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Free State Project

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Free State Project
FormationSeptember 1, 2001
HeadquartersKeene, New Hampshire, United States
Membership
8,000+
Official language
English
Secretary General
Jason Sorens
Websitehttp://www.freestateproject.org/

The Free State Project (FSP) is a plan to have 20,000 or more libertarians move to a single state of the United States, with the intent of influencing local politics and policy. In 2003, the group chose New Hampshire, known for its "Live Free or Die" motto and absence of a state income tax and state sales tax, as its target.

The original target date for pledges was the end of 2006. As of December 14, 2007, the project said that 8,087 people have pledged to move to New Hampshire, while 246 have confirmed that they have actually moved. 253 New Hampshire residents who joined before the state vote are also members.[1] [2]

Mission Statement

The project's mission statement reads: "The Free State Project is an agreement among 20,000 libertarian activists to move to New Hampshire, where they will exert the fullest practical effort toward the creation of a society in which the maximum role of government is the protection of life, liberty, and property. The success of the Project would likely entail reductions in taxation and regulation, reforms at all levels of government to expand individual rights and free markets, and a restoration of constitutional federalism, demonstrating the benefits of liberty to the rest of the nation and the world."[3]

The statement of intent

I hereby state my solemn intent to move to the state of New Hampshire. Once there, I will exert the fullest practical effort toward the creation of a society in which the maximum role of civil government is the protection of life, liberty, and property.[4]

Alternately, supporters of the FSP who cannot commit to the Statement may sign up as a Friend of the Free State Project.[4]

History of the movement

Inspired by an article published in L. Neil Smith's online magazine The Libertarian Enterprise on July 23, 2001, Jason Sorens, a Ph.D. candidate at Yale University at the time, argued that the thinly scattered libertarian activism was failing. His conclusion was that it would be necessary for libertarians to geographically concentrate their efforts in order to achieve "liberty in our lifetime." As a result, the Free State Project was founded on September 1, 2001.

When the FSP surpassed 5,000 members in August, 2003, a vote was held to choose the state. The ten candidates were (alphabetically): Alaska, Delaware, Idaho, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming. These states were chosen because of their low populations (under 1.5 million), relatively pro-libertarian native cultures, lack of dependence on federal funds, and decent job markets. The voting process used a Condorcet method to determine which state was most preferable to the most people. On October 1, 2003, it was announced that New Hampshire had been chosen as the Free State (Wyoming came in second). The vote was certified by Alan R. Weiss of ECL / Synchromesh Computing of Austin, Texas as fair and unbiased. As part of the certification process, individual members of the FSP could also view their ballots on-line so that they could self-verify their vote.

Following the vote, the focus of the FSP shifted toward recruiting another 15,000 members to commit to the move to New Hampshire. Once membership reaches 20,000, all members are supposed to move within five years. There is no obligation to move until and unless 20,000 members are reached. Early in 2004, Amanda Phillips was named president of the FSP. Amanda Phillips resigned in March 2006[5], and was replaced by Varrin Swearingen. Jason Sorens is Chairman of the Board of Directors.

After moving to New Hampshire, members have pledged to "exert the fullest practical effort toward the creation of a society in which the maximum role of civil government is the protection of life, liberty, and property." Most (but not all) plan to work within the political system to reduce the size and scope of government through reductions in taxation and regulation, reforms in state and local law, an end to federal mandates, and a restoration of what they see as constitutional federalism. Others include anarcho-capitalists who oppose taxation altogether. The Free State Project itself is non-partisan and non-political and does not take any stance on issues.

The First 1000

First 1000 Pledge logo
First 1000 Pledge logo

In January 2006 the FSP launched "The First 1000"[6], an effort to sign up 1000 people who would agree to move to New Hampshire by the end of 2008, with the understanding that the agreement was only binding if at least 1000 people signed up before the deadline, set for midnight on December 31, 2006. Response to the initial goal of 20,000 was relatively slow, and it was hoped that setting a smaller interim goal would speed up the migration to New Hampshire and generate additional publicity.

The sign-up rate accelerated sharply toward the very end[7] The pledge was successfully completed on December 30, 2006 at around 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, approximately 28 hours before the deadline.

Insignia of the FSP

Free State Project porcupine insignia
Free State Project porcupine insignia

The porcupine signifies a cute and cuddly creature which one is advised to avoid stepping on. This is meant to imply that these individuals are friendly and non-aggressive, but want to be left alone and will defend themselves if attacked, symbolizing the non-aggression principle. This mascot has given rise to "porcupine" or "porc" being used as a term for both FSP participants as well as anyone in New Hampshire (FSPer or not) devoted to working for libertarian causes. The insignia bears the FSP's motto, "Liberty in Our Lifetime."

Recruitment progress

As of December 10, 2007, 8,082 participants have signed up. Of these, over 500 are already in New Hampshire, including 228 who have logged into the website to declare that they have moved since the state vote. Over 1,000 originally opted out of New Hampshire and were removed from the count after the vote, so total growth since the state vote was held is over 3,000.

