The Free State Project: A Project for Idaho

Idaho Observer via Sierra Times ^ | 11/16/02 | Hari Heath

[Jack Black]

This continues to be an interesting proposition in my opinion.

[steve50]

Some Free State members claim they are 5 or 6 years away from trying it, membership drive is on schedule. If it should be attempted the media spin should be informative.

[bassmaner]

bump

[Jack Black]

They have slightly over 2000 memebers to date. I believe the magic number is 20,000. Five years at the current rate sounds about right, but it could snowball if it go a lot of press.

[steve50]

I think there are alot of people who haven't signed the petition who would seriously consider it, I know I would.

[Governor]

ND won't be selected....2 Air Force bases, The Cavalier Space Command Radar Site, Indian reservations, Army training centers......and the contol center for a goodly number of nuclear ICBM's. Federal "troops" would put up a good fight real quick.

[madfly]

FYI

[madfly]

Link:

FreeStateProject.org

[madfly]

fyi

[Chancellor Palpatine]

They sound like a bunch of stupid parasitic Libertarian or Constitutional party zealots to me. More than happy to live of of the economic and physical infrastructure created by the effort and wealth of a government organization they desise, they'd run it into the ground in under a year.

As they squabbled over leadership and who is the greater statist, they'd be paralyzed. The joint would look like Heinlein's Coventry in under a year.

[Free the USA]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[archy]

They have slightly over 2000 members to date. I believe the magic number is 20,000. Five years at the current rate sounds about right, but it could snowball if it go a lot of press.

You're correct that about 2000 are now on board the FSP, [2092 as of 18 NO 2002] but it should be noted that there's an option to decline the big move should a state for the FSP effort be chosen that's not suitable for a particular individual or family- and many of the FSP Easterners really hate the idea of some of the remote Western and Alaska possibilities. And of course, there may well be some journalists and FedGovSnoops among those of the 2000 who won't be leaving their pismire warrens for any site at all.

But it's been said that the location of the *goal state* will be made once 5000 of the FSP *porcupines* are on board. Judging from the time it took for the first 1000 to become the second 1000, there's an excellent chance that that could come by the next presidential election.... [45 weeks, more or less, for the first 1000; 15 weeks for the second.]

Or it could be that the state that's the final contender has already been chosen, with the result closely held both for reasons of offering as much confusion to the adversaries and detractors of the project as possible, as well as not scaring away those less interested in a rural or Western setting. [Utah? Salt Lake! But Brigham Young, that place is desolate....]

But the word is getting out, oh yes. And some hard-core porcupines are also prepared to make the relocation move within 30 days of the announcement of the final site. We shall see.

-archy-/-

[wimpycat]

We should start a campaign for all of them to move to Idaho, and see how long they last with no federal "handouts". They'd probably repeal the state income tax, too.

Man, they are going to have to grow a lot of potatoes. I just hope their prices remain competitive.

[archy]

As they squabbled over leadership and who is the greater statist, they'd be paralyzed. The joint would look like Heinlein's Coventry in under a year.

Oh, I think more like Heinlein's Luna of The Moon is a Harsh Mistress.

Beware the porcupines with the little brass cannons. But they can surely do no worse than Teddy Roosevelt and his *Bull Moose* candidacy of 1912.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Of course, a potato blight spreading in one part of the gulch couldn't be dealt with without impinging on someone elses crop, so then they'd all starve.

They'd be happy though, coz in their minds, they'd all starve free.

[archy]

Idaho demographics: monoculturalism or multiculturalism?

That is the only relevant question.

Not really. And though Idaho is a likely *goal state* final contender, that's not at all an iron-clad certainty yet.

Officially, anyway.

-archy-/-

[wimpycat]

And God forbid a tornado or flood or other natural disaster strikes a "Free-State" Idaho. No federal disaster relief; it'd go against the principles of the new legislature to accept it.

[JohnGalt]

Galt's Gulch in Idaho!...Lived in Driggs (opposite Jackson Hole) for a year after college. Would love to return...

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Of course, Free State Idaho will have law enforcement - in the form of Sheriffs, who are worshipped by these guys.

The Sheriffs will quickly become the Lord High Sheriff, corrupt and absolute in their exercise of power - and will be dislodged only by much blood and mayhem (which is of course the stock in trade of these fanatics).