. Some chose to wait for the right opportunity to smoke in secret. Others just watched and waited.

Rich Paul was standing in the center area by the fountain and had put a hand-rolled marijuana cigarette in his mouth as the officers walked away. He asked loudly for a light, and one man in blue started to head for Rich. Rich lit the joint and took a puff as the officer walked past him in close proximity to smell the exhaled smoke. The officer grabbed hold of the joint and placed Rich under arrest as the other policeman came over to provide back-up.

The crowd was incensed and began to ask questions and shout at the officers. Several activists worked to keep things peaceful and as calm as they can be when watching a friend get arrested. This is perhaps the key to the success of the protests. A peaceful society can only be built with peace. Violence will only shift public opinion against you and provide excuses for the police to use violence.

The officers took Rich to a waiting cruiser as participants peppered them with questions. Many resumed smoking now that the square was empty of police. A march to the jail was suggested. In a matter of minutes, more than half the crowd grabbed signs and paraded down the busy Main Street sidewalk for the roughly two-mile walk to the station. The city could not help but see this display and take notice.

Police Station Party

Once at the police station, an inquiry was made into the status of Rich’s arrest, and no information was available other than that he was being processed. The police station has a section of the parking lot that leads back behind the building where the cruisers are parked, as well as the civilian cars of the officers. This area is guarded by a sign proclaiming “NO UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS,” with a line painted on the pavement.

Several protesters crossed this line, sat down, and formed a smoking circle where joints were passed. The large group that had come to the station was divided, as most of them had seen the warning and were cautious about disobeying. As time went on, more and more people became comfortable with violating the posted order, and crossed the line, making the smoke circle larger. The police did not come out and bother the smokers, and those in the cruisers that came and went appeared oblivious to the possible “crimes” being committed.

Rich Paul was released on a “personal recognizance” bond and greeted the waiting throng with surprise. Keene Police Lieutenant Shane Maxfield had come out and was answering questions posed by protesters and the reporters who were on hand. In all fairness, the Keene Police Department has shown a good deal of patience and discretion with the activists. They are not perfect, and have had a few scandalous incidents, but though we are opponents in the legal world, we are not enemies. I must commend these officers on not being nearly as bad as those in some police departments around the country and world.

Watch video of Rich Paul’s arrest and jail smoke-out (2 parts):
http://freekeene.com/2009/11/11/rich-pauls-arrest-at-the-420-celebration…

The Scene Is Set as the Plot Thickens

Sunday is always a big activism day in Keene, as there is a weekly social event that draws visiting liberty-lovers from across the state and country. Many in attendance, having seen the day before what happens when an arrest is made, found their natural fear diminished. Inevitably, there was some minor apprehension, but spirits were high.

The turnout this quintessentially summer day was again around 150, and events proceeded in typical fashion, with a rallying cry at 4:20 and the familiar fragrance of festivity. Police were on hand again; round two sounds the bell. In the area where Rich had been arrested the day before, Evan Pierce was trying to light a hand-rolled cigarette of unknown contents. An officer stopped directly in front of him and watched as Evan attempted to get the cherry started. Evan nervously fidgeted with the lighter as a large huddle of bystanders directed their attention at him. The officer eventually grabbed the butt and smelled it. After a few whiffs, he decided to arrest Evan.

Once again the crowd made known their displeasure, and once again a march was made to the Keene Police Department, an even larger group than yesterday’s, numbering around eighty. Many stood outside the lobby of the station, chatting and smoking, until a short announcement was made, and most of them hurried inside.

At one point, some particularly bold individuals decided to smoke a joint in the lobby itself. The lobby is sectioned off from the rest of the station with locked doors and plate-glass windows. In the center of the room is a pair of benches sitting back to back. It was on these benches that a none-too-surreptitious joint was lit and passed to all who would partake. News cameras were on hand from a Manchester TV station and the Obscured Truth Network, the latter run by liberty activists Sam Dodson and Smeg McLain, to record this hot-boxing of the cop shop.

