Free State Observer

As a kid, a year younger than the others in my class, with rosy red British schoolgirl cheeks and straight-A report cards, I was usually the teacher’s pet.  As an adult, I tend to dress in an unobtrusive manner so as to draw as little attention to myself as possible.  And whether at work or at home, I’m usually hunched over a computer keyboard, overconsuming caffeine and living up to various other stereotypes of the word “geek”. It therefore sometimes shocks the hell out of people to discover that I’m into tattoos.  It sometimes even shocks tattoo artists, who look me up and down when I walk into their shop and say “YOU want to get a tattoo?”, assuming I’m a virgin to the ink-filled needle.  T’aint so.  I got my first tattoo back in the mid-80’s, long before everyone and their grandmother was doing it.  And as many aficionados will tell you, there is something strangely compelling about tattoos; once you get one, you invariably start plotting your next one.  Like Altoids, they are curiously addictive. Most people are proud of their tattoos and enjoy an opportunity to show them off. And for the shy, they provide a great ice breaker that you *never* forget to bring to the party. 

As someone who moved from San Francisco, one of the most cosmopolitan urban centers in the country and known for its accommodation of “alternative lifestyles”, to the comparatively rural environment of New Hampshire, I was somewhat concerned how someone like myself would be perceived here.  Would I stand out like a sore thumb?  Scare the locals?  I’m happy to say that that’s not the case at all.  Plenty of people here have tattoos (although I’ve observed far less body piercing here than in the Bay Area).  Perhaps because of the healthy biker culture (New Hampshire has more motorcycle riders per capita than any other state), or perhaps just because they’ve become so completely mainstream, tattoos appear to be an accepted part of the culture here.

So I decided to commemorate my one year anniversary in the Free State in my own idiosyncratic way, by getting another tattoo. I went to Hobo’s Tattoo Shop in Portsmouth, because it was voted Best of New Hampshire and it just sort of feels right to go to a seaport to get tattooed (hey, I’m old school).  I got the usual “Are you sure you want this? Have you ever had a tattoo before?” routine from the very heavily tattooed older gentleman working there that day.  However, once he was assured that I knew perfectly well what I was doing, he became quite friendly and a font of fascinating information.  He used to work in California, but moved to New Hampshire because “that’s where the money was”.  See, for thirty years, tattoo parlors were ILLEGAL in Massachusetts, and the most basic grasp of the law of supply and demand would lead you to the realization that that meant money in the bank for tattoo artists working in New Hampshire.  Hobo’s is still milking that, actually; since they’ve been in Portsmouth for over twenty years and therefore have a reputation for stability, they still get customers who come up from Mass.  Tattoo parlors were also illegal in the city of Manchester until just a couple of years ago, but judging by the number that I know exist there now, the free market bounced back with a vengeance as soon as the government ban was swept aside.

So, am I the only Free State Project early mover with tattoos?  Why no. No I’m not.  Here are some actual quotes from other FSP early movers:

“Everyone should have tattoos.” JW, on his wedding day (the bride wore white, and a tattoo)

and an actual conversation at a Meet N’ Greet:
me: So…. got any new tattoos since you moved to the Free State?
him: Naw… I’ve been obsessing about it, though.
me: Yeah, I’ve been obsessing too.
him: Actually, I’ve been spending all my money on guns!

Oh yeah…. I love New Hampshire.

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Once a year, the Free State Project holds a gathering of its members, friends and other interested libertarians in the Great North Woods of New Hampshire.  The event is called the Porcupine Festival, or PorcFest for short (the mascot of the FSP is a porcupine).  It’s an opportunity for FSP members, many of whom have only interacted with one another online, to meet face to face, share beer and BBQ, do some socializing, househunting, town scouting, stargazing or all of the above. 

