FSP News 2006

FSP News articles from 2006

FSP News - December 2006

We all know the story of the frog in the pan of water. If you toss the frog into boiling water, it’ll hop right out again (and probably give you a very dirty look). But if you put it in cold water and gradually raise the temperature, the little guy will just keep taking the increasing heat until he's soup. Don’t be a frog! You know that your taxes keep going up while your freedoms keep being taken away (been in an airport lately?). How much more heat are you willing to bear? You don’t have to just lie there and take it. JUMP… to New Hampshire! This is your final opportunity to stand up and proudly be counted as one of the First 1000 liberty lovers willing to take a stand for freedom in New Hampshire. The First 1000 pledge sign-up period ends December 31st - if you've already have moved, or if you can move before year-end 2008, seize the day!

"New Hampshire may be the most libertarian state in the country..." - from new research and analysis by David Boaz of Cato, and David Kirby of America's Future Foundation. Covered by TCS Daily, with the full text of The Libertarian Vote published as a Policy Analysis by the Cato Institute.

Are you ready to mingle with hundreds of Free Staters and hear some of the top liberty writers and thinkers of our time? The Free State Project's Liberty Forum is for you! It will be held in Concord New Hampshire from February 23-25, 2007. Register now!

More speakers have been announced, including Jim Babka, president and co-founder of Downsize DC, an organization working to 'downsize' Washington DC. Just as Free Staters are working to downsize local and state government in New Hampshire, one of Downsize DC's primary goals is to reduce the federal government to a tiny fraction of its current size.

For full details of the Liberty Forum's 23 outstanding speakers and panelists, please look over our full schedule. Held at the Concord Holiday Inn in historic downtown, it is also conveniently located next to the New Hampshire State House. Thursday and Friday afternoon there will be guided tours of the State House and observation of the scheduled debate and committee meetings.

STOSSEL - BADNARIK - AITKEN - BABKA - BERNARD - COFFEY - COHEN - COLE - GOLDSMITH - GRONSKI - HARPER - HARRIS - KINGSBURY - McGUIRE - McQUAID - NAILE - PELLETIER - SEGAL - THORNTON - TWARDOSKY - VAILLANCOURT - WELCH - WESTMILLER

Looking for work in NH? You've found the place! How do you go about it? Simple! Take a look at our FSP NH Jobs webpage, follow the tips, and give our NH Jobs Coordinator, Lynn Pina a shout if you still have any questions or if you have the inside scoop on a NH job opening!

The Boston Globe on November 26th ran an article, Free State Project cheers one of its own in Winters. "This month, Joel Winters, a transplant to Manchester, N.H., by way of Tallahassee, became the first member of the movement to win a state-level office with his election to the state Legislature."

Free State Match Shooting Competition!

Save the planet! Do your part to protect the human race by sharpening your shooting skills. One can never tell when an alien invasion will blight our beautiful home. Be prepared to repulse an alien invasion, clean up a zombie infestation, or survive the predations of an off-world lizard. Pick one or all of the categories, shoot at your local range, and send your targets in. Fame, fortune, and prizes await the brave, honorable, and courageous Porcs who prove their mettle and come out on top. For full details, see the FSP webpage on the Free State Match Shooting Competition.

There are two film crews currently working on coverage of the Free State Project. Korean Broadcasting has been in New Hampshire of late making the rounds of Porcupine events. And, A Candid World is a forthcoming documentary about the FSP being put together by Tom Caruso and Marc Femenella.

Free Talk Live, now broadcasting on 19 affiliate radio stations out of Keene, NH, continues to bring its edgy, liberty-oriented talk radio show to the people! The FSP is a sponsor of the show, which in addition to its 19 radio stations, now boasts 8 internet affiliates, 2 satellite channels and 13 'unofficial' stations. It is one of the top podcasts in the world and is offered as webstream as well. Tune in! Get a free FTL bumper sticker (shown) with a self-addressed stamped envelope. Ian Bernard, co-host of the show, will be a media panelist at the FSP's Liberty Forum.

FSP VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES - We have several exciting FSP positions available as we revamp and expand the New Hampshire Information area of the FSP website. The positions include:

NEW HAMPSHIRE REAL ESTATE AND HOUSING INFORMATION COORDINATOR - This individual will research and keep their finger on the pulse of things related to real estate and housing in the Free State. Useful tasks include becoming familiar with real estate and housing resources in the state, being informed on housing trends within the state and being able to direct folks interested in moving to New Hampshire to resources to help them find places to call home.

NEW HAMPSHIRE RESEARCHER/WRITER - We'd like to find someone who can research New Hampshire's history, climate, and/or recreation opportunities and more and do custom write-ups on them for our website and New Hampshire Information brochures. If you like research and writing, this is the job for you. Being in state is not necessary for this task.

FSP NEWS REPORTER - A reporter to cover Porcupine activism and news in New Hampshire and across the country. Discover leads, check sources and track activity for the monthly newsletter. Work with the Editor.

FSP EVENTS COORDINATOR – Keep tabs on all the events happening around the country where the FSP might gain recruits and arrange for FSP representation. See FSP Job Description webpage for more details.

There are as many volunteer opportunities in the FSP as you can imagine. If there is something that you would like to offer the FSP - your services, your company or your time, just let us know. We'll help get you going. The FSP is the sum of the volunteer effort of hundreds and hundreds of activists - 'hat's off' to you all! Your help will move us further, faster! Please contact Nik Ludwig, Volunteer Coordinator, about the positions above, other jobs or your ideas about how to help out.

The Constitution Party of Michigan is now posting links to the FSP News on its website. And, The Libertarian Enterprise announces each new issue to its readers! Thank you for your support in getting the word out about our real-world plan to create Liberty in Our Lifetime! Feel free to forward this issue of the FSP News to your freedom friends.

iGive, you give, we all give with motive. It's the shopping time of year. If you're like many this season, you'll be going out to the malls and shops of this great semi-capitalist country, fighting the crowds, hunting for sales, and searching for parking spaces. Give yourself a break and give the FSP a cut of your holiday spending. Assign the Free State Project as your cause on iGive and let your holiday cheer extend to the free state. They have hundreds of stores willing to give a percentage of your purchase to the Free State Project. If you're going to spend anyway, you might as well go through iGive and have some of it sent to help achieve Liberty In Our Lifetime.

Action of the Month - It's down to the wire, the number grows higher, all the brave Porcs escaping the fire. With the deadline looming at the end of this month, it's time for serious consideration concerning the First 1000. While the FSP will carry on regardless, a chance to jump-start this beacon of liberty should not be dismissed in a casual manner. As early movers can attest, the Free State is certainly better than the "lower 49". She calls you to her, she makes you want to hurry, she waits with open arms at the first race's finish. Join the First 1000! - Phil Denisch

In New Hampshire

Early mover Brian Wright, author of New Pilgrim Chronicles - a Gonzo jounalistic "book look" at the Free State - has launched a daily web column of opinion and book/movie reviews called the Coffee Coasters ™. Subjects to date have included the Liberty Dollar and the naturally successful connection between the Free State and citizen empowerment.

Free State Blogs - Chronicles of Progress Towards Freedom in New Hampshire this month features the following topics. Please visit Free State Blogs to read the content behind these blog entries:

Union Leader: "Free State Project has representative in House"
Greetings from the Land of Snow Crash
If this is not arrogance I don't know what is...
election 2006
Boston Globe story on Free Stater victory
Rugged Individualism
From the business side...
OUR RESPONSE TO GSFTC...

Porcupine, Lauren Canario remains in prison in Connecticut. She was arrested in a silent protest on September 22nd as she read a book on the porch of one of the homes seized in New London. Find out the latest on the NH Underground forum. Further links and How To Help are at the new freelaurencanario.com

** Courageous activist Lauren Canario was just named Freedom Fighter of the Year by Strike the Root!

From the Keene Free Press - silent demonstrator, Dave Ridley has his day in court. Local man charged with petitioning government for redress of grievances.

The NH Underground Calendar lists liberty-oriented New Hampshire events. The NH Liberty Calendar also tracks NH events. Check the calendars before a visit or a move!

FSP News circulation: 11,411. Back issues are available. Got FSP news? Submit content by the 12th of the month. Thank you to all contributors.

Are you ready to JOIN THE FSP, move to New Hampshire and work towards Liberty in Our Lifetime? Join NOW! When you join, also consider pledging to be one of the First 1000 Free Staters to live in New Hampshire by December 31, 2008. Jump off the fence.