The Keene police ignored the smoke, the group, and the cameras. Evan was released shortly thereafter. It turned out he’d been trying to light a chocolate mint cigarette, not marijuana. There were no charges against Evan, and the police were left with a black eye. The group marched back to Central Square and resumed the festivities.

With the one exception noted below, this would be the last time the Keene Police Department interfered with the 420 celebrations as of this writing. Certainly this victory cannot be under-appreciated. Central Square became a police-free zone at 4:20 and those who were there lived as free people.

Festival of Gourds

Pumpkin Fest is an annual event in Keene that brings in more than 50,000 tourists from New England and beyond. The extraordinary number of carved and lit pumpkins on display has earned eight world records in the festival’s nineteen-year history. The plan of those who wanted to participate was to go ahead with the celebration at the normal time, and use this as a platform to spread their message to the masses attending. As Central Square was home to rows of pumpkin shelves and a band on the gazebo, the location was moved across the street, directly in front of City Hall.

It had been twenty days since the false arrest of Evan, and at the start of the festival, signs indicated that that streak might be about to end. There was a very heavy police presence in the area of City Hall, with units on duty from several neighboring towns, as well as sheriffs. Included were the obligatory battle-gear cops and K9s. Whether they know it or not, such militaristic accoutrements are only intimidating to those who plan on being violent. Peaceful activists are not going to fight, so all that that gear manages to accomplish is to make those officers uncomfortable and sweaty.

At this point the activists had a network of two-way radios that made coordinating efforts much easier in such a densely packed crowd. The news of the police presence was spread by early arrivers, and this may ultimately have helped garner more of a turnout. A group of around forty activists gathered in front of City Hall with clusters of police looking on. Rich Paul had received a good deal of practice using the megaphone, and being a man of many words, he set out to demonstrate just that to all within earshot.

He spoke of the Drug War and how it is a war on people, not plants or chemicals. He spoke of peaceful people being imprisoned, having committed no real crime, having damaged no property and created no victim.

“We do this in remembrance of lost liberties, and for hope of the day when people don’t fear their government, because the government fears the people,” Rich shouted through the megaphone. “Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em!”

He then reached in his pocket and produced a pipe and a bag. He packed a bowl and took a toke–and was promptly arrested.

Noah Wood and Evan Pierce also lit up and were arrested. The three were moved into the City Hall building to await transport. Later, three other activists tried to enter the public building and were also arrested. A crowd waited for them at the police station, and each retold his story numerous times. Evan and two others arrested that day went to the correctional facility where Andrew Carroll had served out his time. This place has been the location of many parties, including a few barbecues, as activists go in and come out of jail.

Evan and the other two were released in short time.

Evan has just recently had his trial relating to the arrest. He represented himself and conducted a very respectable defense against the state, invoking several constitutional arguments while citing the New Hampshire State Constitution, perhaps one of the best ever written as far as the amount of liberty it protects. He was found guilty, he announced his intent to appeal, and requested a stay of sentencing, which he was granted.

Rich Paul is going to have one of his possession trials in a short time. It is unknown what Noah Wood plans to do about his trial. The 420 events continued without any problems after Pumpkin Fest. There was a break when the New England winter hit full force, but they have since resumed without much to speak of … at least in Keene.

Video of Pumpkin Fest arrests:
http://freekeene.com/2009/10/19/six-innocents-arrested-at-420-rally/

Hello, Nashua!

The Liberty Forum is an annual event put on by the Free State Project to entice people to move to New Hampshire, as well as to provide a place for liberty-minded folk to network and party. The forum is held in Nashua, New Hampshire, at a fancy hotel, and draws several hundred people. Naturally it is a great opportunity to practice some peaceful civil disobedience with activists from other parts of the country.

Saturday, March 20, 2010, was unseasonably warm, perfect for some outdoor activities. Like Keene, Nashua has a central square equipped with monument and cannons. At 4:20, fifty or so activists traveled out there from the Forum and engaged in a smoke-out. For a while, it was very peaceful. Then a bit of commotion started amidst a group of local teens. Soon it became clear that two undercover police officers were arresting a young man. The activists, cameras in hand, descended on the police and began asking questions.

