I used to be active in some of the fsp forums a while ago, but the glue that keeps me interested has to be my values and FTL. Ian is very responsive to my emails, as is Mark and over the time listening to the show and all their hosts- its very informative and entertaining. I would love to get into talk radio like that. They sound like some great table mates at texas hold 'em (cigars, poker and beer- $20 to the kitty, evenly distributed chips to each player, a beer bitch, potluck, winner-take-all at the end of the night) Today I signed the Shire Society Declaration and I look forward to visiting NH next year…
I called the show when Lew Rockwell was on,… yep, still my homepage…
Not sure how long I will keep my state name, trying to obfuscate it and eventually adopt Freeman or some such last name… the idea of keeping the name that was branded with a state ssn irks me most of the time. I would love to leave it behind as I go. Whenever I register a pre-paid phone I never use it. The real trick is getting health care and medicine without it.
Something about myself: I am starting my own coffee micro-roastery, and would love to install a roaster in the shire at some point. I could use info on how to run an Agorist-style business. My site will take bitcoins when it goes online, though not exclusively. I think I may offer the 3% discount to bitcoiners though- because there will be no processing charges, other than s&h.
When it finishes testing its first transactions, I will announce it. Meanwhile if you love fresh-roasted organic coffees from around the world, let me know.
My wife and I are pretty sociable, so when we move it should be fun to make new friends. I will probably experience all of NH, minus I hope, the various spiritual retreats. I would like to visit the Grafton Peaceful Assembly, probably settle in Manch, but Keene sounds like a lot of fun.
The State is an unwelcome, hostile intruder to my life, liberty, and property.
I am here in this forum because someday I wish to be there. I plan to attend my first PorcFest in 2013. Are their similar Shire-specific events?
How did that license plate thing work out?
The Shire Society is a sponsor of Porcfest, but no, there is not a specific event for the Shire.
Thanks for the kind words and welcome.
Wow.
So much has changed since 2012, but still a regular with FTL. So will there now be a movement to sign with Shire Society and unsign FSP? Should NH still be the place for the Shire? Are things kind of up in the air now? It seems like FTL is largely responsible for the FSP total- if they distance themselves, should they no longer get the credit for FTL impact?
Ian, I wish you the best. The FBI on your back is no fun… maybe the ACLU will help?
FTL has had a big impact but for people who are actual movers across the entire state, it is unclear if it is fair to say FTL is ‘largely’ responsible (by no means am I discounting the value FTL has brought) but I think to people out of state that heard about the FSP through FTL it is hard to imagine that there were other ways but I promise there are thousands of signers who never even have heard about FTL.
Either way NH is still the place so move or do not. The place where you sign is largely irrelevant at this point.
Jeff,
Thanks for the reply.
I think it is really terrible what is happening right now, the raid, and the FSP not having Ian’s back for all the years of his support. If you had spent 10 years promoting an organization, taking part in events, and cross-promoting, only to be thrown under the bus, you might take it personally.
Ian has posted a high road response to this, but really, why shouldn’t the FSP take up his cause like they did the Thanks but No Tanks! cause? People are innocent before proven guilty, and the FSP should not be promoting a GROUPTHINK where everyone must agree on issues, or be expelled. Before long, 2+2=5 or else!
So those of us who have not moved, listen to FTL from all over the country. As far as I can tell, this has been the largest media outlet promoting the FSP regularly.
Of course, it is in the “not-knowing” that a lot of questions arise. I only hope that Ian has the legal support he needs.
In liberty,
Mark
... the FSP should not be promoting a GROUPTHINK where everyone must agree on issues, or be expelled. Before long, 2+2=5 or else!
I totally disagree. Of course the FSP ought to require agreement on some issues or be expelled. Explicit voluntary association is the only means by which binding obligations may be created and I would argue that since we are human, even binding obligations need to have conditions under which association is dissolved.
I think the board probably made the wrong call in this case but of course people and the organizations they represent ought to be able to disassociate.
Note that as I said, I agree Ian has done a lot for the FSP. Some have argued for years that what he has done is a mix of good and bad and I’d have to agree - primarily because that is true for all of us. There have always been both supporters and detractors of his methods and approaches and personality. A non-trivial number of other very active activists in the state were lobbying for the outcome that happened. Some were disassociating from the FSP in protest until the board took action.
Innocent before proven guilty is a tenant of law before the state locks people in a rape cage. It is not a requirement for interacting voluntarily with people and of course the action the board took had nothing to do with even an alleged crime.
If Ian were to have advocated for forced redistribution of wealth, locking people in cases for growing plants, and forced slavery and the board took the action that it did, would you still be concerned about 'groupthink? Let me be very clear that I am no way suggesting that the events and statements by Ian that preceded the board action are anyplace near the categories I just listed but they are selected to illustrate that there are items of speech that are incompatible with the goals and beliefs of FSP, Inc and with many signers.
as for ian getting the support he needs - I’d encourage you to voluntarily support him in this issue. I am sure many people already in state will support him as well.
Well, point taken- obviously, the definition of a libertarian, the Non-Aggression Principle/Axiom, and Private Property Rights are the defining qualities of a plumb-line libertarian, and most anarchist, voluntaryist, mutual-aid, and anarcho-capitalists among others would subscribe at least to the NAP.
But that does not mean that people should be prepared to all agree in the same way outside those core shared understandings. I would say, when a small group makes a demand of expulsion, especially not for the actions of an individual, but indeed for his thoughts and ideas, this is a litmus test that goes beyond the scope- at least in Ian’s case, because it is obviously his belief that the government has no place in arbitrarily setting any standards with age of consent, and I would further suggest, he probably would agree that the state should have no grounds to set standards or laws for any such thing- drunk driving laws, drivers licenses, voting age, or any other age-based regulation. All of these things should be held properly, in libertarian freedom, the free market, not government, if they should exist at all.