Yesterday, I went to the Peterborough Green Expo (Greenerborough??) and mulled about looking at all the "alternative" energy solutions and exhibits. They had everything from hybrid vehicles and Segways (I rode one of the newer models) to school alternatives. I appreciate the passion and focus of the Green movement. I understand that respecting our resources and being moderate and mindful of how we use those resources is a good thing. I just get the sense that a good portion of the people that are driving these things would love to see government mandated controls on individuals and taxes for carbon footprints etc. The mantra is already being parroted by the media and the masses have a tendency to follow along with what is fed to them. Oh well, I still think the "alternatives" are a good thing. Just don't try to convince me using the "religion" of Global Warming.

The Many Views of Monadnock

When I first started looking into moving to New Hampshire after learning about the Free State Project, the Monadnock region in the south-west corner of the state was first on my list to visit. I started looking for work in the area and was successful landing a job interview in Keene at C&S Wholesalers. I was flown out from Utah for the interview and a weekend stay in Keene. The job didn't pan out, but I was able to drive around the region and meet with fellow FSP members. I was convinced that I would be making New Hampshire my home and that the Monadnock area was well suited for my tastes and comfort.

6 months after my initial visit and several more phone interviews later, I was in New Hampshire again. This time for the First Annual New Hampshire Liberty Forum in Concord, and also for a face-to-face interview at the headquarters of the world's oldest, continuously published periodical, The Old Farmer's Almanac and New England's own Yankee Magazine. That visit proved to be the deciding factor in making the move.

I'm not a big fan of city life, but I like to be within reasonable driving distance of anything a bigger city might have to offer. So I decided on the town of Peterborough, NH (pop. 6000). It puts me 30 minutes from Keene and an hour to Concord, Manchester, or Nashua. The coast is a 2 hour drive east and the White Mountains and northern regions 3 hours or more.

If you're considering the move to New Hampshire as an FSP member or if you're just curious about the ideals of Independence and Liberty, I would recommend attending the Annual Porcupine Freedom Festival.

If you want a guided tour of the Monadnock region while here (via podcast voiced by ... me), visit The Many Views of Monadnock: A Driving Tour.

I hope you'll join the 8000+ who have signed up, and the 500+ Free State Project members already here in New Hampshire in the pursuit of life, liberty, and property.

Live Free or Die :)

"Greatest Snow on Earth" used to be the title reserved for the state of Utah. I believe, along with recent NH wins for "Best Place to Live" and "Safest Place to Live", the title should be stripped from Utah and given to New Hampshire. Today's snowfall put us in second place for cumulative snowfall in over 100 years (and possibly in 1st place in some areas). Only 6 more inches to go.

I attended a great class presented by NH House Representative and Political Director of the NH Liberty Alliance, Dan Itse. The New Hampshire Constitution is an amazing work. It gives a revealing look into what the founding fathers original intent was. The people are the sovereigns and the masters of their government. Not the other way around. Our government was meant to have a "bottom up" approach as opposed to a "top down" approach like we have now. Our representatives (with a few notable exceptions) are no longer protecting liberty and natural rights of the people.

Today was my first exposure to how the New Hampshire legislative body works. I spent the day at the NH Capitol in Concord hearing bills as they are proposed to the respective committees in public hearings.

The first one I sat through was a Homeschool bill that would re-insert language that was taken out last year, in essence moving backwards. The sponsor wants to have a curriculum plan submitted for each child at the beginning of the year, every year. It's not needed because the homeschooled student is tested at the end of the year for competencies, skill level, etc. It was evident that the reason for the new language being reinserted was for money. In the bill was language stating that your taxpayer dollars would be sent to the school for each homeschool student that isn't in school. Gee...that means we pay triple the amount for each homeschool student if we homeschool? (taxed once via property taxes already, paying for each child at home to educate them, paying again for this additional tax...)

I just came off the most incredible ride. Four days of basking in the Spirit of Liberty with the remnant of the Sons and Daughters of Liberty gathered together in New Hampshire to support each other and the tenets of freedom and responsibility. I can't express in words just how incredible it is to know that there are still people out there that understand the simple concepts of liberty.