The sad truth of the situation is that with all of these mostly white activists openly smoking marijuana, the undercover cops chose to go after a young black male who had allegedly been arrested before for possession. It cannot be proven that the police specifically targeted that young man, but the situation seemed pretty shady.

The young man was put into the unmarked car, and some protesters upset by this gross injustice decided to be bold. David Krouse of Keene is a very quiet and peaceful man, not one to yell at people or become even the least bit violent. In silent protest, he has, in the past, stood in the way of police vehicles holding arrested friends, ultimately moving aside when the threat of arrest was levied against him. This day he did not move.

After standing in front of the car and refusing to move, David was placed under arrest. He decided to lock his hands and sit down, making a statement by inhibiting the procedure in a peaceful manner. The officer tried to wrench David’s hands apart to cuff them behind his back, but was unsuccessful, and decided to call for back-up. The officer resumed his efforts to cuff David, and his partner came to help. The two of them picked up David by his arms and carried him around to the back of the car.

The Cavalry Arrives

In a furious blur, about a dozen squad cars pulled up to the park, including a very emotional K9 officer who brought out his dog. He started pointing at various protesters and shouting, “He’s got a gun,” inciting his dog to bark. The scene was on the precipice of danger, but some cool talking by veteran activists were able to calm the officers down.

Catherine Bleish, of St. Louis, Missouri, a video journalist, was arrested while asking questions of the police and the young man in the back of the unmarked car.

Most of the event was captured by the Obscured Truth Network, which has put together an outstanding video of the entire event that really captures the mood and atmosphere, both positive and negative.

Most of the participants, about forty in all, headed to the police station as per usual and awaited the release of the captives. The mother of the young man who was arrested showed up, as his sister was there to see him get taken into custody. His mother was very upset because she couldn’t afford the $40 fee for the bail bondsman. A collection was taken up by the activists and she was given $120. Several individuals talked to her and offered what help they could give as far as challenging the case in court.

Richard Onley of Keene is rather adept at crafting liberty lyrics. He approached some singers outside the police station and passed out an easy call-and-repeat song, suggesting that they all go into the lobby and sing it. Some headed in, and others followed to observe what was going on.

Inside the lobby, the singing of this simple song began as a quiet side note. As more people chimed in, Richard passed out more lyrics sheets and soon the lobby was a choir. Remaining positive in even the most dire times can only help; it is also easier to be peaceful when you are in a positive mind. The song ended, and much applause was given. Spirits were high.

The three arrested were released later that evening and a return was planned for the next day.

The warm weather had withdrawn slightly, and Sunday turned out to be a chilly but sunny day. The 420 celebration was also a goodbye for many of the out-of-state participants. The police did not interfere, though they did drive by several times and reportedly waved at activists. The young man arrested the day before was in attendance with his mother and sister, and fully supportive of the protesters. No arrests happened, no misuse of tax dollars, no harm, no foul. Yet the peaceful people in the square did nothing different from the day before.

The Saga Is Ongoing

At the most recent event this last week in Nashua, Sovereign Curtis passed an unlit marijuana cigarette to an undercover police officer and was arrested. He was charged with a Class B felony, Distribution, and is working on his legal defense.

This movement is an ongoing, organic idea that we can have a better life if we are free to decide what that life is. Pot is just one aspect, and it is not even the plant so much as the idea that my body is mine, not the State’s, not the Government’s. At the same time, I also must accept that if I damage this body, the responsibility to fix it is mine, not the State‘s, not the Government‘s.

What is happening in New Hampshire is a last-ditch effort to fix a broken system by peaceful means. There is so much more than pot protests and the accompanying arrests; there are people challenging unjust laws of many types. The arrests also present opportunities to challenge the law directly, even though the court system is weighted heavily in favor of the State.

