Some people, including you, have claimed that I’m “not libertarian” because I called for the censure of a State Representative who stated that she wishes to restrict freedoms in an attempt to target a specific group of people. You called this a “witch hunt to deny free speech to a duly elected representative.” You don’t specify how a censure denies anyone’s free speech. Censure is defined as, to “express severe disapproval of (someone or something), typically in a formal statement.” When a legislative body censures someone, they are formally expressing disapproval of a statement or action of an elected official. There is no removal of that person’s freedom of speech, simply a formal statement that the body disapproves of what was said. Impeachment is “a formal document charging a public official with misconduct in office.” Again, nothing about removing free speech in that definition either! [NH RSA’s do not define either term, so I am using the definitions from Google] (more…)
Susan, as it turns out, you’re the one in the cult – the cult of the omnipotent state. You Democrats (and Republicans) have charismatic leaders and perform rituals. There’s plenty of jargon associated with “the state” as well as a culture of fear. Please see my piece here that will lay it out for you.
People who just want you to leave others alone to live life how they want, so long as they don’t harm anyone else, are not cult members. We don’t have a leader. Our movement is decentralized. There are no rituals. We use plain english to describe the aggression of the state. You statists don’t like it when we call a spade a spade, though. Some people can’t stand it when the violence of the state is shown for all to see, which we do on a regular basis here at Free Keene. (more…)
Dave Ridley has produced a summary video the shortly offered CopBlock Protection, which was recently launched and quickly halted, after making an undisclosed number of sales of the media product. The protection plan offer guaranteed response in the event of an arrest or prosecution in the form of media coverage featured at CopBlock.org. An update posted to CopBlock shortly after the halt stated that all memberships so far purchased would be honored, but at this time no more memberships were being offered.
Ridley makes smart analysis as usual, though he seems to advocate coupling one’s insurance package in the event of needing defense against the state to include both attorneys and media outreach. The centralization of defense, to have an attorney and PR representatives sourced from the same organization will make both fronts more responsible to each other than necessary. Almost all attorneys advise their clients to retain silence with the media. By ensuring activists will be set in motion in advance to bring eyes to your case, the defendant is relieved of some of the responsibility for reaching out to others in the event of an attack by the state. (more…)
In response to the 2 recent editorials Foster’s Daily Democrat has published, “Co-opting our way of life” (reprinted at the bottom of this, for context) and “FSP Has Some Growing Up to Do” (link to previous FK post), I wrote the following piece which Fosters’ published today:
What Free Staters are and aren’t
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
The two anonymous editorials that Foster’s has printed in the last week regarding the Free State Project reflect a lack of understanding that I’ve found only in the most closed minded individuals, left or right, here in New Hampshire.
In early 2001, Yale doctoral student Jason Sorens brainstormed about what might happen theoretically if libertarians got together in one place. In the ensuing 10 years, the reality far surpassed anything young Sorens could have imagined, and he’s said so many times. Quoting his original essay as gospel or blueprint misses the boat entirely, nobody but the most strident opposition are even reading it. Certainly the 13,500+ current signers to move aren’t, nor the 1,000+ who have moved over the last 8 years. Professor Sorens wrote a “10 years on” sequel essay refuting much of what he wrote back then. Theory: 20,000 activists. Reality: Far less are needed, and more effective than he imagined.
In early October of last year, Chalk the Police Day was celebrated internationally. Readers of this blog may remember the story of a particularly pushy bureaucrat who called the police on chalkers — only to have police join the fun!
I’ve seen Andy a few times since this encounter. He was present at the opening of the pedestrian North Bridge and also at a recent city council committee meeting that I had attended. He’s never taken the opportunity to apologize for his behavior. Even if you accidentally bump someone or their property, the courteous thing to do is to square up on the mistake. So when I heard Andy would be on WKBK’s Talkback this morning, I tuned in.
I listened as a friend call in about the video and asked if Andy had anything to say about it. He chose to say nothing beyond that he had “learned from it” and was moving on. I decided to call in and hold his feet to the fire. The audio will be available once the show’s podcast is posted. After I prompt Andy to reflect on the video and consider apologizing, my call is hung up on. Hearing the radio after the call, the hosts imply that some people ‘harass’ city officials. Derrick J called in soon after that, and asked why the hosts were characterizing others as harassing, when it was the Parks and Recreation director who had engaged in unprivileged physical contact.
Why do you think it’s appropriate to act in an official capacity while intentionally concealing your identity badge?
At that, Cynthia responded, “I don’t want to talk about this”, and he was hung up on. I called in shortly after that, and should have been recording, because my approximately 10-20 second call was not just hung up on, but dumped, meaning it was erased from broadcast. Listening to the radio, you would hear the seconds before my call, and the seconds immediately after.(more…)
Now, Foster’s Daily Democrat, a NH newspaper from the Dover area, has called the delivering of flowers to Chase “childish”, and claims the “FSP has some growing up to do”. Maybe the Foster’s editors should check themselves to see if they actually possess a sense of humor. Here’s their editorial:
FSP Has Some Growing Up to Do
We would expect more political savvy from an eight year old.
On Wednesday, supporters of the Free State Project reported they had sent flowers to State Rep. Cynthia Chase thanking her “for all the free media coverage, which naturally resulted in more new people signing up for the Free State Project.”
While calling 