Participants: 7,482
Participants in NH: 439
as of December 15, 2006

FSP News - November 2006

TIME magazine featured the Free State Project in the November 13, 2006 issue! The full-page article appears on page 46 in the Nation section. Titled How to Stage a Coup, American-Style. The article is also available online at TIME.com.

The First 1000 Pledge - "I will move to New Hampshire by 12/31/2008 where I will work to bring about a society in which government’s maximum role is protecting life, liberty, and property but only if 999 other liberty minded individuals will too." - Ian Bernard, Free State Project Participant On the fence? Jump off...to the Free State! Join the First 1000!

Patricia Evans left a First 1000 comment; "I made the move in June 2005, so signing this pledge is easy! As I said in my 'I Made the Move' story, there is a level of grassroots political activism here in New Hampshire that I haven't seen since the early 1970's. Free State Project early-movers are already taking active roles in their new communities in so many different ways. The Free State Project early-movers are like true pioneers, laying the groundwork, clearing the fields, and planting the crops that will support the liberty-loving communities of New Hampshire's future, and I'm proud to be a member of this group!"

REGISTER NOW for the 2007 New Hampshire LIBERTY FORUM - Attaining Personal and Economic Freedom in America's Freest State - Brought to you by the Free State Project, February 22 - 25, 2007 in Concord, New Hampshire. Keynote Speakers:

John Stossel will deliver a speech on The Enemies of Liberty, on Saturday following a four-course meal. Mr. Stossel will be available to sign copies of his books.
Michael Badnarik - was the 2004 Libertarian Party presidential candidate and 2006 candidate for Texas Congressional District 10. An FSP Participant, Mr. Badnarik will speak Friday night following a buffet-style dinner.

There will be multiple program "tracks" from which attendees can choose based upon their interests. Program Speakers include:

Sharon Harris, author and libertarian visionary, President of the Advocates for Self-Government
Jack Cole, Founder of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition
Jim Harper, Director of Information Policy Studies, CATO Institute
Christopher Gronski, New Hampshire Coordinator for the We The People Foundation
Joe McQuaid, Publisher of New Hampshire's statewide newspaper, the Union Leader
Bill Westmiller, National Chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus

Engaging and interactive Panel Discussions include Broadcast, Print and Web Media, Education, 2nd Amendment, and Taxpayer Activism. During the 3-day convention, activists will hear about the political action methods already being effectively employed in New Hampshire. Members of the Free State Project community will enjoy the chance to meet, socialize, and get a firsthand New Hampshire experience. New Hampshire residents will learn about the Free State Project, meet its Participants, and understand their stake in its goals. Attendees will find a positive, enthusiastic environment and emerge excited about the reachable common goal of creating a State that is personally and economically free! The 3-day Convention will be held in historic downtown Concord. The hotel is within walking distance of the State Capital, where some of the programming will take place. Join us for the Liberty Forum. Register now - early discount ends Nov. 23rd.

Researchers find that New Hampshire is the least corrupt state in the nation. The 28 page study, Weathering Corruption, published by the Merctus Center at George Mason University, was authored by West Virginia University economics professors Peter T. Leeson, Ph.D. and Russell S. Sobel, Ph.D. Their research explores the effect of FEMA-provided disaster relief on public corruption. The Concord Monitor covered the release of the research.

Brian Wright, author of the FSP-related book, New Pilgrim Chronicles - his new book developed from his Free State experience, was interviewed (mp3) by James Hughes, executive director of the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies (IEET). Dr. Hughes is the former executive director of the World Transhumanist Association, which is dedicated to extending and enhancing human capabilities and longevity. Hughes is sympathetic to the idea of the Free State Project and enabled Brian to expound on the depth, diversity, and success of our community.

FSP Volunteer Positions Available

Thanks again to all who have been working to keep the FSP moving forward. While you are enjoying the holidays this month and next, think if perhaps you might be the perfect person to fill one of these exciting roles - we'll help you get started:

FSP EVENTS COORDINATOR – Keep tabs on all the events happening around the country where the FSP might gain recruits and arrange for FSP representation. We have some tools already on the FSP website to help you manage events and volunteers, and we are constantly improving these to make it easier to organize events.

NEW HAMPSHIRE INFO COORDINATOR – This important position is responsible for the NH Info section of the FSP website, including updating and keeping current the information on jobs, housing and real estate, and community events and activities. You are encouraged to recruit other volunteers to help you with the various areas within NH Info. Lynn Pina, current NH Info Coordinator, will be taking on other roles in the FSP but will help you get oriented and up-to-speed.

Sound interesting? IT IS! Please contact Volunteer Coordinator, Nik Ludwig for your laminated ID card and secret decoder ring! The FSP Volunteer Center has lots of ways to help.

Look for the latest President's Corner, due to be posted later today, for New Hampshire election comments and an update on the Free State Project!

Action of the Month - S'virtual, s'online, s'marvelous. Are you leading a secret life...online? If so, let me suggest you mention the Free State Project to all your friends' avatars. Whether virtual or veritable, spread the word of Liberty in Our Lifetime to all who cross your path. Word of mouth is the very best way to light the fires of liberty in our friends and neighbors. It doesn't matter if they're simulated or solid, letting them know there is a path to liberty is a bona fide gift in any life. So, "lay down a rubber road to freedom" or follow that electron path to liberty, the free[er] state of New Hampshire waits for her sons and daughters to come home. Be sure sure to mention/add/promote the FSP in your friends list, etc., such as MySpace, Facebook, Gimme Liberty in Secondlife and the Atlasphere. - Phil Denisch

Just like real freedom-lovers, our stuffed animals are cute, cuddly, and just plain adorable. Unlike true liberty-minded people these are also puppets. Santa versions wear a Santa cap and are raring to give peace, freedom, and voluntary cooperation this holiday season (and they'd push Leonard Read's freedom button given half the chance ;). But they are rather sensitive, so don't forget to sing "Here Comes Porcer Claus" before they go to bed on Christmas Eve. Lot's of gift ideas in the Merchandise Center!

In New Hampshire

Free State early mover is elected as a State Representative. Share the victory speech with all the pro-liberty activists you know. The NH Constitution was amended to end private eminent domain transfers. More New Hampshire election coverage by Denis Goddard at Free State Blogs.

Free Stater and eminent domain protester, Lauren Canario remains in jail after being arrested on September 23rd while sitting on the porch of one of the Fort Trumbull homes taken in the Kelo Decision. Lauren's courageous silent protest is being updated on the NH Underground Wiki and discussed on the forum.

Chronicles of Progress Toward Freedom in New Hampshire. Free State Blogs has entries this month by a host of Porcupines and friends. The following blog titles appear this month:

New Hampshire Election Results
Union Leader features "Gimme Liberty Bar"
secession central (Part 2 of 2)
NH Local Election 2006: my experience in running for the Concord School Board
FSP Article in Time Magazine
If you're not for lower taxes and less government...
live...from secession central!
Free Stater Runs for School Board, Slams Unions
NH Taxpayer Radio - Your Only Source for Intelligent Insider News in NH
New Hampshire Liberty Alliance Releases Candidate Endorsements
butterfly effect
A New Hampshire Prayer
In Response to the Income/Sales tax-mongers
Yes Virginia, there *is* Voter Fraud in NH!
capraesque

The NH Underground Calendar lists liberty-oriented New Hampshire events. The NH Liberty Calendar also tracks NH events. Check the calendars before a visit or a move!

FSP News circulation: 11,395. Back issues are available. Got FSP news? Submit content by the 12th of the month. Thank you to all contributors.

Participants: 7,418
Participants in NH: 436
as of November 15, 2006

FSP News - October 2006

Register NOW!!! For the 2007 New Hampshire Liberty Forum - Attaining Personal and Economic Freedom in America's Freest State. Keynote Speaker is John Stossel, a 20/20 award-winning journalist, who will deliver a speech titled The Enemies of Liberty. Other speakers include Sharon Harris of the Advocates for Self-Government, Jim Harper, a Director at Cato and Jack Cole of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, among many others! Schedule is firm, but not final - that's why signing up now for the 3-day event & keynote dinners will give attendees a 15% discount. We already have people registering, so if you have not secured a spot, please do so now. A formal marketing blitz will start at the end of October. We are expecting to have about 300 attendees. It will be held convention-style, at the Holiday Inn in historic downtown Concord. The hotel is within walking distance of the State Capitol, where some of the Forum program will be taking place as well. Register NOW to be part of this exciting Event!

