Seacoast Paper: Free Staters’ Impact has Been Undeniable

by | Apr 18, 2011 | 1 comment

Some political liberty activists have been upset by the amount of press coverage that civil disobedience receives. They have worked very hard to make headway in the NH state house and have finally gotten some coverage for their successes. However, it is also revealing something many of them want to keep secret for some reason – that there are about a dozen “free staters” in the NH house. I’ve never understood this fearful approach, but then again, I’m not a politician. I think if you believe in liberty, you shouldn’t hide. Well, it’s going to be a lot harder for those people to hide now that the media is on the case. Here’s a feature story from the Seacoast online about the elected free staters. Unfortunately it pigeonholes liberty activists as being republicans, when that is not true at all. Liberty-lovers are active in both political parties as well as outside of the left-right paradigm. That said, it’s a good piece by Joey Cresta:

There are roughly 12 members of the Legislature who came here as part of a movement to transform New Hampshire into a Free State. While their official numbers are small, their impact has been undeniable.

Free Staters and other libertarian-leaning individuals swept into the House amid Tea Party-spurred disavowal of incumbents last fall. Democrats and moderate Republicans say the Free State movement has mounted a libertarian invasion of the Legislature in an attempt to dismantle government (more…)

Should libertarians support unions?

by | Apr 17, 2011 | 8 comments

As a result of pending anti-union legislation, and my ongoing project to build a liberal-libertarian alliance, I have been researching union issues for the last few weeks. Historically, libertarians, in a political coalition with business interests on the right, have opposed unions, but is there room to ally with liberals here? (more…)

Day Two of Bob Constantine’s Trial for Growing Cannabis

by | Apr 12, 2011 | 0 comments

Bob ConstantinePete Eyre from Liberty on Tour reports from the second day of the jury trial of Bob Constantine, an NH native accused of growing some cannabis plants and facing up to seven years in prison for it:

NORTH HAVERHILL, NH – Around 7am this morning I jumped into one of two cars leaving Keene for day two of Bob Constantine’s trial (see this post for a rough write-up of what went down yesterday). Two hours later I sat in a courtroom with 14 others supporting Bob from all over the ‘shire and at least one from nearby Vermont. Also present were 10 paid via theft. Worth noting – the order banning cell phones and cameras had been rescinded since those with badges had testified the day prior.

Before the jury was led into the room the man in the black robe inquired of Bob and Melissa Pierce, the “district attorney,” if they had any objections to the jury instructions he planned to communicate after closing statements, including the details of the felony manufacturing marijuana charge that threatened Bob with seven years in a cage. Neither party did, though Bob asked about the status of a motion he had submitted the day prior – to also inform the jury of a less serious possession charge, which the man in the robe agreed to include later that afternoon. (I think Bob wanted to give the jury another option that wouldn’t result in as serious a penalty for himself.)

Since Pierce had rested her case it was Bob’s turn to call his witnesses. (more…)

Free Farmer Bob!

by | Apr 11, 2011 | 1 comment

Bob ConstantinePete Eyre from Liberty on Tour reports from the first day of the jury trial of Bob Constantine, an NH native accused of growing some cannabis plants and facing up to seven years in prison for it:

Lots happened today – it was the most-active “courtroom” day I’ve been to. The below is a very rough overview based on notes I jotted down. Check the links for other writes-ups and related content. We’ll likely chop up a video(s) in the near future (since we’ll likely collect more video over the next couple of days the trial is expected to last).

NORTH HAVERHILL, NH – Running on about 90-minutes of sleep Ademo and I jumped in Ian Freeman’s car this morning and, along with our bud Amish Paul, drove almost two hours to the northern edge of Grafton County and joined over 20 others to support Bob Constantine – a peaceful individual who is being threatened with three to seven years in a cage for allegedly having on his property some plants strangers deem “illicit.” Rather than take a plea deal, he’s standing for what he knows is right – there is no victim. He did nothing wrong.

Facebook event: Trial: The State vs. Bob Constantine
Live updates: Civil Disobedience Evolution Fund
Free Talk Live from April 11th, 2011 (including comments by three people present at court today)

(To really get to know Bob and the harassment he’s faced since September 4th, 2009 when men with badges and guns trespassed on his property, check out the five-minute Free Grafton’s Bob Constantine to be caged by New Hampshire for growing a plant video by Jason Talley.)

When we saw FIJA bumper stickers on parked cars outside a government building we knew we were in the right spot. (more…)