[Roscoe]

Perhaps he should start with something less ambitious, like buying a Denny's.

[#3Fan]

I'm glad to see a Libertarian do something besides play spoiler while clinging onto the Republican party.

[SteveH]

A slightly less ambitious way to go might be to target a single county or two in Texas and secede from that state, forming a new state in the process. (Is there a provision in the acceptance of Texas to the Union which permits that?... not a Texas expert, obviously...)

[FourteenthProfile]

Isn't that what happened in Vermont? Didn't a bunch of leftists from Boston and New Yawk move there and take it over? Or are Vermonters naturally socialist and morally bankrupt (homosexual "unions")?

[ChadGore]

Libertarians should start with a goal that, while challenging, might actually be achievable.

Putting down the huka for one whole weekend.

[valkyrieanne]

It's an interesting idea. We focus way too much on the fedral government, and not enough on the states.

In a sparsely populated state, even 20,000 dedicated people can make a difference in state government. State laws can be changed far more easily than federal laws. Maybe Atlas is going to shrug, after all.

[Moby Grape]

So he got 200 supportive emails....about the national Libertarian membership.

[RabidBartender]

"Perhaps he should start with something less ambitious, like buying a Denny's."

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!

Unfortunately, not many people today act on their principles, which is why this guy will not get 20,000 libertarians to move anywhere.

[BlueLancer]

Looney Lib PING ....

[Plutarch]

This is a great idea, but the problem is that it comes from libertarians. Who wants to live in a State with cheap and legal heroin and crack?

I'd be all over moving to the State of Freeptopia, with fellow Conservatives.

[RightWhale]

to take over Wyoming. Or maybe Alaska.

Ls actually elected a state rep in Alaska once a long time ago. Mostly they are getting nowhere anymore. It might be more productive of their time if they went ahead with founding their own colony in space, the famous L5 colony.

-Former L

[takenoprisoner]

What's alarming, and totally escaping your conscious (or lack thereof), is that someone in the United States of America would have to even think about attempting to create a free state again.

[ravinson]

This is not as flaky an idea as it may seem at first blush to an unimaginative conservative like you. Wyoming would be the perfect state to mass Libertarians, since it's already one of the most libertarian states, but we'd probably have to get 100,000 - 125,000 to gain a sure voting majority. I've done some research on this, and establishing residency in a state can be accomplished merely by having someplace to call home there, even if you work and spend almost all of your time somewhere else, provided you have an intent to return to Wyoming (as Dick Cheney has already proven).

If successful, Libertarians would have control of a geographically large state plus 2 Senators and a seat in the House. State laws can potentially be used to avoid the harm of federal laws, particularly with regard to federal income taxes. Moreover, if successful, neighboring states would be encouraged by the Wyoming miracle to become more libertarian, which could result in the rapid spread of libertarianism in the West (note how many states border Wyoming) and eventually throughout the country.

[Liberty Teeth]

I'm all for it as long as we can jail interlopers.

[Hacksaw]

I heard about this on the radio - this actually seems like a good idea.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Tabitha's brother?

[TheEngineer]

... decided the best course of action would be to take over Wyoming. Or maybe Alaska.

I wonder what they would do with the oil in ANWR? We need to remind them that plastic bongs are made from petroleum.

[kms61]

Sparsely populated regions are that way for a reason...There aren't many jobs, and/or the cost of living is high, and/or the climate is harsh. Jobs in a place like Wyoming aren't going to magically appear for the 20000 immigrants.

Not to mention the fact that the current residents will automatically be resentful of the newcomers, and inclined to resist whatever philosophy they're pushing.

[Tribune7]

Jason

Not a bad idea. Forget Wyoming and Alaska. Start with Hawaii. Replacing socialism with libertarianism is a net gain.

[x]

Legalize drugs and the druggies move in. Then you have all manner of addicts and illegitmate children to provide for. And there will be those who prey on the addicts. You also get organized crime (perhaps more a result of the prohibition of drugs in other states, but still a problem).

There are limits on how little government we can have. 19th century thinkers wanted to make all adults rational and clear-thinking so as to keep them off the dole (and of course there was always the problem of children, who could not be fully free or rationally clear-thinking and responsible). 21st century libertarians allow adults the full exercise of their freedom, though it's clear that there will be a bill to be paid in the end. Some of the 19th and early 20th century policies -- public education, compulsory school laws, banning drugs, prohibiting liquor, committment of the insane -- were doubtless unlibertarian, but it looks like societies are fated to be unlibertarian in some way or other.

[redrock]

You Communists are all alike...ya don't like anyone stepping out of line.

redrock