Libertarian heaven: Welcome to the Free State

Libertarian heaven: Welcome to the Free State

Editorial • 10/02/03

LIBERTARIANS – with a small "l" – recently formed a group called the Free State Project in which all members agreed to move to the same state. The goal was to move to a place where government was strictly limited and individual liberty was highly prized – and make sure the place stayed that way. The group held a vote this summer to choose the state. To the surprise of few, New Hampshire won. Our prize: 20,000 politically active libertarians.

Some suspicious Granite Staters already have begun to ask whether the state can?t return this prize for something else – a toaster, perhaps. We do not share this sentiment. We think the prize will change little, if anything, about this wonderful state.

New Hampshire already has won an unofficial popularity contest among libertarian-minded people. Americans who value limited government and personal freedom have voted with their feet by relocating to New Hampshire for decades. It?s one of the reasons that fewer than half of New Hampshire residents are natives. The only substantial difference between members of the Free State Project and your average New Hampshire immigrant is that the Free Staters are organized.

There are those who fear that the Free State Project could forever change the political landscape in New Hampshire. Yet, were the Free State Project to succeed in transplanting 20,000 people into the state, its main achievement would be an influx of thousands of individuals who think more or less like most other Granite Staters think. Far from being worrisome, this is welcome.

Because organizing libertarians is like herding cats, we doubt the Free State Project will be able to round up 20,000 people for the move to New Hampshire. The group will be lucky to get a few thousand. But even if the movement meets its goal, that?s fine with us. The more Granite State voters who cherish liberty, the better.

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