Are you sick and tired of having your state and local candidates lose? Tired of being forced to choose between the lesser of two evils, knowing full well that, whoever wins, your state and local taxes are still going to go up? Tired of busybody buffoons who continually erect more hoops for you to jump through? This election season, make your vote really have an impact: make a commitment that, by the end of 2008, you'll be casting your vote in New Hampshire! With its large state House of Representatives and local town governments, politics in New Hampshire is accessible. You can call your Representatives and Senator at home; they'll answer! You can stop in the Capitol and chat with them in person. You can vote for serious liberty-loving activists running for office...and help them WIN! Stop spinning your wheels and come join other freedom fighters who are having a real impact on electoral politics. Sign the First 1000 pledge today, and by the end of 2008, your vote will truly be making a difference.

Dr. Walter E. Williams, Professor of Economics at George Mason University, again mentioned the Free State Project, "There is a glimmer of hope in the horizon," Williams said after mentioning how the balanced budget amendment that he co-authored with several other prominent thinkers failed to pass Congress in the 1980s and 90s. "That hope is the Free State Project, a private group of conservatives and libertarians that are attempting to woo 20,000 like-minded citizens to move to New Hampshire. Once there, they will restore a government that only protects individual liberties in both state and federal government." In 2002, Dr. Williams also went on record suggesting a "...peaceful resolution proposed by the Free State Project..." Thank you Dr. Williams - come on up to the Free State for a visit!

Please be sure to keep your contact information up to date with the Free State Project! There's the announcement and FSP News email list and your record as a Friend or Participant. Login in anytime. A good time to login and change your address would be upon moving to NH! If you have any questions about the FSP or your participation, or need assistance with anything, please contact our concierge. The FSP Community Center covers many common membership questions and centralizes info about the FSP online and in-person communities.

The Tax Foundation has just released its annual State Business Tax Climate Index for 2007 and New Hampshire posts a position as 7th best in the U.S. The index examines 113 variables to measure the relative competitiveness of state tax systems. The Tax Foundation, established in 1937, examines tax data "...to educate taxpayers about sound tax policy and the size of the tax burden borne by Americans at all levels of government." How does your state stack up against New Hampshire?

The Minneapolis Free State Project Meetup Group is one of our most active FSP Local Groups! In September the Minneapolis area Porcupines held a successful weekend event (a.k.a. party) in northern Minnesota, "Up Nord Before The Snow Flies". If you live anywhere near them, feel free to join in their active schedule of events. The October Meetup is on the 18th.

Action of the Month - Visit the Free State. Come for an hour, a day, or a month. If you do that, I'm inclined to believe that you'll come back for a lifetime. Compare the Free State to the "lower 49". Just drive around. Seat belts? Car insurance? You are at liberty to decide. Sublime beauty? Fresh air? A hike up Mount Liberty is sure to affect your concept of home. Small town charm? You can't swing a dead cat without hitting a picturesque Norman Rockwell-looking town. Metrosexual? Karaoke in Manchester or curio shops on the coast are ready and waiting. Gatherings of freedom-lovers in NH? The Porcupine Freedom Festival and the New Hampshire Liberty Forum are great places to meet, schmooze, play, and learn. From the wilderness of the North Woods to the tax-free malls of the south, the Free State of New Hampshire is ready and waiting for liberty-minded people to come home. For help with touring or settling, make contact with our in-NH Porcupines in the FSP Welcome Wagon. - Phil Denisch

This month Free Talk Live added a new affiliate, WVTS AM, Charleston, WV, bringing the affiliate total up to 18 radio stations. FTL interviewed Michael Badnarik, a Porcupine, and Libertarian candidate for Congress in District 10 - Texas. They talk about his contract with the voters, his New Hampshire plans and more. Listen online.

The Granny Warriors are on the road against the USDA’s National Animal Identification System, NAIS, kind of a Real ID for farm animals - and they are new friends of the FSP! The Granny Warriors ride into battle in an RV all decked out in liberty colors and now a Free State banner. See more pics of their RV, the War Wagon!

The Granny Warriors will stage their next freedom protest on October 24th in Richmond, VA, right across from the USDA office that signed off on the pre-dawn raid of the Henshaw hunting club, which slaughtered their entire stock of wild Russian boars without due process. The Granny Warriors need your support - their RV consumes a lot of gas, so they welcome donations. At the protest in Richmond they will need numbers, and they will be distributing FSP brochures, so any Porcupines and friends who can make it are welcome!

Did ye' enjoy Talk like a Pirate day..., ye scurvy dog? T'was September the 19th. The Merrimack Valley Porcupines, er, I mean, Pirates didn't have t' work hard t' convince th' "powers that be" t' allow us mutineers t' take th' entire FSP site/ship o'er fer a day, and piratize it completely, with a chest full of booty. Once we explained th' clear connection betwixt "Pirate Utopia" and th' FSPP, they hopped on board... Load the cannons!

Do you have a Second Life? Hundreds of Free Staters and friends have been living a second life at the fast-growing online 3-D virtual "world". Visit the Gimme Liberty Bar, dance, drink, shoot, fly, or attend a Free Talk Live listening party! Gimme Liberty has all the details of upcoming FSP events at Second Life. The Free State Observer made special note of the first First 1000 event, held September 16th.

In New Hampshire

Free Stater, Lauren Canario was arrested once again in a silent, peaceful eminent domain protest in New London, CT on September 22nd. At press time, she was still being held at the York Correctional Institution. The story unfolds on the NH Underground forum. Political Graffiti has just released a video featuring Lauren and the Keene Free Press is covering her protest and arrest.

The New Pilgrim Chronicles is now published. On the FSP website, Brian Wright, an early mover (2005), posted twelve weekly diaries of his experiences in the Free State. He wanted to encourage freedom lovers to come here, as well as to smooth their way. Brian has built these raw journals—with many new ideas and information—into a uniquely visionary and insightful account of our movement to the “Freedom Portal.” He hopes the book can serve as a breakthrough of the freedom movement into the culture at large.

Read his “stunning combination of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense and (Robert Pirsig’s) Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance”. From the book: "The decision to take part in the Free State Project (FSP) and to migrate to New Hampshire required several months of contemplation. When Yale political-science lecturer Jason Sorens and his cyberspace friends first brought up the migration concept, I recall reading something of the idea in customary libertarian sources." The book is available online and in print from Lulu.

"While Russell Kanning never said so explicitly, and I didn’t catch it myself until yesterday, the form of his protest — to try to convince IRS employees to reduce their complicity in government wickedness by quitting their jobs — comes straight from Thoreau’s manual of civil disobedience." - from the tax resister blog, the Picket Line in one of a series of interviews with New Hampshire Porcupine activist, Russell Kanning.

For in-New Hampshire boots on the ground reporting on the Free State, we turn to Free State Blogs - this month:

Primary results for candidates endorsed by the New Hampshire Liberty Alliance
Another Side of Eminent Domain
Who is for an income tax in NH?
CNHT on Real-ID: "A Pig In A Poke, Hogs At The Trough, Sheep To The Slaughter"
my so-called second life
Who is for a Constitutional Amendment?
Susette Kelo Visits NH
Why NH is an "oasis" in a sea of economic disaster!
Homeland Security and Petition for Redress of Grievances
Fall Colors; Liberty Forum
Various Liberty Conspiracy entries

The NH Underground Calendar lists liberty-oriented New Hampshire events. The NH Liberty Calendar also tracks NH events.

FSP News circulation: 11,371. Back issues are available. Got FSP news? Content submissions are due by the 12th of each month. Thank you to all contributors!

Are you ready to JOIN THE FSP, move to New Hampshire and help achieve Liberty in Our Lifetime? Join NOW! When you join, also consider pledging to be one of the First 1000 to live in New Hampshire by December 31, 2008.

Participants: 7,351
Participants in NH: 430
as of October 15, 2006

FSP News - September 2006

John Stossel will be the featured speaker at the FSP's new Liberty Forum. Speakers will also include Sharon Harris of the Advocates for Self-Government, Jim Harper, a Director at Cato and Jack Cole of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. This event will be held in downtown Concord in February 2007. Enter this exciting Porcupine event in your calendar today!

New Hampshire ranks high in personal income (6th), the lowest in poverty, and residents are more likely to have health insurance, as reported in the Concord Monitor. The U.S. Census released the report August 29th.

Second Life is an online virtual world that now has an FSP presence! There is a "mixed reality" event planned for September 16th. Read about it on the FSP Forum and on its own new webpage - what's going to happen there?

