Libertarians Eye Wyoming for Relocation of 20,000 Persons

Cheyenne, Wyoming Tribune-Eagle ^ | 07-23-03 | Olson, Ilene

[Theodore R.]

The influx of these Libertarians could make WY a DEMOCRAT state!

[gcruse]

Head 'em up!

[ClearCase_guy]

Let's see ... 20,000 people move to Wyoming. Will there be enough jobs?

“By the time the move to the selected state is being completed, 1,000 to 3,000 jobs will have been created simply because of our moving to the selected state,” he said.

Okay, let's give you the high side. 3000 jobs. You're still 17,000 jobs short. What else have you got planned?

In addition, “as many as thousands of us will be elected to office,” Carlsen writes. “Many of these public office jobs are full-time jobs with full-time pay.

Yes!! That's it! If everyone could go on to a government payroll, there would be no unemployment! These socialists have really figured out how to make government the master of us all!

What's that you say? These folks aren't socialists? They're ...Libertarians?? Well, I'll be d*mned.

[HurkinMcGurkin]

They will have to pick a warmer State if they want my participation.

[Mr. Bird]

Interesting, if a bit silly. And please, enough with the static analysis of what the economic impact would be, especially regarding jobs.

If the project reached its goal of 20,000 participants, the first thing that would throw econ theory out the window is the fact that this is an influx of self selected individuals. Presumably, they would be making the final decision to move with a bit more than a couple of dimes in their pockets. I would guess that a huge percentage would either be retirees/wealthy and without the desire for a job or already have one lined up.

And they certainly wouldn't fit a nice bell-curve model of population increase statistics. The age demographics are clearly skewed at the edges, so you have a smaller percentage of high-wage professionals with 20+ years experience.

There is no telling what kind of new market would open up in a state with such activist libertarians. And if they succeeded in tilting the state's politics, the effects could be drastic, economically speaking, and not for the worse.

But, I suppose I should just listen to the nice gentleman from the Laramie County Comunity College (the Harvard of the square states?) and leave this alone.

[Huck]

Funny stuff.

[Capitalism2003]

I'm THERE!

Libertarians won't be bitching and moaning about no jobs. These are the people who MAKE jobs. They make it happen with absolutely no complaints to anyone. I would love to live in a libertarian state--NO state income taxes, NO property taxes, NO sales taxes, every major function of government privatized--thousands of people working in the free market free of government control...just beautiful.

[tnlibertarian]

My sister used to live in SW Wyoming. I understand why the University of Wyoming colors are brown and yellow; they don't realize there are any others.

[Between the Lines]

“Wyoming is one of the most pro-freedom, independent-minded states in the country,” Carlsen said.
A report co-authored by Carlsen says, “This is a state that consistently responds to candidates advocating a small government agenda.”
Carlsen’s report touts Wyoming’s lack of personal or business state income taxes. It also cites the state’s rating as “America’s Wealth-Friendliest State” by Bloomberg, and its ranking by the Tax Foundation as the state with the most business-friendly tax climate.
In addition, the Republican Liberty Caucus considers Wyoming’s congressional and legislative delegations to be the most libertarian in the nation for both fiscal and social issues, the report says.
Carlsen cited examples such as U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., who was the only senator to vote against a recent trade restriction bill, and state Rep. Keith Goodenough, D-Casper, who voted against a tax on cigarettes during the 2003 Legislature and is pushing to legalize marijuana in the state.

In less words... Wyoming is the most Libertarian state in the nation... All we have to do is change the drug laws and we are in Libertarian heaven.

[JohnGalt]

Just for the record, the Free State Project is not affiliated with the Libertarian Party, and the author does not seem to grasp the difference between libertarians and Libertarians either.

[gcruse]

" All we have to do is change the drug laws"

Good luck with that.  Ashcroft knows no boundaries or Amendments. And he is setting anti-Constitutional precedents for his successors.

[marlon]

And I'll bet there are also (fewer) people to persuade in addition to less!

[MineralMan]

With a population of just under 500,000, this 20K of Libertarians would make up 4% of the population of Wyoming. So, instead of managing less than .5% of the vote in any given election, they'd get maybe 8%, considering the number of adults in that 500K.

Wonderful. Still marginalized, but slightly bigger.

I've hunted in Wyoming a number of times, and that state is made up of individualists, by and large. I can just see some glasses-wearing, overweight, 20-something libertarian trying to convince a long-time resident of Wyoming that big changes are needed.

"Sure thing, sonny."

It is to laugh, but I'd welcome the loss of the few libertarians in my area....good riddance.

[MineralMan]

"I'm THERE!"

Well, actually, you appear to be in Kentucky. When are you moving?

[HurkinMcGurkin]

Just for the record, the Free State Project is not affiliated with the Libertarian Party, and the author does not seem to grasp the difference between libertarians and Libertarians either.

Heh, heh. Sounds like one of many libertarian bashers here at FR.

[stevio]

We allow over 1,000,000 immigrants in this country each year, and all of a sudden there is a problem finding 20,000 jobs? I hope something comes of this movement.

[wimpycat]

Last I heard, they had set their sights on Idaho, not Wyoming.

[Chewbacca]

Sounds a little like Ayn Rands group of businessmen who founded a freemarket town in a secluded valley.

[ClearCase_guy]

And I had heard it was New Hampshire. They don't know where they are going. As another poster pointed out, they will represent 4% of the pop. if they move to Wyoming. That won't win them any elections. But it will drive up real estate prices and the unemployment rate.

This is just a dumb idea. Almost like a cult-thing where you give up your current life, move across the country and hope for a miracle that's never going to come.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

The influx of these Libertarians could make WY a DEMOCRAT state!

Pro-gun, free-market, low taxes, private education....I don't think so.