Janice and I just returned from the FSP Porcupine Festival in New
Hampshire. We also visited Grafton.
Let me correct some impressions a few individuals on lpsf-discuss have
voiced about the Project and its reception in NH.
Marcy wrote:
We Libertarians make the assumption that given the choice, people
would rather be "Free".
In the case of NH residents, this is a reasonable assumption. In a
number of ways, NH is one of the "freest" states in the US. And they
elected Craig Benson for Governor, who promised--and may even
be delivering on his promise--to keep it this way.
Ron wrote:
the citizens of Grafton sounded enraged and somewhat scared
Marcy wrote:
And the people of the town the Free Staters are taking over are
very, very upset.
There are a number of misconceptions here:
Grafton has a population of almost 1,200. About 200 people attended
the infamous Grafton Town Hall meeting. Some of them did not vocally
object to the speakers from the FSP. Moreover, some of them were not
even Grafton residents, but rather Democratic Party members from
around the state united against the FSP. A few days prior to the
meeting, every Graftonite received an anonymous inflammatory mailing
containing mistruths and innuendos about the FSP.
Those at the meeting were not a fair representation of the opinions of
the townspeople.
Ron wrote:
If only the Free Staters had chose to do a door to door neighborhood
sit down in the locals homes first. Just to talk about who they were
and why they felt they way they do and how they hoped the members of
the town would consider some of the points they'd like to make. <
John Babiarz, the Chair of the Libertarian Party of NH, and his wife
Rosalie, are long-time residents of Grafton. John ran for Governor on
the LPNH ticket. John and Rosalie are on friendly terms with many of
their Grafton neighbors and have discussed the LPNH and the FSP with
them.
As a side note, the project to encourage liberty-lovers to move to
Grafton is not part of the FSP, but rather of a splinter group, "The
Free Town Project."
Best, Michael
From Ron Getty
Dear Everyone;
After listening to the audio it became very clear the Free Staters
forgot two of the prime principles of politics:
1. First you learn how to crawl - then you learn how to walk - then
you learn how to run.
2. Then you tell them what you are going to tell them. Then you tell
them. Then you tell them what you told them.
This way you can smooth out some of the speed bumps on the way to a
Free State Libertarian City of Grafton. If only the Free Staters had
chose to do a door to door neighborhood sit down in the locals homes
first. Just to talk about who they were and why they felt they way
they do and how they hoped the members of the town would consider some
of the points they'd like to make. The Free Staters have now given the
appearance of way too much rough shod to the local citizens of
Grafton.
Grafton Demographics: 2000 Census: From 1990 to 2000, population
in Grafton grew by 23.3 percent to 1,138, adding 215 residents. The
median age is 38.8, with 25.0 percent of the population under the age
of 18 and 10.1 percent age 65 and older. The total number of
households is 455, with an average size of 2.5 persons. Of those, 306
are family households, with an average size of 3.0 persons. As of
April 1, 2000, there were 692 total housing units.
From the demographic census it's no wonder the citizens of
Grafton sounded enraged and somewhat scared about what is supposed to
happen when they become outnumbered. A Libertarian Army bringing
freedom from the tyranny of " Dictator Taxes ". Whether they want it
or not.
I have to wonder if the Free Staters are familiar with one of
the basic Libertarian principles of individual liberty. A liberty
which does not force someone to submit to Libertarian principles if
that person does not know what those principles are. And would not
want to live under those principles by fiat. But would live under them
if it was by free choice.
Ron Getty
SF Libertarian
David Rhodes <dfrhodes@...> wrote:
Found the audio archive of the show here -
http://www.npr.org/features/feature.php?wfId=1967764
my guess is that any 'invasion' of foreigners of any
type would cause the same reaction.
I lived in Austin back in the early-mid nineties while
Californians relocated there in droves. As home prices
tripled with the influx of equity, resentment toward
the newcomers flared up, largely by those who couldn't
afford to buy homes in the first place..
david
--- Marcy Berry <amarcyb@...> wrote:
> Steve Dekorte asks if anyone heard the NPR
> discussion on the Free State Project. I did and it
> was VERY eye opening. We Libertarians make the
> assumption that given the choice, people would
> rather be "Free". Well....think again. The NPR
> episode made the fact that "Freedom" is NOT
> universally desired by everyone. And the people of
> the town the Free Staters are taking over are very,
> very upset.
>
> Marcy
>
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