First 1000 Blitzkrieg! Only 107 days remain to make the First 1000 pledge a success. In case you're just tuning in, the pledge was set up at the beginning of this year by Ian Bernard, host of the popular libertarian talk radio show Free Talk Live. The goal is to find 1000 brave souls willing to pledge to move to the Free State of New Hampshire by Dec. 31, 2008... but only if 999 others do as well. The pledge expires at the end of this year, and we are still several hundred patriots short of our goal. We're pulling out all the stops in our search for heroes of the Second American Revolution: an animated ad on the reason.com website; a full-page ad in the current issue of Liberty magazine (ad in paper version); an ad in the November issue of America's First Freedom, a publication of the NRA (ad in paper version); mass emailings and snail-mailings to FSP participants and friends. We're going to find 1000 Sons and Daughters of Liberty to pave the way for 19,000 more! Have *you* signed the pledge? If you would like to help us reach our goal, either by volunteering or by making a financial donation to pay for more advertising, contact us!

The 2006 Vans Warped Tour has come to an end and we'd like to thank the dozens of people that helped make sure the Free State Project had a presence on 13 stops of the tour. With the efforts of our hard-working volunteers, we spread the message of liberty in our lifetime to thousands of young people. FSP volunteers worked along side other pro-freedom organizations present at the Warped Tour and a good time was had by all! We were shown in shots on the Warped: Inside and Out TV show and most importantly, we recruited 34 Friends of the Free State Project and 13 new FSP Members that we know of!

In June of 2006, the Annie E. Casey Foundation's annual KID'S COUNT data snapshot, selected New Hampshire as the best state to raise kids for the fifth consecutive year. In its latest release of updated data, New Hampshire showed the lowest teen birth rate in the United States.

Action of the Month - Subscribe to Liberty. I mean that in all meanings of the word. Subscribe as in "attest" that "Liberty in Our Lifetime" is a worthwhile goal. Subscribe as in "sanction" that liberty is the proper condition of rational people. And especially, subscribe as in "pledging money" to help advertise and demonstrate that the Free State Project is a worthwhile plan to achieving liberty, for ourselves and others. - Phil Denisch

The FSP is a proud sponsor of Free Talk Live and each month the FSP News features the ongoing changes and growth of the show. This month some big things to announce! Mark and Ian, the Porcupine hosts of the syndicated radio show, webstream and podcasted pro-freedom talk show moved their studio and residence up the coast from Florida to New Hampshire! Both are First 1000 pledgers - join them in making the move! Also, the Podcast Awards 2006 announced that FTL was nominated and voted by listeners as the Best Political Podcast for the second year in a row! Another new radio station affiliate - 770 WAIS AM in Athens, Ohio brings the message to even more listeners.

The President's Corner this month updates us on the Liberty Forum, First 1000 promotion, media coverage, new movers and more. The latest FSP Signup Statistics have been compiled and the Board of Directors meeting minutes posted.

A sea of change is coming to the FSP in just four days - September 19th. Watch the FSP website for more...

Nik Ludwig, our Local Groups and Volunteer Coordinator, describes his Summer FSP road trip to San Diego. "If you want to start a FSP local group or need ideas on how to make your group more successful, write me or give me a call."

"What I can do is burst through the remaining obstacles getting in the way of my own life and proceed to live it now rather than in some undetermined fantasy future." - Lady Liberty in Ready, Set... An inspiring look at the freedom movement.

In New Hampshire

The Liberty Scholarship Fund awarded four $1,000 scholarships for 2006. The LSF encourages non-public educational opportunities for families in New Hampshire through its private scholarship program. The new LSF newsletter has details about the scholarships and the organization that was founded by Porcupines in 2003.

The FSP is referenced a couple of times at Answers.com in the New Hampshire page. It's billed as the world's greatest encyclodictionalmanacapedia and it's packed with great info about New Hampshire.

Read all about it in Free State Blogs this month:

Free Stater wins primary Challenge; will be on ballot in November
I chatted with the Governor this weekend...
Off-Year Election Politics in the Free State
Police Seizures: Eminent Domain By Another Name
NH Executive Councilors Make Public Statements on Real-ID
NH Identity Theft Among Lowest
endless summer
More, with Ian, Naz, and Gard on the War on Terror
Against the Grain and Free Talk Live look at the London bomb plot and air security

The Keene Free Press has many Porcupine contributors and is available online, in addition to the print version.

Joel Winters was awarded the New Hampshire Liberty Alliance's annual Activist of the Year!

The NH Underground Calendar lists liberty-oriented New Hampshire events. The NH Liberty Calendar also tracks events in NH.

FSP News back issues are available. Got FSP news? Content submissions are due by the 12th of each month. Thank you to all contributors! FSP News circulation: 11,233.

Are you ready to JOIN THE FSP, move to New Hampshire and help achieve Liberty in Our Lifetime? Join NOW! When you join, please also consider pledging to be one of the First 1000 to live in New Hampshire by December 31, 2008.

Participants: 7,306
Participants in NH: 426
as of September 15, 2006

FSP News Aug 2006

FSP News - August 2006

Join us in New Hampshire for the 2007 New Hampshire Liberty Forum - Attaining Personal and Economic Freedom in America's Freest State. Mark your calendars for a visit to Concord, February 22 - 25, 2007. This will be the Free State Project's second big annual event, a new and different style event from the PorcFest. There is a dedicated group of volunteers busy at work planning the event right now! The complete Liberty Forum schedule and format will be announced soon. It will be held convention-style, at the Holiday Inn in historic downtown Concord. The hotel is within walking distance of the State Capital and the downtown shopping district too. Stay tuned for more details.

Have you had it with the state that you're currently living in? Do some state to state comparison and join the First 1000! (and the FSP). If you choose to move to New Hampshire before 12/31/2008 or if you already have moved, you are eligible to be a part of this group of freedom pioneers. We're 38% of the way to our goal now.

Comedian Doug Stanhope, FSP Participant and Endorser, makes a serious bid for the 2008 Libertarian Party presidential nomination. Doug's website goes into more detail about his plans.

We have provided some new tools in the FSP Advertising Center to facilitate decentralized, web-based advertising. We have new pages supporting two of the more popular internet advertising formats, Blogads and Google AdWords ads. Feel free to contribute by:

1. designing new ads
2. donating money for an ad deployment
3. deploying an ad yourself!

This will give you, the individual member of the FSP community, more influence in determining where we advertise.

If you would like to include an FSP banner on your website or blog, check out our stock of banners in the Advertising Center. You will find a wide variety of graphics in different formats, including static images, animated gifs, and Flash animations.

FSP Participant, Tim Bauman made a trip to New Zealand recently. His write-up was carried in Liberty, the Official Journal of the Libertarianz Party. And, Steve Cobb, who does IT and publicity for the FSP, writes about his visit to the International Society for Individual Liberty (ISIL) 2006 Conference in Prague.

"These are a few concrete examples of what FSP participants have accomplished in New Hampshire in a fairly short period of time." - covered in Varrin Swearingen's President's Corner this month. Also what the FSP volunteers have been up to of late!

FSP Board of Directors meeting minutes are available to read. The last meeting was on July 15th.

Action of the Month - Use GoodSearch. Dare I say, "Search the good search?" If you select the Free State Project as the "I'm supporting" group, the FSP will get a penny each time. What better way to learn about freedom than raising money for the FSP. Whether you're searching for Ayn's favorite recipes, Murray's gold standard, or the xanthic electorate, the world lays at your feet (and it doesn't hurt to kick a few coins to the FSP for Liberty in Our Lifetime) - Phil Denisch

Talk Radio's Insurrection, Free Talk Live, has added its 15th radio station affiliate to its syndication lineup - in under two years! The show, has FSP Participant hosts, Ian and Mark, and is also available on the web and as a podcast. The latest radio station on-board is WWKK in Petoskey, MI and is carrying Free Talk Live all six nights a week.

Free State Project Lanyards are now available. Add one to your merchandise order today. Have you seen the FSP store?

Whether you "...aim to misbehave" or want to "...build a better mousetrap", or wish you'd written "WHEN in the Course of human Events...", help out the FSP by signing up with NetFlix. We get a commission and you get many whole worlds of inspiration. So come on, live the Life with Ayn Rand, BS with Penn and Teller, laugh with Doug Stanhope, and practice your Gun Kata; just don't forget to channel that inspiration into recruiting others for Liberty in Our Lifetime.

In New Hampshire

Tilting at Windmills - FSP Participant, Russell Kanning was arrested again on July 27th in a planned civil disobedience event at the IRS office in Keene, NH. At press time, Russell was still being held in a maximum security prison while awaiting a sentencing hearing, scheduled for August 17th. The continuing story has been covered in the press, blogs and FSP and NH Underground forums.

