Free State Observer

Here we are the first days of spring and it feels like winter, LOL But I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else!
 
When we first came to a Free State Project meeting long before the move, a question was put to us. “What is your freedom worth”  ” is it worth a little cold weather?”  It is easy to answer that question as Yes, most definitely.  So far our new journey has been an incredible experience.
 
No longer sitting on the sidelines and complaining to the TV, it has rejuvenated us in many ways.  We are doing well, both of us making a good living and our son enjoying his new found freedoms.  Even the dog is happier!
 
I went on a legislative field trip with Don and learned a tremendous amount, but the one thing that stands out is how accessible our government body is.  We had full access to the building and met and spoke with various legislators including the Governor.  I had an opportunity only a few weeks later to take our son to the state house and the LOB building and share with him what I had learned.  It was an awesome day with the exception of him mistaking a picture of Governor Lynch for President Jimmy Carter.  It was also funny when he found out what legislators get paid and said he was surprised they didn’t make more money than people with real jobs.

Concord has been embroiled in a battle between the teacher’s union and the school board over their contract.  It has gotten so nasty the teachers have taken it out on the kids and have lost the respect of many in doing so.  The battle still rages with a large sticking point being that the teachers do not want to have to pay more for health care, they want the taxpayers to handle the increase in cost.  It is bad enough that the rising cost of health care is hurting all of us they want us to take on their burden as well.  It would cause this community to be forced into paying a supplemental tax bill on their already over taxed property.
 
My next endeavor is to raise money for the local Cancer Center at Concord Hospital.  All the money raised will go to help local cancer patients.  I am participating in a walk in May.
 
It is interesting to think what lies ahead.

–
“The surest way to corrupt a youth is to instruct him to hold in higher esteem those who think alike than those who think differently.” -Nietzsche
 

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LOCAL POLITICS

On the local level my learning moved on to the ins and outs of the town’s deliberative sessions. There are two of these every year, one for the schools warrant articles and one for the rest of the town’s activities. A warrant is a petition which has to be signed by 25 registered town voters in order to be considered for passage. These warrants (the term implies warning; “we’re about to spend tax money here”) are discussed at the deliberative sessions where they can be amended but not denied. Each warrant will be passed along to the voters a few weeks later. In towns using the town meeting format, the warrants are debated and voted upon on the same day.

These town meetings and deliberative sessions are like a flash from the past. This is almost identical to the way the founders made local laws over two hundred years ago. Of course, I could not restrain myself from speaking when I got the chance and hopefully did not come off sounding too addle-brained to the locals. As a rule, try to get to know as much as you can about local feuds and rivalries before choosing a position you may be attacked for holding. Relative to that, grow a thick skin. You have to be able to shrug off attacks, even personal ones, if you plan to be an effective political activist.

I ran for a minor local office last year and failed to be elected by 64 votes, which I thought was encouraging since I was still a relative newcomer. When I walked into the town hall to file to run there were only two days left in the filing period. The town clerk was on the verge of calling previous candidates to urge them to help fill out the current list, so she was delighted to see me. New Hampshire runs on volunteerism at all levels which easily explains why it’s the top rated state in volunteerism among all fifty states. There are boards for selectmen, budget, planning, conservation, library, cemeteries and trust funds to name a few. Serving successfully on one or more of these is the stepping stone to state-wide offices plus you get a platform for introducing our small government ideas to people who may never have been exposed to these concepts.

Despite losing on my first attempt I still remained active at the state and local levels. If you want to be a source of input in your town or at the state level, you just need to find the time. Become informed, make the people’s issues yours (you can always slide your own preferences in sideways once you’ve earned some credibility) and be persistent.

Persistence can pay off over time. I ran again this year and was elected to our town’s Budget Committee. Looks like its back to school time again. The human race has been fighting these battles since the ancients invented democracy and we’ve come such a long way since then. If enough Free State Project participants join the fight in New Hampshire maybe we can finish the job of achieving “liberty in our lifetime”. Hope to see more of you here sooner than later. There’s still a lot to be done.

