NH Republican Governor Joins Free State Project

Free State Project ^

[Dada Orwell]

From freestateproject.org:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New Hampshire Governor Joins as a Friend of the Free State Project

In late June, Governor Craig Benson (R-NH) met with members from the Free State Project (FSP) who were visiting to explore New Hampshire as a possible choice for the FSP. Benson welcomed the visit and noted that he had much in common with Free Staters. After careful consideration, Governor Benson has decided to sign on as a supporter of the FSP. While making no commitment to move with the Free Staters, he supports their efforts to reform state and local government in order to create a truly free society.

The Free State Project (www.freestateproject.org ) is a non-profit organization that is in the process of gathering 20,000 or more liberty-oriented people to move to a single state in the U.S. in the attempt to establish a truly free society.

Rather than continuing the same failed strategies aimed at bringing the US Government to the light of liberty, the Free State Project aims at creating liberty in a single state. The success of the FSP would likely entail reductions in burdensome taxation and regulation, legal reforms, and an increased respect for and protection of people's rights, demonstrating the benefits of liberty to the rest of the nation and the world.

The project's membership is currently conducting the vote to choose which state will become "the Free State." Jason Sorens, founder of the FSP, said "As a grassroots organization, we draw support from many quarters. In addition to the nearly 5,000 members and hundreds of friends, it's wonderful to have an ally in this state's highest office."

The meeting, part of the "Escape to New Hampshire" getaway sponsored by the Welcome to the Granite State Committee (www.FreeStateNH.com) was arranged by John Babiarz, FSP member, Chair of the Libertarian Party of NH (www.lpnh.org), and Benson's appointee to the Efficiency in Government Commission.

When asked how he would feel about 20,000 small-government activists moving to New Hampshire, Benson replied, "Come on up. We'd love to have you."

Elizabeth McKinstry, VP of the FSP said, "It's impressive to see someone in political office who is encouraged, rather than threatened, by citizens who want to have a say in how government should be run."

[Vesuvian]

From what I see from a quick perusal of their site, 10 states are in the running. They are:

Alaska Delaware Idaho Maine Montana New Hampshire North Dakota
South Dakota Vermont Wyoming

I don't know if that's it, or more states might be added. I look forward to hearing the pros and cons of each state from other FReepers.

From what I know of New Hampshire: No state income tax, no sales tax. There is a tax on dividends and interest.

[ovrtaxt]

"I look forward to hearing the pros and cons of each state from other FReepers. "

Here's a con: the sun doesn't shine in any of those places. Maybe we could deport all the stupid people from Florida, or go to Key west and secede from the state. Jeb probably wouldn't invade.

[.30Carbine]

We happen to like rain.

[.30Carbine]

Some of my best friends, and a great many of VT's businesses, are moving to NH.

[Vesuvian]

My parents have a place down in FL- everytime I go there I am overwhelmed by how stupid people are down there. I go to the store and every single time something happens to hold up the line involving somebody's dopiness.

Does anybody know if this project will have all those people moving into the same area? A large number of like minded people in the same town or county could work wonders. Maybe we could all move to a Key- FReeper Key, sounds good to me, but I'm going to need sun block by the case!

[GOPcapitalist]

I look forward to hearing the pros and cons of each state from other FReepers.

Well, I like Alaska. It's a beautiful state and the people are friendly. Drawbacks are it's cold and the federal government owns something like 90% of the land and won't let parts like ANWR be developed.

Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire, have the major drawbacks of being in the middle of yankeeland, which typically means angry rude people who like to boss around other people who are different from them and use the state to assist them in doing so whenever they can. New Hampshire is probably the lone exception of those states at least in the sense that the yankee presence is not overriding yet. So in other words, the existing political climate in them is culturally stacked against libertarianism than in some of the other candidate states. Vermont is also a socialist haven on top of being a yankee haven, making it twice as difficult to work with.

Parts of Delaware in the south are nice but Wilmington is essentially Philadelphia Jr. now, meaning lots of angry and rude yankees there too.

The western and plains states are probably the best candidates - they have existing political cultures that are far less liberal, far less yankee, and far less socialist than in the east.

Of course if I had my way, I'd have them pick a southern or southwestern state. Problem is they are almost all too populated for the libertarian groups to have the impact they desire. I think the lowest population-wise is Arkansas (about twice the population of NH) so it may work if you're willing to put up with all the rednecks.