Here is the (very impressive) agenda for the August 5th meeting of the Merrimack Valley Porcupines (MVP) in Manchester, NH.

I. Welcome the New and Visiting Porcupines!
II. Report on July events

a. Kevin's Moving Party 7/1
b. CNHT Picnic 7/8
c. Fiscal Committee hearing 7/11
d. CNHT NASCAR Fundraiser 7/15
e. LPNH Supreme Court Trial 7/21
f. Lorraine & Rick's Moving Party (from MD) 7/26
g. Civil Disobedience at Keene IRS office 7/27, 8/3
h. Meet n' Greet for Shyfrog in Keene 7/29

III. Upcoming Events in August

a. NHLF planning mtg 8/5 (at Panera, right after MVP mtg)
b. Free Russell Kanning rally 8/5 (in Dover, after MVP mtg)
c. Petitioning for LPNH – every day through 8/9
d. Fiscal Committee hearing/call for volunteers 8/8
e. Concord Porcs 8/12 – note new location
f. New England Secession Congress in Cambridge MA 8/12
g. Monadnock Porcs 8/13
h. Seacoast Porcs / Fireworks in Jaffrey / FSP Litter Pickup 8/19
i. Jim Perry's Fundraiser, Amherst, 8/20
j. Coffeys' (Second) Moving Party 8/26

IV. Member Announcements
V. Liberty Scholarship Fund Raffle Drawing
VI. 2006 Candidates Forum

a. George Phillies – Libertarian candidate for U.S. President
b. Rich Kahn – Libertarian candidate for NH Governor
c. Joel Winters – Democratic candidate for NH House, District 17
d. Keith Murphy – Republican candidate for NH House, District 10

VII. Other Business

Movers! Please write-up the story of your move to share with others. We Made The Move! is the place. And, please keep your contact info and address up to date at the FSP. We're counting, so when you move to New Hampshire it's important to login and update your address, etc. Alternately, you can email your new contact information, including that all-important New Hampshire state of residence, to info@freestateproject.org and we'll take care of it for you!

This month in Free State Blogs:

Free State Victories 2005-2006 Legislative Session
NASCAR action at NHIS
Back to Court
Another PorcFest write-up
A Man for All Seasons (Russell Kanning)
Ahhhhh, New Hampshire! We Are Not Alone...
One Parent's Demand for the Truth About the Legality of Homeschooling
NH Gubernatorial Candidate: Make State Income Tax Unconstitutional
Perhaps it is a Vice (Russel Kanning)
RFID - Against the Grain radio audio
Homeland Security Nabs Free Stater From Home
My Thoughts - Denis Goddard
NH Law vs. Real-ID

The NH Underground Calendar lists liberty-oriented New Hampshire events. The NH Liberty Calendar also tracks events in NH.

FSP News back issues are available. Got FSP news? - content submissions are due by the 12th of each month. Thank you to all contributors. FSP News circulation: 11,186.

Are you ready to JOIN THE FSP, move to New Hampshire and help achieve Liberty in Our Lifetime? Join NOWWhen you join, consider pledging to be one of the First 1000 to live in New Hampshire by December 31, 2008!

Participants: 7,255
Participants in NH: 412
as of August 15, 2006

FSP News July 2006

FSP News - July 2006

PorcFest 2006 was a wonderful success! Varrin Swearingen, FSP President, wraps it up for us.

"What we’ve found is that now, Free Staters are dominating the testimony at the state legislature on bills that matter most to us." - Jason Sorens at PorcFest 2006 The Cannae Tactic: How to Sell New Hampshire Self-Government.

...and there was hope - Varrin also welcomed FSP Porcupines and friends at this year's PorcFest 2006 "...the effect of just those couple hundred early movers, some of whom just raised their hands, has been very noticeable and positive." The text of his speech is posted.

Lots of PorcFest photos are posted in the new website gallery! PorcFest merchandise, along with the hot-selling Gadsden Porcupine Ultimate disc and the brand new Gadsden Porcupine Flag - all available at the FSP Store! Great write-up on the PorcFest and the FSP by Vermont blogger Jeremy Ryan. And, we had coverage in the Washington Times on June 21st.

As you will read in a few of the links presented here, the FSP is planning TWO big events in New Hampshire in 2007! PorcFest, and the Liberty Forum, now planned for February 2007 in Concord. Initial details!!

Get on the Wagon Train - In the 19th century, brave and hardy Americans fed up with the increasingly overcrowded Eastern states packed up their families and personal belongings in Conestoga wagons and headed west. Lured by the promise of wide-open spaces and a chance to

start anew, they left behind the comforts and familiarity of home to create new homes and communities that offerred greater long-term possibilities for themselves and their children. Now, in the 21st century, the tide has turned. Liberty-loving Americans, fed up with congested cities, escalating crime rates, and an ever-more-intrusive government that attempts to meddle in every single aspect of their lives, are heading East... to New Hampshire. Individuals and entire families are once again making the transcontinental migration, with the ubiquitous bright orange U-Haul trailer replacing the Conestoga wagon. These brave souls have the foresight to see that things are only going to get worse where they are now. New Hampshire offers economic opportunity, a wide variety of lifestyle options (urban, suburban, and rural), and a political system that makes it possible to have a real impact, now, on legislation. And together, we're going to make it even better in New Hampshire. It's not too late to become a part of this epic new chapter in American history. Sign the pledge, become one of the First 1000, and enjoy the satisfaction of knowing that you, your children, and their children, will grow up in greater liberty and freedom.

New Hampshire #1 state to raise kids, according to the 2006 KIDS COUNT Data Book. The report, by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, selected New Hampshire as the top state for the fourth consecutive year!

TOUR SUCCESSES! The FSP had outreach tables at recent Vans Warped Tour stops in Kansas City, Nashville, and San Francisco. The outreach has already netted the FSP seven new members and seven new Friends of the FSP. Around 1000 flyers, lots of free stuff, and the message of liberty has reached thousands of people in these three cities. The Tour is not over and the FSP plans more outreach at future stops. You still have time to volunteer for this excellent opportunity to spread the message of freedom across the nation!

The President's Corner puts us all in touch with what's happening inside the FSP. Thanks Varrin! Over the past month, Varrin has written about the LP, PorcFest, volunteering, the survey, Slashdot, media and more.

Free Talk Live added a new radio station in Tallahassee to its growing syndication lineup - now at 14 stations! Listen to the new 60 second promo for the show. You can listen to the show through the website too. FTL finished in 4th place last month on Podcast Alley's Top Ten Podcasts - a rapidly growing radio delivery system. Listen, then vote in this month's competition!

Looking for a job in New Hampshire? Want some guidance and a few good leads? The FSP Jobs Coordinator, Lynn Pina, has put it all together for us! A discussion about the job market in New Hampshire, member job referrals and a comprehensive listing of the major employers in New Hampshire are found on the new Jobs page.

Action of the Month - Write a Letter. Writing letters to the editor of your local paper does have an impact. In a worst-case scenario, the letter gets lost and no one reads it; but you have just increased your ability to think rationally about how to present the freedom-minded point of view. In the next-to-last worst-case scenario, only one or two people at the newspaper will read the letter and decide not to print it; but then that's one or two more people, and people in persuasive positions, who have been exposed to a rationally thought out defense of a freedom-minded point of view.

In a much better scenario, they print your letter and hardly anyone reads it. In a town like mine where the Baltimore Sun (sadly these days, a mere shadow of what it was when H.L. Mencken made his home there) has about 200,000 weekday readers and double that on Sunday - I'd take that "hardly anyone". In the best-case scenario, they print your letter and lots and lots of people read it and their eyes begin to twinkle with a reflection of the Shining Beacon of Liberty on the Hill and they start thinking a little more clearly. So write a letter, and let's tell the world about the Free State Project.

If you need help writing your first, or to hone your skills, try these three sites; 1., 2., 3. (Even Big Brother himself will help out, though he stole your money first to pay for it) - Phil Denisch

Free State Project Participant Angela Keaton has been elected to the Libertarian National Committee of the Libertarian Party. Congratulations Angela! Speaking of the LP, the FSP had a strong presence at the National LP convention in early July with a vendor table. Thank you to the team of Porcs - Varrin, Morey, Peter and Charlie, who spent the weekend talking to convention attendees about the FSP! See Varrin's President's Corner for a report, and a Forum post by Morey Straus.