The simple fact is that some individuals have drawn a line in the quicksand of our lost liberties. Defiant and bold, they have said “No more.” The establishment has quaked and balked at the sheer audacity, but more so over the distinct lack of fear for the consequences that befall a law-breaking activist.

Some would cry out, “Come, then, and arrest us. We shall clog your already overburdened court systems and use your prisons as recruitment camps.”

With an open mind and a pocketful of peace, they are working to change the world in their own way.

James B Schlessinger Jr., 31, resides in Keene, New Hampshire, and is the editor of, and a reporter for The Free Keene Press, a blogger at FreeKeene.com, and an all-around cool dude. He works in the high-tech manufacturing field as a precision mechanic. He has attended all but the last event described in this story. Information is based on first-hand witnessing, and in some cases, tasting. Visit freekeene.com for videos of the described events.

“At least 95 percent of all cases are settled by plea negotiations,” Keene defense lawyer Paul G. Schweizer said. “Plea bargains are absolutely essential to the judicial system.”

Without plea deals, the courts, jails and prisons would become clogged with defendants and inmates.

“As a practical matter, we would have to build 10 new courthouses in Keene if we took everyone to trial,” he said. “We would have to hire five times as many police officers and prosecutors. The judicial system would come to a screeching halt.”

Please take a moment and think about that quote. It reveals an Achilles’s heel of the state. Their system is counting on you to go with the flow.

“Just take the plea, pay up, and we’ll make this go away.”, say the government aggressors. Naturally, people eagerly take the “deal”. I can’t blame anyone for wanting to minimize the harm that the state is inflicting upon them and their loved ones.

However, I’d like to encourage them take a longer view. The state agents distract their victims with what appears in the moment to be relief from their violent extortion, so the victims, in a rush to end the violence, actually extend it and contribute to its worsening. It is precisely this process of going along to get along, ponying up, bending over, and obeying that has gotten us where we are. We have strangers telling us every little detail of what we can and can’t do with our lives, regardless of whether anyone is hurt from our choices. They won’t ever stop, either, until YOU stop obeying, at least a little bit. There’s no need to go full-on 100% noncooperation. A lot of people each doing a little noncooperation can make for dramatic change.

Without noncooperation, we know the drill. The system, every year brings new statutes and regulations. More police. More bureaucrats. More CONTROL. Every two or four years, the same excuses are trotted out. “It was the red/blue team! Vote for OUR team for real change!” Every two to four years, frustrated people choose the alleged lesser evil in the hopes that something good will come out of it. All the while, none of us are getting any younger, or freer.

There is an answer, but few wish to hear it. Still fewer wish to implement it. Mass noncooperation and civil disobedience. The lawyer quoted in the beginning of this piece made it clear. A small percentage of people taking cases to trial, even parking tickets, will back the courts up significantly. Recent news stories reveal the courts here in New Hampshire are already so backed up that they have to take unpaid furlough days! They are literally teetering on the precipice and could easily lessen their caseload yet they continue to aggress against peaceful people. They don’t know how to do things any differently. Justice is not their primary task – instead it is feeding off the lifeblood of the productive class. Every person busted for possession, speeding, parking, open container, bicycling on the sidewalk, and the myriad of other non-crimes are having the product of their labor extorted by this inhumane system as they obediently slave away to pay the state’s arbitrary fines.

What if 10-15% of people abused by the state decided to stop going along to get along when it came to their dealings with the government people? Heck, what if only 5% stopped cooperating with the aggressors? The court would load up with cases and the bureaucrats would actually have to work more than they ever have. It’s not likely they’d stop ticketing people, certainly not initially, but it seems likely they’d eventually drop the charges of people who decided to go to trial, presuming there were enough of them. Word would spread to the other victims of the state’s aggression, and soon only the most ignorant and obedient subjects would continue to lick the boot of their masters. Indeed, the more people doing disobedience and noncooperation, even a little bit, the more will be encouraged to join in. Of course, this is the trick, because there is clear risk involved, and people are trained to be risk-averse, it can be very challenging finding people to do this necessary work. It’s necessary, because begging for freedom is not going to achieve it, and it never has. Working in the system pits your hopes and money into a system controlled by the people calling themselves “the state”. No wonder politics has never resulted in the rolling back of the government.