Calvin Pratt
Goffstown, NH

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As members of the Free State Project my wife and I made the move to New Hampshire on December 5th, 2003. Before and during the settling in process I started to question current Free State residents and my new town neighbors on the hot-button political issues here in New Hampshire to get some feel where my actions might be best directed.

It quickly became obvious that the number one issue was taxes and schools (they are considered to be one and the same issue in New Hampshire). This issue was pressed upon me shortly after my arrival at a local gas station where I was filling up the car while it still had out of state plates on it. I tried to strike up a friendly conversation with an elderly man at the next pump. He looked at me, and then my license plates then asked me flat out, “Ya ain’t here to raises taxes, ur ya?” I assured him that I thought he was already paying too many taxes.

To tackle big issues like these requires allies and I reached out to the local Free State community for some guidance and found that there were long term organizations like Gun Owners of New Hampshire and the Coalition of New Hampshire Taxpayers that had been on the front lines for years. I started networking with them and a new group just forming called the New Hampshire Liberty Alliance. My civics training had begun in earnest.

Getting to know the working of a local community is not difficult as most towns have an internet presence. Town meetings are open to the public and video-taped to be shown on cable-access channels and the tapes can be taken out from local libraries. The best way to find acceptance is to get to know these local issues and make them your issues as well. The worst way is to enter a local community with the mindset that you’re there to “rescue” your neighbors. You’ll soon find yourself marginalized with that approach.

STATE POLITICS

I started out slowly during the early learning period and tackled only a few local and state level issues taking guidance from my mentors. My first time attending a state committee hearing was awe-inspiring. I entered the legislative office building immediately impressed by the historical presence surrounding me and the fact that there were no security hassles (the state troopers on duty were there mainly to answer questions). Our group then took a brief elevator ride to the community room levels of the building where the public hearing take place.

Public hearings are an integral part of a bill’s passage in the Free State. All bills are required by the NH Constitution to receive public input before a committee makes its recommendation. The bill then goes to the general assembly to be voted on by the full House attending. A committee recommendation of ITL (Inexpedient to Legislate) means the committee felt the bill should not become law. A recommendation of OTP (Ought to Pass) means the committee felt the bill should become law. The confusing part of this process for many newcomers is that the assembly votes on the committee recommendation not on the actual bill itself.

To attend a committee hearing means taking time off from work mid-week to arrive at the correct committee chamber at the correct time. That is all it takes to be a part of the committee process. If all you want to do is express your support or opposition to a bill, there is a sign-in sheet available with “Pro” and “Con” columns you can use. If you want to testify on the bill, you fill out a pink witness card and pass it to a committee member who sends it up to the committee chairperson and you get to speak when your card is selected. The witness process also allows the committee members to ask you questions to help them clarify details of the bill. The committee rules prohibit the members from engaging a witness in debate, they can only ask questions. Even after several witness appearances, I still get dry-mouth every time I sit in those witness chairs.

The Legislative Cafeteria is open to the public and a lot of work gets done in the halls, cafeteria and nearby restaurants. You will not find any group of legislators as accessible as those who serve in New Hampshire. They are true public servants as the hundred dollar annual stipend and mileage they receive is not much of a financial incentive. This is important to remember about those who disagree with you as they often have good reasons for holding to their point of view.

As the rest of the legislative year wore on there were a few victories, a few defeats but most of the battles were a draw. The NH legislature does not pass the majority of the huge volume of bills they receive. I continued to learn the ways of the House and Senate and the protocol of law-making. I was soon hooked as I saw this as the best venue for change on a state-wide level. 

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I have been a bit remiss in my journaling lately, not due to lack of interesting things to write about, but to too little time left in which to chronicle them!  First of all, since spring has officially arrived, I can now say with pride “I survived my first New England winter”.  Truthfully, it didn’t bother me a bit; I actually wish it had snowed more.  This was an unusually mild and sunny winter, but still, you wouldn’t believe how many people, both in California and NH, gleefully told me I was going to hate it.

