After my moderate 10% budget reduction was proposed and soundly defeated, Ian Freeman voiced an alternative solution for fixing our broken school system. One with which I am entirely in agreement with. Earlier in the evening someone had mentioned “in order to fix the problem one must think outside the box.” And that’s exactly what Ian brought to the table. The school bureaucrats and bootlickers in attendance were not amused.
This past Monday I attended the annual school budget and warrant meeting here in Keene, NH. (My first) In this meeting the various articles up for vote, including the budget, were available for discussion, debate and possible amendment by the attendees. Most of the evening was spent on Article 1: the proposed 2013/14 budget and most of the proposed amendments were focused on increasing the new year’s budget, but there were a few dissidents within the crowd who voiced some opposition. I, myself, proposed a 10% reduction in next year’s school budget. After all, the private sector has been forced to make radical changes in these lean years. Why not government as well?
My proposal was soundly defeated but I walked away with some valuable insight on how the machine functions . With another dozen liberty loving individuals in attendance, we probably could have proposed an amendment to reduce the budget to equal last year’s spending. With 40 or more, we could have reduced the budget by 2-5%. With 80, we could have reduced the budget by 10% (or 6.3 million dollars.) If you have any doubts, look to the current success story in Grafton, NH.
Please note that every motion to increase the budget was also defeated. If it were not for the small handful of free staters in attendance, the budget would have most likely increased by another $170,000.
Yesterday the house Criminal Justice and Public Safety committee heard not just one, but two cannabis legalization bills, in addition to a decriminalization proposal. The hearing was populated with the usual bureaucrats and law enforcement busybodies, as well as a number of professionals, activists, and entrepreneurs speaking in favor. HB 492 presents a controlled, “tax and regulate” schema for cannabis distribution in New Hampshire. HB 337, if passed, would result in a much simpler legalization, only removing prohibitions from state law, making the substance just as legal and tomatoes, basil, and other plants and herbs. A decriminalization proposal, HB 621, would make possession of under an ounce punishable by no more than a $100 fine.
The Union Leader has published a summary. Video and written coverage has also been published regarding HB 492 at adventuresinthefreestate.com, which also links to other mainstream coverage of the historic hearing.
Embedded below is the first of many Free Concord videos in a playlist from the public testimony during HB 492 and HB 337.
In the spirit of the Franklin Youth Initiative, government school programs turned out schoolchildren in opposition to any leniency upon the cannabis consumer plague.
![185956_151972764861919_4936517_n[1]](https://i0.wp.com/freekeene.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/185956_151972764861919_4936517_n1-300x198.jpg?resize=300%2C198)
“Derrick J’s Victimless Crime Spree“, the Director’s Cut DVD is now available in downtown Keene, thanks to Corner News!
Corner News has been providing Newspapers, Magazines, Snacks, Beverages, Tobacco and Accessories for over 100years.
Corner News is also the Greyhound Transportation Agent for the Monadnock Region.
I didn’t even send out a press release for it, but a recent post here announcing the Keene Bitcoin Network facebook group has resulted in the story being picked up by both the Union Leader (their NewHampshire.com division linked the story here) and the Nashua Telegraph. The Telegraph’s David Brooks of the “Granite Geek” column took the time to write up an original piece about the network.
Thanks for the coverage. Just for the record, Bitcoin isn’t new to the liberty community – the Free State Project’s Porcfest 2012 was reported as the biggest Bitcoin event in the world, with vendors across the campground accepting Bitcoin as payment for a variety of goods.
Recent Forum Posts