You may say, “That’s fine, but I can’t afford to go to jail. I might lose my job, and my family depends on me.” Fair enough. While I might like to see a world where companies give people a break for heroically going to jail, jail is not a requirement of civil disobedience and noncooperation. It’s enough on your part to JUST TAKE IT TO TRIAL. Whatever “it” is. Taking their plea “deal” is just giving them a break. Take it to trial. If you lose, and you probably will, then you can likely take the community service option, or offer to pay any levied fines to a favorite local charity (If the robed people won’t accept this offer, they will look quite nasty. So far it has been accepted whenever offered.) Those are two options you have besides jail that in no way enrich the coffers of the state and only add costs to their enforcement process. Still you may fear they won’t give you those options, and I suppose there’s always that chance, however slim. Like I said, risk is involved, but significant things in life do not come without risk. Despite my attempts at persuasion, if you still can’t even bring yourself to little noncooperations like refusing the census outright, then instead how about giving to a fund that gives support or even money to the people with the courage to make a stand? I bet noncooperation and disobedience would be lots more likely if the victims of government aggression actually got paid in the end.

Arrested or ticketed for some non-crime? Refuse to plea, take it to trial, refuse to pay the state, and not only do you get a lawyer paid for, but you also get a check when it’s over! How great would that be? If that wouldn’t encourage noncooperation, I don’t know what would! Or, if you are put in jail, imagine if the rent was paid and your family and pets are taken care of while you are in the local jail (or “spiritual retreat”, as some have taken to calling it). Eventually, these ideas could become a reality with enough people contributing to the CDEvolution fund.

Remember, without your obedience the state has nothing left in their corner. One might protest that claim by pointing at the weapons of the state agents and their apparent willingness to use them. However, what good are their guns if they actually have to shoot lots of peaceful people? Who will they extract money and obedience from if they slaughter their “subjects”? (That’s their term for you by the way – just listen to a police scanner. “Citizen” is just a cover word to make you think something more high-minded is going on.) Disobedience and noncooperation work, but they are pretty useless if you are alone. In that case you really will be cut down by the aggressors.

Disobedience is most powerful in tandem with others. That has been proven in the past with other movements, and has been proven again recently in Keene with the 420 celebrations. Dozens of people acting free and weathering a handful of arrests have created a cannabis freedom zone every day at 4:20 in Central Square! It’s been a tremendous success, with 0 dollars spent in-the-system, and countless dollars given in free publicity by various media!

Civil disobedience and noncooperation strike at the root of statism. Is there room for politics? Sure there is. Can anyone argue politics as more effective toward liberty, per dollar spent, than noncooperation and disobedience? I don’t think so. Time will bear this out, especially as more concentrate in NH and join the proud ranks of the disobedient and noncooperative.

If you aren’t in New Hampshire around hundreds of other liberty-minded activists (and soon thousands), what hope have you of really affecting change toward a voluntary society? If you love liberty, join the Free State Project (it’s free, of course), come on up and bring your activism and ideas here where we can actually make a difference, together! Here are 111+ reasons to move to Keene, New Hampshire’s Liberty Activism Destination!

Thanks for reading!

“There was once a dream that was Rome. You could only whisper it. Anything more than a whisper, and it would vanish — it was that fragile. And I fear that it will not survive the winter.”

– Emperor Marcus Aurelius Caesar, in Ridley Scott’s Gladiator

In our time, there is a dream that once was, and is no longer there, much like in Marcus Aurelius’ Rome. The founders of the United States of America had something like this in mind when they separated themselves from the British empire. Even in its flaws, their great plan was noble, and for a time it seemed to work.

Then something went terribly wrong. Why? Because there was government, and lots of it. This was a fact I had come to realize years ago, but had felt like there was nothing that could be done to save myself or others from the inevitable police state. Then I heard the whisper, of a dream that was set into motion, and finally one day, I decided it was time to see for myself if this dream really could come true.

