Federal Court upholds restriction on petitioning

by | Aug 28, 2015 | 35 comments

Originally published by the Ballot Access Fairness Coalition

In 2014 the New Hampshire General Court passed a new restriction on minor party access to the general election ballot by prohibiting a political organization from collecting petitions before the election year. The Libertarian Party of New Hampshire filed a lawsuit challenging this new law. A similar law in Rhode Island was struck down in 2009 because the sole claim by the Rhode Island government was “reducing the number of ‘false positives’.” In New Hampshire, that was the initial reason given for passage of the new law, however William Gardner changed the reasoning the rationale to prevent ballot clutter and to ensure that political parties have a current modicum of support. (more…)

Maybe we don’t need parking meters

by | Aug 28, 2015 | 23 comments

A couple of days ago the Keene Sentinel published the following Letter to the Editor, and the letter has been submitted to the City Council as a formal communication to be heard at an upcoming Council meeting.

For the last couple of years the city council has been debating whether or not, and by how much to increase parking meter rates, and the Parking Czar recently announced his retirement. The City even sued 6 people who were feeding meters to make a political statement, in hopes of creating a debate on whether or not the City even needs parking meters. (more…)

Former FSP President Blogs About Secession

by | Aug 27, 2015 | 5 comments

Varrin SwearingenWith groups like the Foundation for NH Independence, a pro-secession advocacy group, and the NH Liberty Party, a political party with secession as its main plank, the movement for New Hampshire declaring independence from the United States is just getting started. It’s an idea whose time has come again.

While Free State Project early mover-to-Keene Varrin Swearingen says he is not an advocate for secession, in his latest blog, he digs into the issue and does admit:

I’m not absolutely opposed to secession under any circumstances. I believe New Hampshire is better off now having seceded the first time, and that could become the case again. If the U.S. Government continues on its path, and Americans do nothing to stop its tyrannical decline, I may concede that another secession is, again, the least bad choice.

Varrin is a professional pilot who lives in Keene with his wife and children and is the former president of the Free State Project. You can read his full blog on secession here.

State Reps Hold Contest for Kids to Find NH’s Dumbest Laws

by | Aug 26, 2015 | 3 comments

NH State House

What is the dumbest statute in NH?

Liberty-friendly state representatives have come up with an interesting idea for a contest for children in NH. Instead of encouraging them to think up new laws, they’re asking kids to find NH’s dumbest laws. The contest is already making headlines.

Max Abramson, a liberty-oriented state rep from Seabrook told the Seacoast Online, “All New Hampshire students have until Sept. 15 to post a law they’d like to see repealed on the event’s Facebook page called New Hampshire’s Dumbest Law. Sept. 15 is three days before the deadline for lawmakers to file legislation.”

In an interview with Free Keene, Abramson added, “The class that comes up with the silliest or most ridiculous law gets to have a bill sponsored to repeal it.”

Bitcoin Ticketing is Now Working Again for Keenevention 2015!

by | Aug 24, 2015 | 1 comment

Due to Keenevention hitting an arbitrary limit with our bitcoin payment provider, Bitpay, bitcoin ticketing was down for a few days. Bitpay lifted the account limitation today, so I have restored the bitcoin options to the Tickets page. Keenevention is this October 31st through November 1st in Keene. Here are the bitcoin ticket purchase links, for your convenience:




Full Access Ticket – just $60 USD worth of BTC




VIP Ticket – $120 USD worth of BTC