Last week about twenty Free State Project early movers went to see “V for Vendetta” on opening night.  We kicked off the evening with a potluck dinner and another Wachowski Brothers film, the Matrix.  The spirit of Mystery Science Theater 3000 was alive and well as an endless stream of wiseacre remarks assaulted Neo and friends as they battled V, I mean Agent Smith.  Fortunately for me, I practically know that movie by heart.  V was awesome and inspirational; I have even found myself toying with the idea of shaving my head again, although I don’t think my current employer would appreciate that.

On Saturday the unstoppably bubbly Margot and family hosted a Meet N’ Greet at their home.  The house was absolutely packed; there were at least 60 people there, plus numerous kids, babies, dogs, and even a couple of New Hampshire state representatives, one of whom regaled me with a tale of a knife fight in Marseilles in his youth.

Throughout the past couple of weeks, I and the other members of the Fire Brigade pelted state representatives with phone calls, letters, and emails.  Although we were defeated in our effort to have HB1177, the smoking ban bill, voted down in the House, the vote turned out much closer than had been predicted.  I continue to be amazed at how elected representatives not only listen to what I have to say, but they actually seem to WANT to talk to me. So very different from California, where you need to schedule an appointment days in advance, and if you’re lucky, you’ll get to speak to an actual aide, not an intern.  Anyway, the battle continues in the Senate.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to Best Buy to pick up my copy of Oblivion; if I’m not heard from again, it’s not because I’ve lost interest in the FSP, but merely that I’ve gone over the geek end and am caught in an endless spiral of monster slaying and quest completion.  If you’re concerned for my well-being, feel free to have pizza and cat food delivered to my home (pre-paid, please). Thank you for your support. 

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Well here we are a little over 7 months after the move to the freestate (New Hampshire). We are surrounded with the most incredible group of people who are both great political activists and truly wonderful friends. We have had the Libertarian candidate for President stay in our home, shared meals with state representatives, and visited the state house to listen to committee meetings.

We have found a government within our state that seems to be like a step back into the past. The legislators are truly within reach, no form letters or no touch policies. If you ask them a question they answer it personally and not through a secretary. It is amazing to us coming from a state where they were the untouchables, difficult to reach, and full of too much power.

We are both doing good at our jobs and our son is excelling in many ways. He is an honors student and has developed some nice friendships.

I continue to have check ups every few months and am happy to say I remain Cancer free.

We have both obtained our licenses to carry concealed and practice shooting whenever we can. We have met some wonderful people among the pro-2nd amendment crowd and have chosen to take an active role in preserving and protecting our individual right to self preservation.

I have taken on the role of State Coordinator for a national organization called the Second Amendment Sisters and have made it my personal goal to educate and help the women of my great state learn to protect themselves from the less savory side of humanity. Billy is actively assisting me and has also joined as an associate member and we have both become full members of Gun Owners of America.

Our son enjoys target shooting with us and it is great family time away from all things electronic. Which any parent in this day and age would tell you is a good thing between video games, computers, and TV.

A few months after the move some friends and I participated in the Breast Cancer walk and our team as a whole raised over $800.00 for the cause. We had a great time and felt good for helping with research dollars. There are some aspects of the American Cancer Society we do not agree with but we all agreed they did more good than harm, after all tamoxiphen therapy arose from their research and has made a major difference in survival for breast cancer patients.

We participated in a protest at the capital against the patriot act and found people to be curious and for the most part friendly except for one poor soul who still believes it is for his own good and safety.

It is exciting to live here and be a part of the solution rather than talking about the problems that exist today. We truly are active in our world and hopefully we can make a difference and teach our son to be a leader and free thinker.

I look forward to writing my next excerpt and in the experiences yet to come.
Now we are truly living!

By,
Jenn C.

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I wanted to share our moving experience with everyone and give an update as to how we are doing.

We made the move on June 25th and I have to say it was incredible!!

