THE FREE STATE PROJECT

<a href="http://www.gmu.edu/departments/economics/wew/">Walter Williams, Georgetown University</a> ^ | updated August 21, 2002 | Professor Walter Williams, Contributer

[Nix 2]

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The Free State Project is a plan in which 20,000 or more liberty-oriented people will move to a single state of the U.S. to secure there a free society. We will accomplish this by first reforming state law, opting out of federal mandates, and finally negotiating directly with the federal government for appropriate political autonomy. We will be a community of freedom-loving individuals and families, and create a shining example of liberty for the rest of the nation and the world.

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The Free State Project is a new strategy for liberty in our lifetime.

We don't want to wait decades for most citizens in the U.S. to realize that the nanny state is an insult to their dignity. For those of us who already understand the debilitating effects of a government bent on reducing liberty rather than increasing it, the Free State Project aims at liberty in a single state.

What do we mean by liberty? We believe that being free and independent is a great way to live, and that government's only role should be to help individuals defend themselves from force and fraud. To quote author L. Neil Smith, we believe that "no one has the right, under any circumstances, to initiate force against another human being, or to advocate or delegate its initiation."

What can be done in a single state? A great deal. We will repeal state taxes and wasteful state government programs. We will end the collaboration between state and federal law enforcement officials in enforcing unconstitutional laws. We will repeal laws outlawing drugs and guns. We will end asset forfeiture and abuses of eminent domain. We will privatize utilities and end inefficient regulations and monopolies. Then we will negotiate directly with the federal government for more autonomy.

The state where we will move will be decided once membership has reached 5,000. We are doing extensive research on all the candidate states. The vote will be conducted according to the method of Cumulative Count, which more closely approximates the ideal of individual choice than simple majority rule.

Before joining, please be sure also to check out our FAQ and articles sections, which contain more detailed information about the Free State Project, including answers to common questions like, "What can 20000 activists do in one state?," "What is cumulative count?," and "Do you think the federal government will oppose your efforts?," along with many others.

Join the Free State Project and take part in a rapidly growing movement aimed at securing liberty in our lifetime.

We don't want your money, just your signature - and when the time comes, your willingness to carry through on your word of honor.

If you would like to participate in this exciting new venture, please carefully read our Participation Guidelines and sign the Statement of Intent. To view these documents and to join, click here .

[Nix 2]

If dreams could only come true. If only we had the courage of our forefathers. What do you think?

[MissAmericanPie]

I hope Texas is one of the states they are considering. I believe in a Republic, in the power of the individual states to determine what goes on inside their borders, control their own resources and land.

Texas has it's own port cities, oil, gas, airforce, farming, manufacturing, it is almost a country in itself. I would love to see my state take it's power back from the Fed, and the Fed put in it's proper place in the scheme of things.

[Texasforever]

Texas has it's own port cities, oil, gas, airforce, farming, manufacturing

I hope you won’t mind if some of us in Texas take exception to being "liberated". It could be quite a dust up.

[MissAmericanPie]

Liberated? No one would dare liberate you Texasforever, I doubt anyone has the fortitude to chip you out of the concete you're set in, or come between you and a good steaming bowl of prunes. This article is not about secession, it's about State's rights and taking back State's power from D.C..

[Nix 2]

Texas is a long, lonely drive to cross without good FM, but I think they are considering almost any state where liberty could actually be returned to the people, legally and forever. It would be one heck of an experiment, wouldn't it?

[ReaganIsRight]

I don't know about the Georgetown University reference, but WW is a professor at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA.

Bill Clinton is a Georgetown product -- BIG difference.

[MissAmericanPie]

States rights is the only answer to this mess. D.C. is barking mad and there is no healing it. Each state should take back it's power and resources from the Fed and we should get back to being the Republic we were intended to be.

The reason we are in the mess we are in is because of the Supreme Court, that sucker needs to be defanged along with every other politically activist federal court. We need some Constitutional Amendment to put this beast in chains.

[Texasforever]

No it’s about 20,000 folks moving to Texas or some other state with the express intent of taking over that state's government. They couldn’t do that in Texas with 200,000 much less 20 but this "plan" stinks like week old headcheese.

[Nix 2]

Right you are. My bad and it's right in the url besides. I guess I've just been hearing too much about Klintoon today trying to scam the clinton bull sh*t network for 50mil. Thanks for the correction, but if you hit the url, it is his homepage.

[Plutarch]

This is a libertarian project, isn't it?

Hey, cool man, does that mean I can get all the dope I want?

[Nix 2]

"plan" stinks like week old headcheese.

That gives us a rather pointed indication of what has gone wrong with your senses. Ewwwww.....

[Texasforever]

Did I mischaracterize the plan in anyway? Was I wrong asserting that 20,000 self proclaimed "liberators" were going to invade a state with the express purpose of imposing their form of "liberty" on the existing population? Or will the existing population be dealt with?

[Mo1]

Is this for real???

It will never work

[Hostage]

I must admit, this post grabbed me. I don't have much hope though, because its success could be contagious. Hence, those on the losing end would fight it most vociferously, aka the liberal elite.

[dcwusmc]

bump to read tomorrow

[Plutarch]

All he offered me was steenking week old headcheese, man.

[Texasforever]

So you are all for invading states to impose "liberty"?

[MissAmericanPie]

I'm sure you prefer a half a million or more illegal aliens taking over the state. God forbid like minded Americans having the freedom to assemble and vote.