Posted on 10/25/2003 3:36:27 PM PDT by archy
Free State Project’s N.H. choice confirms state’s philosophy
The motto of members of the Free State Project could very well be summed up in a statement made by Henry David Thoreau over 150 years ago: "That government is best which governs least."
In many ways, Thoreau could have been speaking about the philosophy of many New Hampshire citizens when he wrote those words, and now we are set to find out if that philosophy can be lived in our very complex modern age.
On Wednesday, the Free State Project, which seeks to ultimately move 20,000 people to a state in order to test the efficacy of that philosophy, announced that New Hampshire has been chosen as that state. In many ways, we feel honored by that choice.
Obviously, the approximately 5,300 people who have pledged to be part of the project - 55 percent of whom voted to make New Hampshire the test case for living their dream - felt that the "Live Free or Die" attitudes - a penchant for small, lean governments and an accent on local control that we Granite Staters so often tout - were true. So true, in fact, that they are willing to pack up their homes and families in order to come here.
It is a tangible endorsement of the way of life we have sought to establish in this small, but vital, New England state.
There is little doubt the Free Staters who will actually come to New Hampshire over the next decade or so will be activists seeking to make changes. They may push for the legalization of marijuana - at least for medicinal purposes - seek to further loosen restrictions on gun ownership and/or try to lift the yoke of federal government even more by rejecting funding that comes with "strings," such as highway money and social service grants.
Particularly now, as our first-in-the-nation presidential primary nears and special interests send tons of money to the state, it is refreshing and heartening to see a group of people willing to, quite literally, walk the walk in an effort to create the political environment they see as most in keeping with the principles on which this country is based.
However, we would be remiss if we did not remind those coming here of several important facts.
The first is that we don’t cotton to Free Staters who are planning to come here as freeloaders. We expect you not only to participate in our political process, but add to our economic well-being as well.
Secondly, we are all for political change, but not dissolution of our government. Of all the states in the Union, as you have already noted, ours is one where government at all levels is closest to the people. We are looking forward to seeing your reactions at our town meetings or polling places when issues such as whether your adopted town needs a new firetruck or garbage packer come up.
In New Hampshire we have met the government, and here, perhaps more than any other place, it is us.
Finally, we believe in engaging in civil dialogue that allows for the expression of the views of all those interested in making them known and letting the majority rule. No individual or group should think that their numbers or the use of intimidation tactics or economic boycotts will be effective in subverting that dialogue.
So, we applaud your resolve and what you will and have sacrificed in attempting to increase liberty in our state for all of us. We believe we can be good neighbors and allies in working for the benefit of all the citizens of New Hampshire.
- Portsmouth Herald
And some others who ought to be.
-archy-/-
We may have more FRiends in NH than we think!
Sounds to me like a newspaperman who's seen more than a few things take place in a region and locale he cares deeply for, or would be elsewhere, and who has noted the deterioration of his state's proud spirit as outsiders have come in to *improve* it.
And it may be that in the Porcupines, he sees others like him who he reasonably expects are going to fall in love with theplace, and add their numbers to those resisting the spread of decay brought to their state by those who've spread it so well in the states they've left behind that they've fled the morass of their own making- yet would do the same in NH if their numbers and influence are not balanced or overwhelmed.
I think that editor has high hopes for his coming Porcupine infestation. I think I'll do my best not to let him down.
-archy-/-
I'm not there yet. I've got a couple of pals [including some FReepers] hoping to make the move before this year's snows, so I'm very interested in their firsthand reports of how they feel after they've made their big step. I need to replace a pickup truck damaged beyond economic repair in the big Memphis windstorm last July [500 million worth of damage reported, not all of which was confined to my truck...] and see how my kid's thoughts and preparations for his making the move are prograssing. And I may take advantage of the Laconia/ Weirs Beach bike run to make my move and thereby slip under cover of that distraction, not to mention it'd make a swell welcoming party.
But oh yeah, I'm looking forward to the move, probably long before the 20K figure has been reached and the race is on. I'm not looking for an overly large corner of NH for my personal porkyoine nest, but I am after a pretty little corner for it.
-archy-/-
Any help turning back the socialist tide is more than welcome!
What part of the state are looking at moving to?
Any help turning back the socialist tide is more than welcome!
What part of the state are looking at moving to?
I appreciate the welcome. I've spent some vacation time up around North Conroy, and love the area- it's beautiful out that way. I've gotten to the Weirs Beach bikers' party at Laconia a few times, but I want to get a better picture of the state as a whole, and I'm considering a vacation tour sometime in '04 in which I'd spend a day or two in each county.
That White Mountain area sure is pretty, though, and I've spotted a couple of residences in the area that are in my price range. I want to get a good firsthand look, of course, but I may well be one of the *early birds* who doesn't wait on the other 20,000 porkypines to start moving.
-archy-/-
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