When we arrived here in Concord, NH we were dreading unloading the truck. Everyone was very tired from loading it and driving over 2hrs in what turned out to be the hottest day of the year (figures).  Much to our delight and surprise at least 15 people from the FSP (Free State Project) showed up and unloaded our very packed truck in less than a 1/2 hour.  One of the ladies even made our bed!  She and an other lady set up the bathroom and some of the kitchen as well.  They said they wanted to make sure we at least had the basics at hand, knowing that we were tired.  Everyone stayed and shared stories and info with us.  It turned into an impromtu backyard fun.  We ordered pizzas and had soda and beer and had a wonderful time speaking with people face to face, many for the first time.

Since then both Billy and I are doing well at our jobs.  Our son is making the adjustment much better than I had thought.  He has made some friends and seems to enjoy his new environment.  I had thought that Concord would turn out to be too city, but really it has a very suburban feel and is a very nice place to live.  We have been blessed with nice neighbors and that helps a lot.

We have been to three cookouts and broke bread with a variety of people from libertarian leaning republicans, to libertarians, so on and so forth.  We have met some of our new state’s representatives at the NH taxpayers coalition cookout and have been treated nicely by all we have come in contact with.  From members of the FSP to the NHLA (New Hampshire Liberty Alliance) and GO-NH (Gun Owners of New
Hampshire).  There are many active groups all with the same goal in mind of preserving our liberties.

We know now more than ever that we have made the right decision in coming here.  I have to say that we had our moments of doubt. Especially four days before the move when I was diagnosed with cancer.  We almost cancelled everything.  I was blessed and lucky to have a great family and an awesome doctor.  I had minor
surgery the next day and the doctor got it all! My family all came together to handle the move.  Many in the FSP don’t realize just how much we appreciated the help given that I couldn’t lift anything and that had put more work on my family.

We thank God every day for the amazing blessing he has given us in my immediate treatment, our move, our new jobs, and most of all our new friends and extended family!
 

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HB406 has passed into New Hampshire law. The bill, written by Free State Project participant Dawn Lincoln, grants more freedom to parents who choose to homeschool their children.

Ms. Lincoln, an early mover from Connecticut who homeschools her two daughters, aged 11 and 13, is very pleased to have achieved this legislative success and to have won the support of so many State Senators and Representatives.

“Homeschooling has grown over the last 20 years and proven itself to be a viable option for families. I am glad to see that the legislature has agreed that it is unnecessary to burden homeschooling families with so much paperwork.”

HB406, sponsored by Rep. Quandt of Exeter, revises the oversight authority of the commissioner of the department of education relative to home education programs. It also revises certain curriculum, notice, and procedural provisions which apply to home education programs.

Ms. Lincoln lives in Winchester, where she serves as School District Clerk and her husband serves on the School Board. She recently completed a one-year term as membership director of the New Hampshire Liberty Alliance.

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For the first time in its history, the Free State Project will be led by an early mover to New Hampshire.  Varrin Swearingen, a long-time FSP participant and well-respected activist, will be taking the reigns after the resignation of President of two years Amanda Phillips, who has stepped down in order to focus on her family and her studies at Harvard Law.  Varrin, who moved from Fresno, California in Oct. 2004 for the greener and freer pastures of New Hampshire, has a long and impressive history as a liberty activist.  Within the FSP, he has served on the Board of Directors and served as Vice President of Operations. He was the 2005 “Porc Fest Czar” with primary responsibility for coordinating PorcFest, a weeklong liberty conference/social gathering in Lancaster, New Hampshire, believed to be the largest annual gathering of libertarians in the world.  Varrin is a public signer of the First 1000 pledge.  A devout Christian, he also serves as the Christian liaison for the FSP.  Prior to leaving California, Varrin served as both the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Fresno County Libertarian Party.  He ran for Congress in 2002 as a Libertarian, and is a winner of the Advocates for Self-Government’s Lights of Liberty award.

Varrin, known for his even temper and ability to mediate disputes with courtesy and humor, is characteristically humble about his new position:

“This is a team effort. I’ll be happy to work, I’ll try to inspire, I’ll make whatever sacrifices I can, but this isn’t about me, it’s about *us*. It’s about our organizers and volunteers, it’s about our participants, it’s about the beneficiaries in New Hampshire, and ultimately, it’s about Freedom itself.”

Varrin is a professional airline pilot and lives with his wife and two young children in Keene.

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