Where is Freedom?

Folks, this is something I have been thinking about for a while but need some input from others.. Freedom is a relative term, so maybe the question should be: where is more freedom?

My premise is that an entrepreneur wants freedom. Not all businesses are entrepreneurial as some like big govt and regulations. There have been postings here by individuals who have intentionally reduced their business and/or gone overseas. If you distil their actions down to the core, I believe they want freedom. Freedom to risk, fail, learn, help others, make a difference.

I have presented to some economic development agencies the following: Would you rather have one business that will provide 100 jobs but requires lots of subsidies or 100 lifestyle entrepreneurs that will each bring over a million dollars of net worth in to your community, if you give them freedom. They do not want interest free loans, a business park, a building or subsidies, but they do want freedom. Will you become a pocket of freedom to attract these people? Of course all I get is dumb looks, because that would mean they would lose their jobs.

I had the opportunity to meet an entrepreneur in Mongolia who was starting a credit union after the collapse of the communist system. I asked him where he learned how to do that and he said: "I had one under communism but now I have to start over again." I was amazed to learn that even under communism there was entrepreneurship. There were pockets of freedom there.

I am one of those lifestyle entrepreneurs with over a million dollars net worth (not much these days, but more than most) looking for freedom. I know there are others like me here.

So where are our pockets of freedom, or how can we create them? There had been discussions here of conservatives moving to certain states and that may not be a bad idea. I am more open to that today than I was previously.

So, where is freedom? After much thinking my list is pretty short, so I need your help.:

1) RURAL AREAS. Common sense, local control exist here but big govt is rapidly invading with much federal building codes and regulation

2) NON PROFITS. Do what the politicians do. In the past rental property got a lot of freedom. Now it is non profits. Profit is bad, non profit is good. You can still do a lot of business under a non profit and have a little more freedom.

3) PARTNERSHIPS /SOLE PROPRIETORSHIPS. . Still relatively free from a lot of tax rules, but of course they hate small business has evidenced by the 1099 rules. They are trying to root these out because there is too much freedom there and they can't control it.

4) UNDERGROUND ECONOMY. Bartering may get more important. Biggest underground economy is the drug business, we may have have to emulate them. How much of Russia's economy was underground?

5) GROUPING UP. The early Israelis survived by grouping up in a kibbutz. We typically don't do this until we have to but getting an early start would give an edge.

I have a dream of a state/county/city that understands the concept of freedom. How do we find them or create them?

One final thought is that most people don't want freedom. I would guess 5% but maybe I am high?

Good ideas and good insight.

Regarding Rural Areas:

The federal government and even some state and local governments are actively and intentionally moving groups of new immigrants, primarily Africans and muslims, into small towns and rural areas all over the country.

The federal government especially seems determined to change the demographics of small towns or villages that do not have their share of minorities. (ie: they’re too “white”)

I believe there is also a concious effort on the part of liberals to move minority groups who would likely vote democrat voters into “red” counties and states to water down the conservative/republican vote.

This administration seems to be more focused on minority relocation tactics to effect these long range goals but it was taking place under the Bush administration as well.

I am still amazed, then disheartened, when I read articles about new enclaves of black muslims from equatorial Africa being established in rural areas and towns in the cold parts of the northeast, the plains states, the western mountains and upper northwest.

Were I in your position I would be visiting Honduras and looking for a place to live on the island of Roatan (part of Honduras). I might be looking into cutting deals with textile companies in Honduras to resell to the US (and lining up sales staff in the US).

After all, the Hondurans simultaneously faced down both the Communists of Latin America and the Communists in the White House.

I'm also seriously looking at Panama ... I'm reading a lot of good things about Panama. I've already got my first personnel working there, and have two more waiting in the wings (and I'm worth a lot less that $1 million - in fact I'm just "Joe Sixpack").

Of course, with just a million you'd have to step very carefully.

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