Recruitment progress has quickened since the endorsement of Congressman and Presidential Candidate Ron Paul[1]. Movements to New Hampshire have also quickened in pace following the completion of the First 1,000. Success has even been found recruiting activists from within New Hampshire, many of whom had turned away from politics before the Project began. FSP members travelling out of state have kept up recruitment efforts, and many have made the move without formally signing up on the Website. The total number of liberty activists at work in New Hampshire is thought by some to exceed 1,000 as of the end of 2007.

FSP members have been elected in New Hampshire. The list includes Dawn Lincoln of Winchester, New Hampshire on the Winchester Budget Committee, state representative Joel Winters, and other local officials. [citation needed]

The FSP also sponsors a syndicated call-in talk radio show, Free Talk Live which, as of November 25, 2007 is broadcast on 31 radio stations as well as on satellite radio, via download, and via podcasting services. The show moved from Sarasota, Florida to Keene, New Hampshire over Labor Day weekend 2006.

Splinter Groups

The Free State Project inspired or contributed to several splinter groups, such as Free State Wyoming, which was created independently of the Free State Project, but which absorbed some of those who had voted for a western state and were disappointed by the selection of New Hampshire.

Another such project is the Free Town Project which was started in 2004 by a few Free State Project members who were hoping for quicker change at a smaller scale. While the project's more radical members failed to win over the residents of their planned destination of Grafton, New Hampshire, there has been a resurgence of interest in Grafton, and there are now numerous activists settling there.

Several other towns have attracted a disproportionate number of activists, or are being considered for smaller free town projects. Keene, Manchester, Deerfield, and Dover have managed to recruit a good number of members. There are even plans for a Seacoast Freetown Project, identifying one town on the short, 18-mile strip of the Atlantic Ocean that benefits from the ocean effect. Winter lows average 5-10 degrees warmer on the ocean front.

In spite of differing political views, some solidarity exists between the Free State Project and unrelated separatist movements that are gradually taking form in neighboring Vermont and Maine[8], the Canadian Maritime Provinces, and the long-established separatist movement in Québec.

Criticisms of the FSP

Many commentators have questioned the capability of the project to reach its goals. While the project at first received strong support in the libertarian community, it now appears to be stalling. Based on the recent lower rate of new sign-ups, the project might not reach its goal of 20,000 signed members for another 10-12 years — far later than the original plan of 20,000 by September 2006.

The First 1000 effort is one approach they are using to modify the plan from the original goal of 20,000 movers, in part because more recent estimations of required activist strength are significantly lower than 20,000.[9]

The reaction of the present residents of the state is a controversial topic. The plan could be considered analogous to entryism. Reactions on the ground have been mixed, though some coalition building with both Left and Right has happened in the last year, over issues like halting the implementation of the federal REAL ID Act program within the state.

Another problem is the commitment of existing members to actually move if the time comes. Many did not participate in the 2003 state selection vote, and though several hundred of the non-voting members did reaffirm their commitment after being contacted by FSP leadership, a large number (estimated as between 1000-2000) did not respond.

The FSP has stepped up recruitment efforts. These efforts include direct mail, BlogAds, and planning a more traditional convention-style summit with its annual Porcupine Freedom Festival campout held each summer. In addition, sign ups have increased since the recent endorsement of Ron Paul. Many of the active movers have even begun recruiting new members from activist groups in neighboring states, with mixed results. Groups ranging from taxpayers advocacy groups to 911 truth organizations and marijuana policy advocates have been targetted by resident freestaters.

Recent estimates of the number of political activists needed for the intended changes have been greatly reduced with experience. Moreover, acitivists are being recruited from within the state who were had not been part of the project before the vote.

Antecedents

Many groups throughout history have moved to a new place to create a new society from scratch, ignoring or displacing any existing people. Examples include Plymouth Colony in what is now the United States, the Great Trek of Boers into the South African interior., and the Green March of Moroccans into Western Sahara.

Many groups throughout history have also tried to reshape an existing society where they are already living, through peaceful, democratic means. Examples include political parties.

The Free State Project appears unique in combining these two methods: moving to a new area to create a new society, and doing it by reshaping an existing society through peaceful, democratic means.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Free State Project about the Free State Project accessed at December 14, 2007
  2. ^ Free State Project Membership Statistics accessed at December 14, 2007
  3. ^ "Mission Statement". Retrieved 2006-11-14.
  4. ^ a b "Free State Project — Join". Free State Project, Inc. 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2007-02-13.
  5. ^ Free State Project FSP President Amanda Phillips resigns; Varrin Swearingen to be new President
  6. ^ Free State Project First 1000 accessed at May 13, 2007
  7. ^ First 1000 on Pledgebank accessed at May 13 2007
  8. ^ Free Maine accessed at May 13 2007
  9. ^ Sorens, Jason. "What Can 20,000 Liberty Activists Accomplish in New Hampshire?". Retrieved 2007-01-07.
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