My oldest daughter sat on the "Made the Move" panel today expressing her thoughts on what it's like to live in New Hampshire and participate in the Free State Project. She was a little nervous, especially after they tried to get her to go first on the panel. But she ended up expressing her thoughts very well.

With as many speakers, panels, and sessions going on it was hard to stay put for any length of time. So with camera in hand I did what I could to document the event in stills. It's not video, but I think it captures the feeling well. I am grateful for the opportunity to be surrounded by such individuals and great minds.

Dr. Ron Paul: "...gather the remnant together to really have a viable political force. And I think the information we're getting this year is that there are a lot of us and that we can convert people, and the country is waking up."

The energy in the room was overwhelming. It was, in my opinion, one of the best speeches he's delivered. When he came to this event last year, the enthusiasm he encountered was enough to push him over the edge to form an exploratory committee for the presidential run. It was beyond obvious when Ron Paul entered the room that he had arrived at the place where it all started: The Free State Project.

The last 3 days have been a whirlwind. So many liberty-loving activists and speakers it's hard to keep track of them all. From Sharon Harris' inspiring and energizing opening ceremony speech “Sticking it to Statism” which you can read about and watch at Homeland Stupidity, Bernard von NotHaus (appearing as Captn. Roughseas), and Barry Cooper of "Never Get Busted Again".

McCain and his staffers are staying here at the hotel. I've already passed by him 3 times now as I've been walking around taking photos. Barry Cooper decided he was going to take it a step further and talk to him. So he entered the elevator McCain was in. I don't think that was something McCain wanted because Barry ended up being forced out. Hotel security was called and eventually the cops showed up. After much negotiation and attempts to move Barry away from the cameras and Free State Project members in the lobby, Barry said something (according to his account) like "ok, I won't press charges", which seemed to get Hotel security to back off, and the cops left without incident.

In Barry's interview later, he said if it wasn't for the cameras and liberty supporters surrounding him last night, he would have been arrested. I heard a lot of rumors flying around last night concerning the sequence of events, but am unable to corroborate any of them.

So, some of you might know this name: Glen Jacobs. Some of you may also know him by the name he goes by while in character: Kane.
Glen has been making the rounds attending as many of the keynotes and seminars as possible. He was interviewed on Free Talk Live last night after hanging out in the hall with us discussing Austrian Economics and other liberty-related topics.

As for the rest of the Liberty Forum, today will be hard to beat. Ron Paul will be showing up as our concluding speaker. More on that after it happens ;)


Here's a little presidential quiz I took today:
2008 Presidential Candidate Matching Quiz
87% Ron Paul
72% Mitt Romney
72% Fred Thompson
68% Mike Huckabee
67% Tom Tancredo
60% John McCain
43% Rudy Giuliani
40% Bill Richardson
33% Mike Gravel
33% Chris Dodd
28% Barack Obama
28% Dennis Kucinich
26% John Edwards
25% Hillary Clinton
23% Joe Biden

The results didn't surprise me much...except for the fact that I want drugs legalized and regulated and Mitt Romney came in second? hmm...

I had a late start this morning and missed the Manchester Firing Line shoot (you can read about and digg it here). By the time I got to the hotel, there was so much to do I also ended up missing the state house tour in order to help organize the information and pieces being given to the attendees.

I followed the throngs to the Hunt Room and ran into George Washington. I recognized him right away since he was the same George Washington that was shaking Ron Paul's hand at the Strafford Straw Poll in July.

We chatted about history and books I've read about him. We were joined by another Revolutionary as we discussed literature and history. It was great to sit and talk with people who have spent so much time examining the characters they role play. I may even become interested in doing something like that someday.

After everyone mingled and munched on snacks, the Director/Organizer for the NHLF, Chris, got up and announced 3 authors who were speaking and signing books: Brian Wright, James Maynard, and Gardner Goldsmith. People mingled, bought books, chatted with the authors and made purchases until around 8:30pm

In another room, Ian and Mark of Free Talk Live were busy broadcasting live with special guests, Peter Christ of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, Matt Simon of New Hampshire Coalition for Common Sense Marijuana Policy, and Bernard von NotHaus of the Liberty Dollar.

Right now I'm in the Windsor Room (suite) with the rest of the Liberty Forum staff as they prepare things for tomorrows influx of arrivals and registrations.

This is gearing up to be a great weekend :)