Those of you with an interest in political reform and innovation may wish to check out the Free State Project. (http://www.freestateproject.org). The idea is to concentrate 20,000 libertarian activists in a small-population state, so that they will have sufficient voting power to win political office. From the web site:
"...The Free State Project is a plan in which 20,000 or more liberty-oriented people will move to a single state of the U.S., where they may work within the political system to reduce the size and scope of government. The success of the Free State Project would likely entail reductions in burdensome taxation and regulation, reforms in state and local law, an end to federal mandates, and a restoration of constitutional federalism, demonstrating the benefits of liberty to the rest of the nation and the world...."
When you become a member, you agree to move to the Free State once 20,000 people have made the same pledge, within 5 years of reaching the 20 K mark. When 5000 people sign up, a vote on the state will be held. Currently 10 states are in the running: New Hampshire, Wyoming, Vermont, Maine, Delaware, Alaska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Idaho, and Montana.
What 20,000 libertarian activists could accomplish:
http://www.freestateproject.org/strategies.htm
State comparisons:
http://www.freestateproject.org/state.htm
The appeal for the libertarian-minded is obvious, but non-libertarians may also be interested. Since the chosen state will be as free as the FSP can make it, if the state becomes a hell-hole, then those opposed to libertarian ideas can use it as an object lesson. Socialists could also use the same strategy --move 20 K socialist activists to Vermont, say, and implement the Guaranteed Universal Income, strict environmental regulations, gun bans, high import taxes, a highly progressive tax system, and increased welfare and public school programs. Whatever happens, the comparison between the two states should be very interesting.
So far, the membership has reached 4700+, and the vote for the state is expected to be completed by September 8, 2003.
Questions:
1) What reforms do you think should be the FSP's first priorities?
2) Assuming the FSP is successful, I expect that the "Free State" will become increasingly prosperous. As it does so, I predict that increasing numbers people will be attracted by the jobs, who have little understanding of the link between freedom and economic prosperity. What could the FSP members do to help ensure that the newly won freedoms won't be eroded by future generations of pro-government immigrants?
Chris
