by Ian | Jan 20, 2012 |
The heroic Kelly Voluntaryist from Keene visits Manchester Airport to hand out anti-TSA fliers and was not arrested! Keeniacs win again! Video to come – stay tuned to Free Keene.
Learn about moving to the Shire and joining with courageous activists like Kelly.
by Ian | Jan 20, 2012 |
Gene Chandler of Bartlett, a state rep, has advocated for the elimination of county government, and that sounds like a fine idea. If it actually happens, it will be a huge sign that things are changing for the better in NH. The Conway Daily Sun reports:
“Couldn’t we just eliminate a layer of government?” asked Epstein.
Rep. Gene Chandler (R-Bartlett) replied, “The simple answer to that is yes.”
The full story: (more…)
by Ian | Jan 19, 2012 |
Keene’s city council spat in the faces of most Keene inhabitants today by “accepting as informational” a petition with nearly 150 signatures urging the council to reconsider their accepting of federal money to buy a “Bearcat” armored personnel carrier. To accept something as informational is essentially a blow-off. It takes the issue off the table and means that no one need say anything further on the matter. It was not assigned to a committee where the public can be heard and action could be taken. It’s a big “fuck you” to all the people who spent time collecting those signatures and everyone who bothered to sign.
What did the petitions say? They merely asked the council to schedule a public hearing on the matter of reconsidering the Bearcat. Apparently the council would prefer that people not be able to speak on this matter. The Bearcat was quietly approved without public input and now the council is protecting the Keene police and their buddies in the federal government by refusing to even allow a hearing on the matter.
Does anyone really think these “councilors” represent “the people”?
by Ian | Jan 18, 2012 |
GQ Magazine’s Reid Cherlin encounters the Free State Project’s president, Carla Gericke at a Ron Paul event:
Ron Paul’s rally today, in a hangar at the Nashua airport, was one of the most crowded and energetic events I’ve seen here this week—hundreds of supporters whooped and hollered, as the Texas congressman warbled on about freedom and what sounded to me like the arrival of End Times. At least I think he was talking about End Times: the air was too thick with cheers to hear much. Amid this sea of freedom-leaving fankids, one supporter caught my eye as particularly cheerful and exultant. Sporting blue hair, a camouflage hoodie, and peace sign earrings, she shouted “END THE FED” during a rare quiet moment—a striking illustration of the diverse strands of hippyism and ultra-right armageddonism that define this quirky campaign. (Excuse me: movement.) Meet Carla Gericke, happy warrior, secessionist, and President of the Free State Project.
GQ: Tell me about the Free State Project.
Carla Gericke: It’s a geopolitical movement to get libertarians to move to the state of New Hampshire so that we can concentrate in one area. We have about a thousand people who have moved, about 11,000 who’ve signed the pledge. When 20,000 sign the pledge, they have five years to move here. (more…)
by Ian | Jan 18, 2012 |
More Keeniacs are upset about the city council’s decision to do whatever the police suggest and approve a “Bearcat” armored personnel machine. As you can see from the photo, this move is a clear militarization of the police, and thankfully the people of Keene appear to oppose this intimidating monstrosity. The Keene Sentinel recently published more letters to the editor from concerned inhabitants:
(Please write to the city council at 3 Washington St. and encourage them to refuse the fed’s corrupt offer of the Bearcat.)
The recent flurry of letters regarding the City Council vote to approve the “free” offer of a BearCat assault vehicle shows the unease many of us are feeling these days about both the growing militarization of our local communities and the budgetary choices being made by our leaders at the national, state and local levels during these tight fiscal times.
Perhaps this issue has galvanized such a community response because it symbolizes the increasing emphasis on guns, so-called security and the “fear factor” that has occurred in this country in recent years, including the Monadnock region.
I have lived twice in countries that were dictatorships (Uruguay in 1975 and Chile from 1984-1989) and the truth is that as an average law-abiding citizen I feel the security apparatus presence more strongly in Keene than I ever did in Uruguay or Chile. (more…)