FSP volunteers also did outreach tables at the Virginia LP Convention in Charlottesville and at the Tennessee LP Convention in Nashville - thanks to Porcs, Keith, JR, Bill and Kate! If YOU have ideas to put into action for FSP outreach or promotion, contact our Events Coordinator, Marty Humphrey!

Fundraising pledge goal exceeded! Cary March challenged 39 other supporters of the FSP to step up and pledge to donate $50 a month for six months, from July to the end of the year. When the sign-up period ended on June 30th, 52 people had pledged! At $300 per person, that's $15,600 that the FSP can count on for the remainder of 2006. Thank you to Cary and all of the people who pledged and worked for its success!

Where did our Participants and Friends hear about the FSP? When you join, we ask how you heard about the FSP. This info helps us in marketing the FSP to those most likely to join us. We have been posting the monthly tally on the FSP's Forum. Now, there is a new section of the website called Signup Statistics, where such source info will be posted.

GUN WEEK just published an article featuring Free Staters, More and More Gun Laws: Ethnic Cleansing California Style This is a follow-up article to their April feature on the FSP, San Fran Gun Ban Last Straw For Gunowners Now NH Bound. You can find both of these excellent articles posted on the FSP Forum.

In New Hampshire

The New Hampshire Liberty Alliance (NHLA) held their annual Liberty Dinner at the Derryfield Country Club this year. Representative Jim Wheeler was chosen as Legislator of the Year and the annual NHLA Report Cards, rating the elected representatives of the General Court were announced. This year the NHLA covered both the House and Senate and is the most extensive tracking they have done to date.

An Open Letter to All Libertarian Party Members - a moving communication by FSP Participant and mover, Shuvom Ghose, " Free Staters have successfully passed bills to increase the rights of home-schoolers, repeal mandatory smoking bans, and are now running 12 people for the NH House of Representatives."

Free State Blogs this month covers much of the important NH activity:

LPNH vs. the State of NH - equal access to the ballot
Missouri Porc writes LTE upon his move!
Coalition of NH Taxpayers holds annual Taxpayer Reunion Picnic
Just Say NO to Real ID in NH - update
Free State Observer on the PorcFest and the LP Platform

"The Revolution Will Be Televised" A new DVD was just released by activist Roger Grant of political graffiti.com Free State Activism 2005 - 2006 DVD. The disc is for sale, with any profit going to be used for equipment to improve freedom movement documentaries. Available through the NH Underground, also see the DVD forum thread. The DVD will also soon be available at the FSP store.

The Keene Free Press is the free online and print news and opinion publication covering Keene and Cheshire County. New Hampshire. See what's new this month in the online version.

Interested in the First 1000? Try chatting with others considering the NH move and with those who have already made the move. Register and login at NH Chat link at NHFree.com at 6:00pm Free State Time on July 20th.

New Hampshire ToDo magazine has offered to give $5.00 of any new subscription fee to the Free State Project. Please write "FSP" on the subscription form. New Hampshire Magazine and New Hampshire ToDo both gave the FSP multiple copies of issues to give out at PorcFest and other events.

The New Hampshire State Constitution makes for a thought provoking read.

The NH Underground Calendar lists liberty-oriented New Hampshire events. The NH Liberty Calendar also tracks events in NH.

FSP News back issues are available. Got FSP news? - content submissions are due by the 12th of each month. Thank you to all contributors. FSP News circulation: 11,152.

Are you ready to JOIN THE FSP, move to New Hampshire and help achieve Liberty in Our Lifetime? Join NOW When you join, consider pledging to be one of the First 1000 to live in New Hampshire by December 31, 2008!

Participants: 7,205
Participants in NH: 408
as of July 15, 2006

FSP News June 2006

FSP News - June 2006

The 2006 Porcupine Festival is upon us!

Every year visitors say that coming to New Hampshire and meeting the large group of liberty minded who are here makes them begin the move process. What could be more invigorating than finding a campground full of people who think and believe like you do? Well, the lineup may be just icing, but it is impressive icing!

The theme of this year's Festival is Activism. Friday at 2:00pm, the Republican Liberty Caucus presents speakers on political corruption, campaigning, and starting a newspaper. Friday evening starts with opening remarks by our President, Varrin Swearingen, proceeds to a Porcupine BBQ and as usual, late night campfire socializing winds up the evening. Saturday starts in with learning about our new home state, New Hampshire, and about the different techniques and methods being used for activism in the state. Meet some folks already in state and working for

freedom. Discover some of the avenues you could pursue as a resident of the state and freedom fighter.

Our second annual Silent Auction begins at noon on Friday and concludes Saturday at 4:00pm. Compete for cool stuff, from great books to movie posters to speaker signed copies of the Festival posters. Reproductions of maps of old New Hampshire and New England, Porcupine Buck knives and much more are waiting for you.

Cocktails with leadership, followed by the Liberty Ladies cook-off lead us into the Saturday evening bonfire. More late night campfire socializing leads us to Sunday, where religious gatherings are enjoyed. And Sunday afternoon don't miss the New Hampshire info segment where those who have moved to the Free State can talk to you about their favorite areas. In the week that follows, tour the state, hook up with Porcupine residents for tours, and if possible, try to catch Michael Badnarik's Constitution Class being held at Rogers Campground on Tuesday. For more information, see our webpages or contact our Porc Fest Pooh-Bah!

The FSP News is all about keeping us up to date with the activities and accomplishments of the Free State Project and its activists, both in New Hampshire and all across the land. Varrin Swearingen has made this editor's job easier by publishing his President's Corner (see Varrin below holding up the Welcome to New Hampshire sign). At press time, Varrin has posted three more updates to the President's Corner, May 21st, 28th and June 8th. Read up on the First 1000, advertising, FSP survey, recent movers and much more!

Since you are reading this newsletter, we'll let you in a secret: it's not too late to still sign up to compete in the Liberty Ladies cook-off! You don't need to cook for hundreds of people, either. If you make your favorite chili/stew/soup/other one-pot dish with just 10+ full servings, the judges will all be stuffed from going round and tasting a little bit from everyone... Contact Edi to sign up right now! It's free to compete, and $7 for adults to judge.

FSP SURVEY - The FSP needs your feedback! Understanding what our current and potential participants look like will help us to know where to look for like-minded people, what messages to use to talk to them, and where to best spend our marketing dollars. About 20 questions, anonymous and private. Please take the 5 minute survey - thank you!

“New Hampshire again has the lowest tax burden in the country even with property taxes and statewide property taxes. That's good news for the state" - Economist Dennis Delay. From the New Hampshire Union Leader article, NH pays least income to taxes in U.S., June 4th.

Action of the Month - Volunteer. The task of Liberty is never finished. No matter how far you think we are from where we ought to be, there will always be farther to go. Eternal vigilance is one thing - eternal volunteering is another, and just as important. There are many things that need to be done, and while I wouldn't bet Kennedy's bar tab on it, I'm sure you can find something to your liking. What would you enjoy doing?

New Gadsden Porcupine Disc!

Top-quality 175-gram Discraft UltraStarÃ¢â€žÂ¢ disc, the number one Ultimate disc in the world, and the official disc of the Ultimate Players Association, now available at the FSP Merchandise Center or at the PorcFest! Our new disc is also available from our latest merchandise Partner, the Internet Disc Shoppe, the #1 purveyor of Ultimate discs on the web!

The FSP is one of the organizations represented in the Vans Warped Tour's Take Action! areas at the shows and on the website. We're doing FSP outreach tables at many cities across the country starting June 19th in Kansas City MO. There are still openings for enthusiastic Porcs to staff our tables and enjoy the shows. Check the schedule - the forum page will give you all the details of this rockin' way to tell others about the FSP.

One of our more prominent FSP Participants and current Libertarian Congressional candidate in Texas, Michael Badnarak, will be teaching his well-known Constitution Class at PorcFest 2006! Class topics include original intent, the philosophy of limited government and rights vs. privileges. Register and read more at Candid World.

Top 10 Reasons Why It's Better to Be One of the First 1000 than a Pilgrim

#10) No more scurvy on the journey to New Hampshire

#9) No more suffering through harsh New England winters: the advent of central heating is a Good ThingTM

#8) Most of the natives are quite friendly... and even when they're not, there's little chance they'll scalp you

#7) No need to plough rocky fields and plant crops: New Hampshire is well-furnished with grocery stores

#6) No need to wait months for a letter from the family back home to arrive: New Hampshire has both telephones and high-speed Internet access

#5) No more months-long treacherous trans-Atlantic ocean voyage: nearby Logan International offers daily flights to and from Europe

#4) You won't have to wear one of those ridiculous hats with a buckle on it

#3) No need to worry about spending a day in the stockade for missing church on Sunday

#2) No more frequent death during childbirth: New Hampshire has all of the modern medical amenities

and the #1 reason why it's better to be one of the First 1000 than a Pilgrim....