Late into the night on December 24th, I set out on the road, headed for Keene, New Hampshire. It was to be an 800-mile journey with long hours and seemingly endless freeways. The purpose of the trip overshadowed any notion that the task at hand would be arduous or unworthy of the attempt. I was going to New Hampshire to explore the nature of the third American Revolution. Yes, third: The American Civil War was the second, and although a failure, was a response to government becoming more vast and intrusive.

The Free State Project is a very simple idea that basically asks those people who believe in freedom and liberty to move to one place where they can be amongst like-minded people, and hopefully reverse the trend toward larger and more powerful government. The idea is to get at least 20,000 people to move there, to join in the activism already taking place, or begin their own. Once 5,000 people had signed the pledge, a vote was taken, and New Hampshire was chosen as the location.

My arrival into Keene was somewhat anticlimactic, as I’d driven all night, and had not slept. So at first I was too busy being tired to admire the scenery around me. This would soon change, as I’d no sooner driven into town and posted on the online forums that I was there, than welcomes and offers to assist me began coming in.

The immediate observation one can make about New Hampshire is that it is very nice and clean. The small neighborhoods are quite attractive around the town, with the rural outlying areas being even more picturesque. Every place I visited appeared to have come right off a postcard.

Having just arrived in town — on Christmas Day, no less — I was invited to a gathering of Free Staters. After getting the directions and making my way to the party, my trip to New Hampshire really came alive, and I in many ways also came alive for the first time in my 28 turns around the sun.

I was welcomed into the midst of about fifteen liberty-loving strangers, who made me feel like I had known them for years. There was no mistaking that these were “my people” — a revelation I’m sure many others have felt upon coming to the area. No longer was I isolated, nor was I made to feel as if I were crazy. All in just the first fifteen minutes of the evening.

As the gathering dwindled down, one person suggested going to the jail and singing Christmas carols. Most of those who were still at the party were willing, and after the plan was posted online, others wanted to join us. Altogether, ten activists got to the jail. I was humbled and amazed at the manner in which this took place. Here were people, many of whom have already lost or sacrificed enough themselves, going out of their way (and the jail was definitely out of the way, by about 15 miles) on this holiday occasion to show their support to other people whom they may not even know — at the time, only one other activist was in the jail.

After about twenty-five minutes of singing, the activity dispersed just as quickly as it had originated, serving the purpose of demonstrating that criminalizing people who have not actually harmed anyone is wrong. I returned to my hotel room. The day’s excitement had kept me awake despite not having slept the night before, but now it was time to rest. I would need even more energy for what was yet to come.

Having gone an entire day without sleep, I woke the next day about 5 P.M. and soon had several invitations to do something or other. Keep in mind that this was my second day in Keene, and other activists are already assimilating me into the local scene as if I had lived there for years. I don’t even feel that welcome in my own hometown, and it’s about 1/6 the size of Keene.

The people I was hanging out with took me to a place called Abunara. This is a social club that offers food, hookah, and a relaxing atmosphere. It is also fast becoming the prime social scene for Keene activists, particularly on Sundays, but for this night the place was quiet. We enjoyed a few games of chess, ate some good food, and most important, discussed politics and local activism. I was having an all-around enjoyable night — with people like me!

After parting ways with these folks, I returned to the hotel again. Before I went to bed, I called friends and family back home and was already relating my experiences to them as if I had settled into town permanently. It was becoming quite clear to me that I had to try to make the move much sooner than I’d originally intended.

Sunday would prove to hold even more excitement than my first two days in town. Upon waking, I wanted to drive around some and get a feel for the area. I’m still not quite sure where I was driving — somewhere out in the country — but it was picture-perfect. New Hampshire is a terrific place for those motivated by the outdoor life, with many trails and scenic areas. I returned to the hotel with plenty of time to spare, as one of the activists had asked about interviewing me for a podcast, in which I told a bit about why I was coming to New Hampshire. Shortly after this, it was time to head to the Social Sunday gathering, and I made my way downtown to Abunara.