Last year was my first PorcFest, and I can honestly say it was a great experience.  It was held at Roger’s Campground in the small town of Lancaster, a bit out of the way but necessary due to the extraordinary number of attendees.  Last year around 400 people attended, from all over the U.S. and several other countries, quite possibly making it the largest gathering of libertarians anywhere in the world in 2005.  The weather was perfect for camping; not too hot in the daytime, not too cold at night, and no rain.  There were organized events, including an all-day trek up Mount Liberty and a hands-on firearms course.  Speakers included former Libertarian Party Presidential candidate (and FSP member) Michael Badnarik, writer James Bovard, consumer privacy expert Katherine Albrecht, and representatives of several liberty-oriented organizations.  There was even a rock concert, compliments of the libertarian band PokerFace.  There were campfire gatherings, and lots and lots of drinking.  It was awesome walking through a crowded campground on a sunny summer day and seeing all of the Gadsden flags flying from tree branches.  

If you’re a member of the FSP, you should make every effort to attend this year’s PorcFest, which is shaping up to be every bit as epic as last year’s.  If you’re curious about the FSP and just want to see what sort of lunatics would actually move to another state for their political beliefs, you should attend.  If you’re a libertarian and have never once had the experience of partying with hundreds of other libertarians, you should attend.  If you despise camping, no worries: Roger’s actually has an onsite motel, and there are several other motels close by.  Children are welcome, and there are plenty of amenities to keep them entertained (playground, swimming pool, video arcade).  Christian services are provided onsite on Sunday morning, for those who like to pray; and for those who don’t, last year there was a gathering for atheists and agnostics.  Did I mention it’s FREE?  Speakers, workshops, organized events, late-night Bacchanalian shenanigans around the campfire, and several days of socializing with libertarian activists… Disneyland is for kids. BurningMan is so 90’s. I’m going to PorcFest!  Hope to see you there. 

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Only in America do we use the word ‘politics’ to describe the process so well: ‘Poli’ in Latin meaning ‘many’ and ‘tics’ meaning ‘bloodsucking creatures’.

Another glamorous day in the life of a would-be political activist.  This morning I retrieved the signs I had planted in support of HB1582, the New Hampshire anti-RealID bill.  Because it has been raining for days, the signs were a soggy, muddy mess.  As for the person who not only uprooted a sign and tossed it several feet from where I had planted it, but actually went to the trouble of covering it with two large, splintery pieces of wood… you’re not quite right, are you?  The pouring rain would have been a perfect cover for tears, but frankly, I’m too angry for that.

HB1582 passed the House by a landslide.  It was heavily promoted by the Granite State ID Coalition, made up of various organizations and led by two Free State Project early movers.  It was approved unanimously by the Senate committee.  Then, when considered by the full Senate, it was killed in a sneaky and deceitful manner.  An amendment was proposed that completely replaced the original language with new wording which would simply create a committee to study the issue.  The amendment was passed, and the bill was then passed as well.  Some of the Senators who had voted for the original bill in committee voted FOR the amendment to kill it.  As I understand it, this doesn’t happen very often; it’s considered bad form to reverse your vote, unless you’ve got a compelling reason.  Well, in this case, the compelling reason was apparently pressure from the Feds.  First U.S. Senator Gregg sent a letter to the NH Senators urging them to ignore the wishes of their own constituents and House reps and vote against the bill (you can read it here).  Then lobbyists flew up from Washington D.C. and spent a full day leaning on various Senators.  Yes, that’s right: your tax dollars at work!  Even if you don’t live in New Hampshire, you may be concerned about this flagrant violation of states’ rights and squandering of government money.

What comes next?  Hell if I know.  But one thing is for sure; as I already informed all 24 state Senators in a letter I mailed to them a few weeks ago, I will be exercising my personal right to “opt out” of National ID, whether legal or not.  Sometimes the moral thing to do is to defy a bad law.  History proves that it’s also sometimes beneficial to one’s self-preservation.  There are some Jews in Europe who are really glad their grandparents chose not to put the little badge on their lapel when ordered to do so by their government.  This is a first for me, publicly promoting law-breaking.  As I also told the Senators, “I have always been a law-abiding, tax-paying citizen.  I’ve never got so much as a speeding ticket.  But if National ID goes into effect, then I will become a criminal… because I will *not* submit to this program.”  When freedom is outlawed, only outlaws will be free, as they say.  As for the turncoat Republican Senators who prefer to trade their, and my, personal freedom for a false sense of “homeland security” (God how I despise that phrase) and didn’t even have the cojones to vote against the original HB1582, I leave you with these words:

If you love wealth greater than liberty, the tranquility of servitude greater than the animating contest for freedom, go home and leave us in peace. We seek not your council, nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you; and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen. — Samuel Adams

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Hello there!