#1) You don't have to slaughter the turkey yourself

Have you signed the First 1000 Pledge?

The American Founding Fathers gave all that they had -- their homes and their fortunes and their sons in battle -- to break free from the tyranny of British rule and establish a new country founded on the principles of individual liberty, economic freedom, and limited government. We cannot let what so many fought and died for be lost.

We must stand tall today and reclaim that vision and bring America back to those founding principles that served her well for so long. Freedom requires eternal vigilance, and indeed freedom isn't free. Freedom-loving people, today I am asking you to join the Second American Revolution and sign your commitment to join the ranks of a brave group of individuals that will provide a light of hope for the rest of the country, and indeed the world: the First 1000 of the Free State Project.

Rather than shed your blood and give your fortunes as your forefathers did, you are being asked to move to New Hampshire, by the end of 2008, and work together peacefully within its political system to reestablish those principles of liberty we all hold dear. Together, let us show the world that all Americans are not passively acquiescing as our government expands with cancerlike rapidity. Some of us, a few, are fighting back. Join us. Sign the First 1000 pledge and fight for freedom in New Hampshire.

Article: Free State Observer the first 1000 - June 11, 2006

From Cary March, pledge sponsor: Like all volunteer organizations, the FSP needs the support of individuals to succeed - both project participants & friends of the project. Plan to help the FSP in the second half of 2006 by pledging to provide financial support to the organization. Sign the donation pledge. Your six month long, $50 monthly pledge becomes $2000 a month to the FSP when 39 other people sign up. The pledge expires on June 30th and we've got 25 people pledged so far, so sign up now!

Porcupine Run: An amusing new FSP Flash animation appears to be inspired by the famous Football Badgers

GoodSearch is an internet search engine that returns a piece of the

advertising income to the organization of your choice for each search accomplished. The Free State Project is now an approved organization. It is free to the FSP, so give GoodSearch a try - it's powered by Yahoo! ~~Fight~~ Search the good ~~fight~~ search!

Free Talk Live is the topic of a front page article in the Sarasota Herald Tribune - "With its innovative, multiplatform approach to broadcasting, it could show the crotchety denizens of conventional talk radio how to cross the online frontier." Read all of the news and tune in right NOW to Free Talk Live on local radio, webcast, archived shows or podcasts!

In New Hampshire

The charges were dropped against Russell Kanning and Kat Dillon, arrested while peacefully protesting and refusing to be herded into a "free speech zone" in Manchester. Kat's article from the day of arrest was in the Keene Free Press, the NH Underground has background and a video from Political Graffiti from the trial day.

Free State Blogs this month points to lots of activity in the Free State! Make this blog a regular, bookmarked stopping-in place to stay up to date!

NH writer Ted Sares
CNHT: taxpayer revolt continues
U.S. Senator John Sununu blasts REAL ID
Free State Observer
Denis Goddard's Blog
Dangergrrl's How to become an ambassador to liberty
Gardner Goldsmith -Against the Grain - NH radio

"Katrina" no-emergency-gun-confiscation bill signed by NH Governor. The Gun Owners of New Hampshire have the details of this important new legislation, SB348.

The Libertarian Party of New Hampshire released their new website! Updates on news, candidates, the annual convention and the Free State Project in NH - Welcome to the Granite State!

The Keene Free Press continues to grow by expanding into Massachusetts distribution! Articles by Porcupines and New Hampshire liberty lovers make this newspaper a must read.

The NH Underground Calendar lists liberty-oriented New Hampshire events. The NH Liberty Calendar also tracks events in NH.

FSP News back issues are available. Got FSP news? - content submissions are due by the 12th of each month. Thank you to all contributors. FSP News circulation: 11,103.

Are you ready to JOIN THE FSP, move to New Hampshire and help achieve Liberty in Our Lifetime? Join NOW

Participants: 7,166
Participants in NH: 402
as of June 15, 2006

Make a last minute plan and come to PorcFest 2006!

FSP News May 2006

FSP NEWS - May 2006

Porcupine Freedom Festival 2006!

People are gearing up and making reservations for the third annual PorcFest 2006, to be held June 23 - July 1, 2006! Pre-register using the FSP We'll Be There form and call Roger's Campground to make your camping or motel accommodations.

Volunteer to help with the Free BBQ (donations welcome) on June 23rd. Join John Babiarz, Chris Lopez, and others to help flip burgers & hotdogs and serve punch to feed the masses.

The Liberty Ladies of New Hampshire will be featuring a "One-Pot Meal" cook-off on Saturday, June 24th @ 5:30 pm. Entrants will cook up their best chili, soup, stew or other "one-pot" main dish. There is no entry fee and multiple cash prizes will be awarded. The deadline to register is June 15th. We would also like to encourage those who would like to judge or simply enjoy a great meal to sign up early. There is a charge of $7 for adults, $5 for kids 4-12 and under age 3 are free! There will also be Prize Drawings! Please contact Edi Swearingen to register and for any other information regarding the cook-off.

Thinking of New Hampshire as home already, but not sure where exactly you'll land? Come on Sunday, June 25th, to the NH Info-sponsored Town Information Day. Find out about communities all across the state, and make contacts for your own exploration.

Calling all FSP talent - note the happy campers in the Festival poster to the left. If you have talents to help entertain around the bonfires, let us know. Donations for the Silent Auction fundraiser can be shipped prior to the Festival or brought with you. We need items of interest to Porcupines! Are you on the mailing list for the 2006 PORCFEST CRIER? Email Tim and be put on the list for up-to-date periodic info leading up to the Festival!

PorcFest Gear! There's old, there's new, there's something for you! The 2005 items have again been reduced... again. We have t-shirts and koozies and posters, oh my. Don't forget those very handy tote bags. And oh, by the way, shhh, quiet, don't tell anyone, but there are also previews of the 2006 PorcFest items on the merchandise page. They are on double-secret probation, of course, but if you buy one now, you can be sportin' a fine ought-six shirt and be the envy of all the other Porcupines (and it wouldn't hurt to advertise the PorcFest either). Consider a poster (above) for the back of your SUV; just think of all the compliments and chances for conversation you'll get on the fantastic design created for this year's Freedom Festival. PorcFest 2006 posters are available for nominal costs if used for high traffic advertising - contact Morey Straus. 2006 gear will also be sold at the Festival.

The Tax Foundation's 2006 State and Local Tax Burdens report was released in April. New Hampshire is again ranked 49th. Over the last 10 years, the Free State has ranked 49th nine times and 48th once! Compare your state.

Looking for a high tech job in New Hampshire? - here's great news for you! "New Hampshire added 2,400 high-tech jobs, for a total of 37,500 jobs, in 2004, according to electronics industry group AeA. "The stateÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s 6.8 percent increase was the highest percentage increase in the nation." The Union Leader covered the story on April 20th. A starting place for a NH job search is the FSP's New Hampshire Center - Jobs. More excellent NH economic and job news came out of Boston at the New England Economic Partnership conference. NH leads the pack, yet again - Union Leader May 12th.

It's time to take your place in American history! Be one of the First 1000 to move to New Hampshire by the end of 2008 as a part of the Free State Project. Consider signing the pledge to move in the next year and a half and help to pave the way for all the other Participants not able to move in this time frame. Incredible Porcupine activity levels and results in New Hampshire beg for your participation - excitement is growing. Thus far, 274 individuals have signed the pledge to be among the First 1000 on the ground in New Hampshire. You are eligible to sign if you have already moved or if you can commit to living in New Hampshire by December 31, 2008. When the First 1000 program is successfully completed, all First 1000 participants who move to New Hampshire will receive certificates and special recognition for their pioneering work for freedom. Are you ready? Join the FSP, and if you are able to move by 2008, sign the First 1000 pledge as well!

Special thanks go out to our recently retired long-time Webmaster, Tom Parker! Until the recent launch of the new website, freestateproject.org had been under Tom's professional and careful watch. He has earned a universal reputation among fellow FSP volunteers for being creative, prompt, accurate and friendly, and the FSP site is well known and appreciated by visitors from all over the world. Thank you Tom - see you in the Free State!

The new FSP website is now live, thanks to the IT team and the thousands of hours that went into the transition. The new site uses the latest Content Management System (CMS) software, Drupal and CivicSpace. There is still a great deal to be done with the new site, such as features to turn on and content to add. Steve Cobb, IT Director, said, " We've replaced the engine in the FSP bus, and the new one is a jet." Much more to come!