Anyone who has read the online forums that describe Social Sundays in Keene is only reading a text description of what takes place. Sure, Social Sunday is a gathering of Free State activists to socialize, play games, and discuss politics and ideas — but it is far more! Imagine the feeling you have when walking into a place that holds many happy memories for you. The feeling comes from a knowledge that everyone in the room is on the same team. There were nearly twice as many people at this event as there were at the Christmas party, all of similar ideology and energy.

For nearly six hours I played board games, argued politics, discussed business ideas, and most important, felt at home. Abunara is a very Free State – friendly establishment, and will no doubt be the site for many discussions of ideas and plans for the liberty movement in New Hampshire. As the night was getting late, I headed back to my hotel room and crashed onto the bed once again, exhausted by all the excitement and energy of the Free State!

When I woke the next morning, I already had an idea of my own. I wanted a way to say a final farewell to those I had met, and posted online that I was inviting any interested Free Staters to dinner. On rather short notice, the particulars were arranged for later that evening. In the meantime, I took another sightseeing drive of the surrounding area. I wanted to really take a good look at the community, and what it had to offer.

Keene is certainly a smaller town, so if big cities are your flavor, then perhaps you might find Concord or Manchester more appealing, but I would not be so quick to write Keene off the map. The area offers its share of urban comforts, along with a very friendly, energetic community. All the people I encountered working in or running the local businesses were amiable folk — neither too hurried nor too lethargic. As Goldilocks said, they were just right.

In my perusal of local businesses I would tell them I was looking to move to the area and getting a feel for local shops. One business owner asked if I was a Free Stater. I said I was, and he told me that he was also involved in his own fashion. This caught me off-guard — in a good way!

While I was in his store, one of the more recognizable locals, who has a public access tv show, walked in. While there are plenty of Free Staters moving to New Hampshire, many of the people living there are already liberty-lovers — another reason New Hampshire was a good choice. This movement is real, and it’s about real people, who are making things happen every day.

After a stop at a rest area that boasted a short hiking trail, it was time to return to town for the food and fellowship. I had no idea how many people might show up, but I knew it could be anywhere between zero and a hundred. The restaurant had a rather good deal on pizza, and even if more people arrived, it was the least I could do to demonstrate just how truly welcomed I’d felt during my visit.

About ten people showed up, most of whom I had already met, all of them Free Staters. It was a pleasant way to end my last night, and would make the long drive I faced the next day much more bearable.

After the dinner party ended, I said a few last goodbyes, and headed to the home of some activists whom I had arranged to stay with on my final night. The night was capped with some wonderful political discussion and talk about future plans. The next morning, it was time to return home, and I truly did not want to leave. I actually kept stalling the inevitable departure and got on the road a little later than planned. There was a sadness about having to leave Keene, but with it came the knowledge that I would be returning, because I felt like this was where my home really should be.

The drive home was intense, taking nearly seventeen hours, and included more than one stop to rest. As I approached Kentucky, I felt I was farther away from home, rather than getting closer to it. Hopefully in the next few weeks, my big white Suburban will take me north once more, and I will hear my new friends and neighbors say, “Welcome home.”

We often confuse expediency with pragmatism. You can make a choice that provides immediate return and seems the pragmatic choice only to pay a higher price later. A person who commits a crime is getting some immediate reward but has an ever-increasing risk of being caught each time. He’s gambling. He’s also shitting where he eats by destroying the sense of trust in his community. Lying is similar. When you get caught in a lie, which is likely just a matter of time depending on how often you attempt it, you seriously undermine your reputation. Worse yet, if you lie now expecting some immediate gain from it, even if you correct yourself in the future, anything you say thereafter will be circumspect. Even when you get away with it, every lie you tell for some immediate benefit undermines your veracity because you know you’re a liar. Conversely, knowing in your heart that you are consistently honest and sincere shows through in the power of your convictions. It’s a rare talent to be able to lie convincingly.

(Read On…)