My name is Chris and I’m an original member of the Liberty Ladies group. If you are wondering who we are, you need only look as far as our statement of intent.

“Are you a liberty loving woman in New Hampshire (or soon to be moving) looking for friendship and support?
We are a social group of ladies who are also looking for friendly women for conversations and outings. We invite any lady interested in liberty to join our circle and have some fun.”

About a year ago a few of us ladies were hanging out after a Porcupine meeting and chatting. We were all fairly new to the meeting and didn’t really know each other, but it became apparent that we had more in common than just our political beliefs. We thought that it would be nice to get together some time to eat, drink, shop, chat, or whatever, It would just be nice to get together! As it turns out, there were other women in the state brewing up the same kind of idea. We are scattered throughout the state, and yet we all realize how important it is to get together with the girls.

Since then we have done a variety of activities ranging from just 2 of us getting together for coffee to about 10 of us putting together a fundraising car wash for the Liberty Scholarship Fund. Most of our activities are social, but some of us are branching out to include our activities in other liberty oriented projects like taking a gun safety class.

I have put this thread on the journal page to encourage other Liberty Ladies to include thier viewpoint and observations. I also plan to add more content as time goes on and we get to know each other better as women and as friends.

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Hey! What was Seth thinking?! Who was that lady at the MVP meeting today and who did she think her audience was?

Well, I don’t know about any one else, but I was both bored and offended by the politician from Mass. She seemed to imply that those of us who have moved here needed a lesson on who Charlie Brown was (I mean Harry Brown) and yet all I heard was “Wa! Wa, Wa! Wa!” Did she really think that we are ignorant of what the problems are and if so, why didn’t she offer any solutions?

What her rant did remind me of though, is how much we really are accomplishing here. I mean, come on, where else have so few people grabbed the attention of the establishment? Certainly not Mass! We have such a diverse group of individuals and yet, I believe, our common goal IS to “make a difference.” This concept did not seem to phase our speaker and yet, how is SHE achieving any difference?

I moved here from across the country to do what ever I could with my meager experience and qualifications. I do believe that my efforts and those of my fellow Porcupines are valid, important and worthy of recognition. We are doing something about what ever it is that we deem is the problem and I am proud to be living in New Hampshire today.

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I’ve always enjoyed listening to the radio, as opposed to tapes or CD’s, while driving; I like the randomness of the songs that come on, and the cheap thrill of being treated to a song I love that I haven’t heard in a long time.  Sometimes there’s an almost eery appropriateness to the songs.  One morning a few months ago, I was driving to Manchester for a monthly Merrimack Valley Porcupines meeting, choking down a hangover and trying to mentally psyche myself up for standing in front of a crowd of 40 boisterous freedom fighters, all eyes upon me as I handled a microphone for only the second or third time in my life.  And what song came on the radio as I was pulling into the parking lot of Milly’s Tavern?  “Limelight”, by the fine objectivist band Rush.  I lingered until the song ended, enjoying a private Wayne’s World headbanging-in-the-car moment.

Last month when I took a day off work to go to Concord and watch the New Hampshire House of Reps debate the smoking ban bill, what song should be playing on the radio as I pulled into my parking-ticket-producing parking space? “Fight for Your Right”, by the Beastie Boys… the very song I quoted from on this blog in my entry about the smoking ban bill!

And today, as I prepared to fly back to the sundrenched hellhole from which I came to pick up the last of my STUFF, I drove down to my local bookstore to pick up some pulp fiction to keep myself amused on the transcontinental flight.  And what song should come on the radio?  Green Day’s “Welcome to Paradise”, a song written about my day’s destination of Oakland, California.  For pete’s sake, I was only in the car for 10 minutes; what are the odds?!

Radio karma is a mysterious phenomenon. 

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