If you’ve been reading this blog for the last month or so, you know that the “City of Keene” has been threatening me over my tenants’ couch in their lawn. First, they sent one of their “enforcers” to threaten me with a $100 ticket. Then, one of the commenters here on Free Keene dug up a little dirt on their “enforcer” Carl Patten Jr. Early last week, my tenants snapped a photo of Mr. Patten snooping around and photographing the couch.
Here is the latest on the situation. The day after Mr. Patten was caught snooping, a letter arrived in my mailbox (more…)
Today’s triple civil disobedience was a triple success! Watch here at FreeKeene.com for video later, but here’s a quick summary:
RidleyReport.com‘s Dave Ridley was informed before the trial that the “judge”, Mr. Burke had reviewed his ordinances and determined his earlier interpretation had been incorrect and that cameras may now be panned by their operator while in Keene “district court”.
Additionally, the man in the robe did not publicly acknowledge another major change that occurred today. All entrants are now allowed recording devices. Four video cameras were operational today, as compared to Mr. Burke’s earlier commandment of one camera per court.
Free Keene blogger Nick Ryder had an apparent victory in his refusal to pay a speeding ticket. Mr. Burke heard the case, and after Nick made his final statement, Burke said he’d take it under advisement and ended the “trial”. If he were going to pronounce Nick guilty, he’d have done it then.
NH Free Press publisher Russell Kanning appeared in front of Mr. Burke to update the “city” on their demand he perform 30 hours community service. Kanning has completed 0 hours and Burke extended the due date out 60 more days.
This morning’s multiple success is still more proof that noncooperation and civil disobedience result in immediate, tangible changes with a large return on investment. Compare this to how difficult achieving today’s successes would have been “working inside the system” by running campaigns and contacting “representatives”, and begging they change the system. How much time and effort would that have taken? Noncooperative activists achieved their goals with a total turnout of 12 activists, a couple hours of time, a few press releases, and some courage.
My tenant just came by to tell me she saw Couch Enforcer Carl Patten Jr. taking photos of their couch in my yard from inside his car across the street. She pulled out her digital camera and snapped a quick picture of him. (YES the couch is visible in the picture – can you see it? No? Well that’s because it’s actually pretty well camouflaged until you’re right across from it where Carl’s car is.) Remember, Carl’s last known appearance at my property was on 8/26/08. It’s now 9/17/08. What happened to the weekly follow-up increased fine ($200, $400) tickets he threatened me with? I don’t know, but it appears he’s not done with me yet and is using his “investigative skills” to perhaps “build a case”.
Additionally, according to my tenants, they know the across the street neighbors well and if the neighbors had a problem with the couch, they are certain that something would have been said as opposed to them calling the Blue Light Gang. That plus the fact that the couch has been there for a long time tells me this is clearly the government people targeting me. Stay tuned to the blog here at FreeKeene.com for the latest and feel free to discuss on the Forum.
Free State project is moving slowly
Like-minded people are still coming to the Granite State
By PHILLIP BANTZ
Sentinel Staff
Published: Saturday, August 30, 2008
Nearly five years have passed since the Free State Project adopted New Hampshire as its home base and began the task of convincing 20,000 activists to commit to uprooting their lives and moving here.
They would come in droves, the plan went, overwhelming the sparsely populated state and ultimately changing the way big government works by limiting its power through free-market solutions.
There would be tax reductions; regulations such as being required to have a driver’s license to get behind the wheel of your own car would be relaxed or scrapped; power would be restored to the people and the Granite State would become the Free State, a model for the rest of the country and even the world.
That hasn’t happened yet, and only 8,558 people have committed to making the move since the project’s inception, according to its Web site. (more…)
One week ago, someone claiming to be from CITY OF KEENE “Code Enforcement” threatened me over a couch in my tenants’ yard. They use the couch for birdwatching and it has been there for longer than I can remember. Now the Blue Light Gang has a problem with it? Whose property is this, anyway?
Today, 08/26/08 he returned and I had my camera ready.
Keene’s government people are hereby put on notice:
Everything you know is about to change. As each month goes by, more liberty loving activists will be moving into the Keene area. Please understand that voluntary interaction in a free market is the most humane method of interaction for mankind. These ideas of liberty are powerful and infectious. As our concentration and influence build, our ideas will become popular. Your government corporation will lose its most precious element of legitimacy as more and more people choose to ignore your dictates and live as free men and women.
Enjoy your coercive reign of the people in Keene while it lasts. I expect you’ll find your power over others diminishing over time, hopefully sooner rather than later, but I want to assure you that it is going to happen. Therefore, you should start thinking about products or services that you can offer into the marketplace on a voluntary basis, just like the rest of us peaceful people.
As a little taste of what is coming, here’s an what just one Keene-bound activist is doing down in his current home of Texas. Sam from the Obscured Truth Network will be arriving here sometime before the end of this year:
My tenant just came by to tell me she saw 