[autoresponder]

Criteria:

Pick a low population state

Pick a very low crime state

Pick a state with high CCW issue rates

Pick a state with high firearms ownership rates

Pick a fairly high income level state

Pick a state with high HS graduation rates

Pick a state with low HS dropout rates

Pick a state with high SAT scores

Pick a state with low welfare rates

Pick a state with low unmarried birth rates

Pick a state with high marriage rates

Pick a state with low divorce rates

Pick a state with growing businesses

Don't pick any state you have to completely overhaul!

You cannot do it!

No state income tax or sales taxes is important, but you have to weigh in all the desired points as you don't want to have to spend time and money trying to change everything

[StriperSniper]

Pick a state with high HS graduation rates
Pick a state with low HS dropout rates
Pick a state with high SAT scores
Pick a state with low unmarried birth rates
Pick a state with high marriage rates
Pick a state with low divorce rates

In a low population state, just the influx of Free Staters would probably improve all those numbers immediately just by inclusion into the data set. Although the importance of any of those factors could be disputed in a 'free state'. For instance, a high HS dropout rate might not be so bad if many of those who dropout become skilled tradesmen. I know several successful small business owners who have gone that route. The debate would be whether or not the percentage of those who go that route rather than crime or dependency. Intuitively I would say it would work since it would be easier to succeed if unburdened from much government crap.

[autoresponder]

Not to try to demean your logic, but if you go to Vegas you go with starting skill and odds or you come home naked.

NY, NJ, CA, MA, VT are all loser states to try, not because of the population, but because of the pre rigged lib/dem %ages and the welfare giveaway mentality.

Nothing happens "instantly" unless you are


And that is not a desired talent.

New Hampshire has no income tax, no sales tax, good pro firearms laws, hunting, fishing, a good work force, few illegal aliens, an ultra low crime rate (check FBI-DOJ stats), few gangbangers, low urban decay, no great "community population" blight, great rural land, etc.

The downside is it is squeezed between MA, VT, NY, and Canada.

Past population shifts and demographic changes over time must be considered.

In 10 years your 20,000 Free Staters could be overwhelmed by many NY and MA libs, Enviro-Nutzis, stone age Somalis, illegal aliens, Greens, etc.

Change can come quickly today.

It only takes one judge's or SCROTUS' decision and/or a lib/dem President and/or a rad leftie NH legistlature.

If you have a bad hand going in you cannot draw 3 Aces.

I appreciate your positive attitude, but I look at the long view.

State income taxes and/or state sales taxes cannot be voided overnight.

If ever.

Watch for some now desirable states to start getting tax and crime fleeing libs, bringing with them their warped socialistic agendas that will turn their new home state into California.

I am not trying to kill the efforts for Free Staters, just tossing in basic business logic where feelings are often considered first.

[Vesuvian]

Thanks, you make some good points. Hey! I'm a Yankee!

[Pyro7480]

Delaware is already part of the way there, with no sales tax. Other than that, there's A LOT of reforming that needs to be done.

[freeangel]

Dopey is as dopey does. This is the state that couldn't even vote correctly.

[Drango]

Criteria:
Pick a low population state
Pick a very low crime state...

Pick a state with a large enough Dennys to hold everbody that comes to the meetings.

[Xthe17th]

The "no sales tax" criteria is foolish. As any freedom minded person knows, consumption tax is the only fair tax. With NH having no income tax, which is excellent, the only other way for them to raise revenue is through higher property tax, which is bad! (Refer to California's current woes which, regardless of how incompetent Grayout is, are partly due to Proposition 13)

It is totally unrealistic to think that a truly "free state" will not require any operating revenue. As the captain of the Vogon constructor ship said, "we've got to build bypasses!" Free-staters better have a plan for it.

[Vesuvian]

But you have to remember- high is relative. Having compared property taxes in NH to NY, NH is a bargain. I always figured that NH raised most of their money via the state run liquor stores.

"Do your part to help your state- Drink!"

[austinTparty]

Free-staters better have a plan for it.

They do. And it's mostly harmless.

[Taxman]

I joined the FSP about a year ago. Intriguiging concept, and I hope it succeeds.

Consumption tax is the only way to raise funds for the legitimate government functions. What we are debating is how much government is "just right," which, will, of course, define those "legitimate" functions.

[Keyes2000mt]

I'd say the big con for Montana is the Supreme Court. They rule the roost.