by Ian | Apr 22, 2012 |
New mover from NY, Chris Cantwell describes one of his first activism experiences living in the Shire:
Yesterday I had the pleasure of joining Kelly Voluntaryist, Ian Freeman, Darryl Perry, Jason Repsher, Rich Paul Freeman, and over a hundred other activists for the 4/20 rally, at the State House in Concord, NH.
Activists from Keene, NH met at the Keene Activist Center, as we so often do, a week in advance and discussed what we would do, who wanted to go, and who could provide transportation, signs were made, channels for two way radio communications were decided on, and by the time we loaded into our cars, everything was ready to go. Other activists from across the state and political spectrum also made plans and attended.
Some people had arrived early, to clean up the streets. Liberty activists performed a litter pickup, as agents of The State wrote parking tickets nearby… (more…)
by Ian | Apr 4, 2012 |
Most people are aware of cults. Some are more familiar than others, having actually been in one, or having a loved one who was or still is. Religious cults are the most obvious. In addition there are self-help cults and marketing cults.
Some critics have accused the liberty movement as being a cult. However, when you break it down, it doesn’t fit the parameters. Really what is happening, is those accusing liberty-oriented people of being cult members are just projecting. Whether they realize it or not, they are deep within a cult of their own. It’s a cult so pervasive and effective, that people don’t realize they are a part of it.
Until a better name is put forth, I’d call it the Authority Cult. In Larken Rose’s excellent book, “The Most Dangerous Superstition”, he clearly outlines how the belief in “authority” is incredibly destructive to the ends of peace. It’s an excellent and enlightening read.
There are classic signs you are in a cult, and the Authority Cult is replete with them:
Brainwashing Techniques
There is no shortage of brainwashing going on in the Authority Cult. Children are indoctrinated from a young age to believe in “authority” and to respect those who claim to have it. The message is very effective, and the government schools churn out wave after wave of worker drones who are not likely question their beliefs and will hand over a huge portion of their earnings to the Authority Cult leadership.
Chanting is also another serious warning sign, and Authority Cult members are inculcated from an early age with the “Pledge of Allegiance” (more…)
by Ian | Mar 21, 2012 |
From the Sheboygan Press:
During a recent city council meeting, the mayor of Keene, New Hampshire leaned over to a council member and whispered excitedly: “We’re going to have our own tank.”
Yes, the tank (or, more specifically, the “armored personnel vehicle”) is the latest must-have toy for mayors and police departments. Even in this picture-perfect and tranquil New England town of about 23,000 residents, officials hurl common sense to the wind at the very thought of having such a cool ride parked in front of town hall. Maybe they’ll even get to drive it in the next Fourth of July parade. Never mind that Keene has no crime that would warrant rolling out a tank. (more…)
by Skeptikos | Mar 21, 2012 |
Ian Freeman is embarrassing.
It’s a view you rarely never see on this blog, but it’s a view held by myself and a serious portion of liberty activists in the Keene area. (Not to mention the overwhelming majority of Keene residents.) Lately it’s been the senseless pestering of city bureaucrats, the quixotic school outreach, and his involvement in the war on grandmas. Yes, he does other things which are more legitimate and professional, but, for as long as I’ve been in New Hampshire, it seems that Ian has always been vocally supporting activism that’s jarringly wrong-headed.
I joined this blog in 2010 in order to openly criticize certain activist tactics that struck me as counterproductive. At the time, I was worried that the suppression of criticism was creating an atmosphere of groupthink— a situation where the systematic lack of criticism leads groups to make wildly irrational decisions. Since then, I’ve changed some hearts and minds with regards to criticism, and caused people to look twice at things they’ve taken for granted. This has been very satisfying.
But, where it really matters, I have failed. (more…)
by Kelly | Mar 14, 2012 |
The latest from the tiny desert town that was the setting for one of my major activist projects of last summer. It was a pleasure to work with Jade Jones, Michael Roth, Richard Abbey, Dana Stadler, Will Ponce, Ed Foster, and more. If I hadn’t moved to Keene, Quartzsite would have been my second choice; there are some amazing activists there! Now, we just need to get them to move here to Keene!
According to Jennifer “Jade” Jones, publisher of The Desert Freedom Press:
Quartzsite voters turned out in record numbers yesterday to send a message. And that message was “NO” on Proposition 1(444 votes to 149), meaning 75% 0f voters wanted an elected not an appointed mayor. The mayor they chose was Ed Foster.
At odds with the rest of the council before he even took office in 2010, Foster had lost a recall election to Fire Captain Jose Lizarraga in August by a narrow margin. That recall was spearheaded by then Councilman Jerry Lukkasson and his wife Michelle. Lizarraga refused to run again for his expiring mayors seat and Lukkasson resigned from the council for a chance to wield the gavel. Now, the voters of Quartzsite have put Foster back in as the town CEO, and by a respectable margin. (more…)
by Kelly | Mar 1, 2012 |
Fear is a cancer that must be cut from one’s life completely if they are to truly live free. All consuming, it eats away at the soul and drives away
Engraved at Mahatma M.K. Gandhi’s Ashram in Gujurat, India
life-force itself, imprisoning its victims within the everlasting flames of evil in the only hell I believe in; one’s own self-created hell on earth. Fear in any area of one’s life spreads, just like a cancer, and inevitably seeps into the rest; eventually eliminating all traces of peace and truth. The opposite of life is death, and the opposite of love is fear. According to the axiom of life itself we can assume that because we are here on earth, our purpose on it is to live free, to thrive, and above all, to create. Fear robs us of purpose. Fear is what prevents each of us from fulfilling our highest potential. Fear, quite literally, kills. (more…)
New mover from NY, Chris Cantwell describes one of his first activism experiences living in the Shire: 