Numerous FSP volunteers take Karl Marx's 'from each according to his abilities' dictum seriously, and contribute their own specific skills. This month we would like to acknowledge Eric Williams and e-BUILDERS, who for two years have been providing internet hosting services to the FSP's forum and other applications. Eric urges other members to consider what skills, services or products they could offer to help the cause of liberty and the FSP.

The new President's Corner gives us the inside track on what's going on with the FSP. Varrin Swearingen will periodically post details to this space on the new website.

Welcome to Marty Humphrey, our new Events Coordinator, Brian Sullivan, the newest member of the FSP Board of Directors, Jon Maltz as Webmaster and Sandy Pierre as our new Secretary. Thank you to all for helping the FSP work towards its goals. The Help Wanted page shows more positions available - if you'd like more info on any of these open positions, please contact Nik Ludwig.

Action of the Month - Calling in to Radio Shows. A few minutes spent waiting on hold, a few seconds spent speaking on the air (and mentioning the FSP, of course), could have large returns in the service of letting others know we're here. A well placed, kindly worded: "It's not like that in New Hampshire, that's why I joined the Free State Project", may inspire some listeners to see what we're all about. Even for those left behind, knowing things don't have to work that way will invigorate liberty lovers all across the land. Call your local talk show, or here are two listings of some nationally syndicated talk shows - about.com and rnc.org.

You can also call Free Talk Live! They'd love to hear from you. FTL added a new affiliate radio station to its growing lineup - WUTL 100.1 FM in Tallahassee, FL. FTL has built up a nice archive of interviews with notable libertarian guests - listen to these great interviews with one click by downloading the mp3 files in the guest archive. The latest is medical marijuana activist, Steve Kubby.

We're promoting the FSP with outreach tables all across the country this Summer at the Vans Warped Tour. There are still some open spots in various cities, such as St. Petersburg, Orlando, Milwaukee, Dallas, Los Angeles and more. Read the full list and find out more about these great volunteer opportunities coming to a city near you!.

Stuck in Slavery by Unega Woya - 12 years old

This is a Free Country
But we are not Free
"No more Slavery!" the government shouted
But we are slaves
Children are slaves to parents
Parents are slaves to the president
The presidents are slaves to the government
And the government is a slave to their shallow hearts and endless depths of greed.

Dean, her Porcupine Dad says, "This is one of the reasons that motivates me to make the move for freedom to NH."

Is your spouse or partner moving with you to New Hampshire? We've found that some equally supportive "other halves" are not signed-up as Participants! All people age 18 or over who agree with the Statement of Intent and Participation Guidelines should JOIN. Please address questions about participating to Participant Services.

A great deal of discussion and sharing takes place on the FSP Forum. Have you read it over? Ask questions and make comments there. You're invited to read what first-time Forum contributor Shuvom had to say a week before his big move to New Hampshire!

In New Hampshire

Full coverage of the efforts to stop the REAL ID in New Hampshire continues at GraniteStateId.com , Free State Blogs, and the NH Underground. Also, New Hampshire can stop the coming police state by Karl Beisel, was published in the Union Leader April 25th. and NH Against National ID held a highly successful rally at the State House in Concord on April 22nd. Catch the latest video by Roger Grant covering the Real ID rally.

Free State Blogs activity continues to pick up as activists report in, providing us all with boots on the ground Free State information. Among the subjects this month on the blog:

Boston Globe article about new NH taxpayer organizations
Gun Week features article with Porcs fleeing the San Fransisco gun ban
Anti-Real ID Rally in Concord and updates on legislation, audio & video
Gun Freedom Bills in NH
Keene Free Press articles
New Pilgrim Chronicles - new book by Brian Wright
Liberty Ladies in the Free State Observer

A Wintertime fun - Snow Porcupine Building contest was sponsored by the NH Underground. The contest, started in Jan 06 (and extended due to the warm weather), was won by Jim Johnson and Lauren Canario!

Advocates, Activists, Agitators, Our Remarkable Women 2006 - The May issue of New Hampshire Magazine honored our own Kat Dillon as an Agitator - "Free State Fundamentalist". Congratulations Kat!

The NH Liberty Calendar lists the upcoming events of 30 liberty-minded New Hampshire organizations. The NH Underground Calendar also lists liberty-oriented NH events.

FSP News back issues are available. Got FSP news? - content submissions are due by the 12th of each month. FSP News circulation: 11,053

Are you ready to JOIN THE FSP, move to New Hampshire and help achieve Liberty in Our Lifetime? Join NOW

Participants: 7,130
Participants in NH: 400
as of May 15, 2006

FSP News April 2006

New Hampshire activists score again as the New Hampshire Senate voted down HB1177, the Bill to ban smoking in restaurants and bars across New Hampshire.

New Hampshire Smoking Ban Goes Up in Smoke, Free State Observer - "A small cadre of approximately twenty freedom fighters, both outnumbered and outfinanced by ban supporters who were organized on a national level by the American Heart Association, successfully tipped the scales of the outcome...". More on the story below in In New Hampshire, Free State Blogs section.

Come get a taste of freedom!

The Third Annual Porcupine Freedom Festival will be held June 23rd to July 1st at Roger's Campground in Lancaster, NH. Join in the celebration of freedom with your new Free State friends. Preparations are being made, the schedule is developing and the registration form for the We'll Be There list is up.

We're also gearing up for the PorcFest Silent Auction fundraiser. If you have items you would like to donate, we'll advertise them on the website and arrange delivery to the PorcFest. Friends and liberty organizations may like to contribute. Please contact Jean.

Come get a taste of freedom; you won't want to live anywhere else.
We need the help of Porcupines and Friends all over the United States! There are great volunteer opportunities to help staff FSP outreach tables at Libertarian Party state conventions and at the Vans Warped Tour music festival dates. Please check over the two schedules on the FSP Forum threads linked above for complete details about this. Outreach tables are a wonderful opportunity to talk about the FSP to those who might have never heard of the FSP, those who have followed our progress for a while but never had anyone to talk to about it and those who just need a nudge to join and move to New Hampshire with us! We provide the FSP materials to hand out and you provide the smile and the handshake.

FSP endorsed by the Liberty Forum of Ohio - "There is to be no doubt: without such a grass-roots movement as the Free State Project, the usurpation of our rights will only continue to grow until this country needs one day be drenched in the blood of patriots, for a third time. Surely, the Free State Project has provided us with a peaceful alternative to such future bloodshed. Let us not forsake this opportunity to accomplish what those before us were willing to die for: good government, not against, but for the people." Full Liberty Forum endorsement text.

Action of the Month - Talk with Friends, Family and Neighbors

Most of us don't have a problem talking with each other about freedom, or the lack thereof, but talking with someone who may not be as "liberty-minded" is not an easy task. But by a large margin, word of mouth is the most common reason cited by Participants as to why they joined. If you need to refine your philosophical and more practical points, check the essays section and the wonderful 101 Reasons and you'll be sure to have everything you need. "Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment." - Benjamin Franklin

The First 1000 breaks 200. People often move for good reasons – jobs, family, relationships, or just a change of scenery. Have you ever considered moving to protect our very freedom? Are you considering moving to New Hampshire by December 2008, or have you already moved but not signed the First 1000 pledge? Be looking in your snail mail for a new First 1000 brochure and letter from Dr. Jason Sorens, FSP founder and Chairman. Be a part of the excitement in New Hampshire - sooner rather than later!

The messages on the Florida Free State Project email list flew thick and fast: "Are the winters really as cold as they say? What are the people like up there? How many Libertarians are there? Is there a network to help people moving into the Free State?" All questions promised to be answered by a couple who actually "went and did it." - from the new essay by Tim Condon, Free State Porcupine Visiting!

Safety and health are certainly important considerations for many in deciding where to live. New Hampshire retains its 4th place ranking in the just released Morgan Quitno 2006 Safest State awards. Neighboring state Vermont is ranked 3rd, with Maine 2nd and Mass 21st.

The 2006 Healthiest State awards also just came out. New Hampshire retains its 2nd place ranking and similar to the Safest area above, Vermont is ranked 1st Healthiest, Maine 4th and Mass 6th - a safe and healthy stretch of New England real estate to be sure! But check the link to the U.S. Census state tax collections below for some sharp differences. Last month, New Hampshire was awarded the #1 Most Livable state honor for the 3rd year in a row.

"The Libertarian Party of Florida has decided to officially endorse the efforts of the Free State Project. From the deep south to the far northeast, the