October News from the 603

Guess what I heard every day while pitching the Free State Project at Libertopia in San Diego? Yep, that’s right: “But what about the cold?” I wanted to yell: If you can’t make some sacrifices for liberty, what the hell are you fighting for, anyway?

Then, this past weekend, we had a dramatic October snow storm, which not only put a damper on our annual Zombie Apocalypse party at the Bardo Farm, but knocked out power to 250,000+ Hampsters, and for a moment there, it got me thinking: Maybe the naysayers are right, maybe moving here for freedom is insane. But then, as I dug out my winter boots and hunted down my working gloves, I remembered why I had moved. Because it COUNTS. Because the Free State Project is really, truly the ONLY PLAN that is going to work for Liberty in Our Lifetime. Not some pie in the sky, floating cities, free towns, if only we can build a rocket ship and colonize the moon plan, but a concrete approach that is working already. Right here, right now.

If you want to gain a better understanding about the FSP, join us February 23-26, 2012 for Liberty Forum. Yep, we’re that damn confident about what we’re doing that we throw a conference/party slap-bang in the middle of the crappiest part of the whole winter. Because we know, once you experience the camaraderie that stems from a philosophical meeting of the minds, there’s no turning back.

Early Bird pricing for Liberty Forum ends on December 1, so register now, especially since a little birdie (okay, a Big Bird) told me the hotel is filling up faster than in past years and we want to make sure your stay is cozy.

One of the keynote speakers will be food freedom fighter, Joel Salatin. Who else? Liberty Forum organizer, Chris Lawless, has an ambitious plan: no repeat speakers*. Why? Because, as I told someone at Libertopia, that’s how we Free Staters roll: we want to be challenged, we want to discover new things. So, if some of the names are not immediately recognizable to you, come learn with us.

Liberty Forum will also be hosting New Hampshire specific breakout sessions about local agora, politics, and civil disobedience. And, since the goal of Liberty Forum is to convince you to move, and to make it as easy as possible, we will have an on-site recruiter and realtor.

Visiting Libertopia in San Diego was a great outreach experience--new signers, new movers, new friends--but being in California fully cemented my belief that New Hampshire is where it’s at. Looking around the vendor area, I felt immensely chuffed to see, in addition to the FSP’s swanky new booth (pictured left with my King Consort), Free Aid (started by Free Staters) and Cop Block (started by Free Staters) and Tarrin Lupo plugging his books (a Free Stater), as were several of the speakers. Next year, I hope to have a main stage gig, and would like to see even more Free State businesses and projects represented, including un/homeschoolers and Shire Silver (check out the results of their media contest here).

What else has been going on, what’s happening soon? I did an interview with Brian Doherty of Reason Magazine for his upcoming book on the Ron Paul campaign. I spent an evening painting Ron Paul banners with my friends. We particpated in a pro-peace, anti-war rally. On November 5, an FSP contingent will be speaking at Harvard. (How do you know someone is from Haaahvard? They tell you! :p). On November 12, I will be doing a 50 minute radio interview on Erskine Overnight. Free State Now, spearheaded by Free Talk Live host, Mark Edge, is gaining more traction. Take a look, you can earn money by getting us more signers!

Here’s the long and the short of it: We are growing. We are living our beliefs. We are making a difference. We are going to change the world. Want in? It’s simple: Move.

*Maybe I’ll sneak in a few of my favs by royal decree.