by Ian | Apr 18, 2011 |
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…)
by Skeptikos | Apr 17, 2011 |
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…)
by Skeptikos | Apr 7, 2011 |
[updated]
Rep. Andrew Manuse (R-Derry), one of the 12 or 15 Free Staters serving in the state house, is “considering a bill to remove the [Catholic] Church’s tax exempt status in New Hampshire”, according to a quote released by the Catholic League.
The threat resulted from a squabble between the Catholic church and House Republicans after Bishop John McCormack, of Manchester, claimed that Republican budget cuts would hurt the most vulnerable residents of New Hampshire. This prompted House Republican leader D.J. Bettencourt to call McCormack a “pedophile pimp,” a reference to his handling of sex abuse cases in the Boston archdiocese. The situation has only spiraled down from there. (Link)
April 5, 2011
N.H. REPUBLICANS ARE IN TROUBLE
(more…)
by Ian | Apr 6, 2011 |
“You have failed!” rail the critics of Free Keene within the liberty movement. As proof, they present that some people are upset by some of the things that some activists have done in the area. I always counter by pointing out that upsetting people is a sign of success. It’s inevitable that anytime you do or say things that threaten the status quo, the supporters of the status quo will lash out in its defense. I guess the critics for some reason thought that only applied to “offensive” civil disobedience like smoking pot.
They were wrong. Now that the liberty activists who have been elected have been having some success passing pro-freedom legislation in the NH house, the supporters of the status quo are OUTRAGED. It’s more than just a few anonymous comments posted on the newspaper websites, which is about all that ever happened as a result of the supposedly upsetting civil disobedience and outreach here in Keene. No, these outraged supporters of the status quo are gathering for large-scale protests in support of the government at the state house.
Here, “Freedomroad” writes a piece about how the protestors at the state house are blaming the “free staters” for what is happening there, complete with photographic evidence.
Inside the capital a lady held a sign that said LIBERTARIAN REPUBLICANS ARE Killing N.H. The man she was with held a sign that said Libertarians + FreeStaters GO HOME. When confronted by a Libertarian Party member, the man admitted that libertarians are OK but he shouted down FSP participants.
In addition, the Union Leader has printed an editorial by two such outraged supporters of the status quo, specifically blaming “libertarians” and “free staters” for a “takeover”.
Congratulations to the New Hampshire Liberty Alliance and their activists. They are really making a difference. You can tell by how many people they have pissed off. Keep up the good work! Maybe these statists will get the message and move to Massachusetts or New York, because it’s not going to get any easier for them.
by Skeptikos | Mar 17, 2011 |
State representatives voted on loads of interesting bills over the last few days. Here are a few–
• Medical marijuana (HB442): passed, with a veto-proof majority
• Permitting audio/video recording of police (HB145): passed
• No permit required for concealed carrying (HB330): passed
• Removing compulsory school attendance (HB542): passed
• Disallow students to vote at their college towns (HB176): failed
• Death with dignity (HB513, sponsored by Chuck Weed): failed
The roll call data provided some surprises from Keene representatives–
• Chuck Weed and Cynthia Chase did not show up.
• Gladys Johnsen and Kris Roberts voted against HB176, permitting videorecording of police. (Why?)
• Steve Lindsey and Sam Hawkes voted for HB330, allowing concealed carrying without a permit.
• Sam Hawkes voted against HB513, death with dignity.
Search through roll call records on your own here. See more recent State House votes at Blue Hampshire, and at Ron Paul Forums.
by Skeptikos | Mar 9, 2011 |
In the Sentinel’s letter section, Tom and Paula Duston, of Chesterfield, argue that they “feel much safer now”:
Wow, now several Republican state representatives want us to have a “permanent state defensive force” (Sentinel, Feb. 22). These guys would help with disaster relief and “defend the state against invasion!”
We live near the Vermont border and lately have had the feeling that a bunch of liberals could mass at any time on the Vermont side of the border and, with few casualties, invade and take over our state. Of course, the last battle of this invasion would be fought at the Statehouse where our concealed weapons force would hold out to the last man (I think most women are smart enough not to carry a concealed weapon!).
And the stuff about “disaster relief” suggests all kinds of cost savings. Just think of how much our taxes would go down if we didn’t have to train firefighters, the police, and emergency response personnel to deal with things like a crashed and leaking chlorine gas truck on Route 9.
And the Red Cross wouldn’t be always begging for money! All we would have to do is call in our gun-totin’ volunteer militia and they could just shoot the gas away. (more…)
