Free State Project (original) (raw)

The Free State Project (FSP) is a plan to have 20,000 or more (self-proclaimed) "liberty-oriented" people move to a single state of the United States, where they intend to influence local political policy.

Inspired by an article published on July 23, 2001 that argued that the current thinly scattered libertarian activism was failing and that it would be necessary for libertarians to geographically concentrate their efforts in order to achieve "liberty in our lifetime," the Free State Project was founded on September 1, 2001.

When the FSP surpassed 5,000 members in August 2003, voting on the state to move to commenced. The ten candidates were (alphabetically): Alaska, Delaware, Idaho, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming. These states were chosen because of their low populations (under 1.5million), relatively pro-libertarian native cultures, lack of dependence on federal funds, and decent job markets. The voting process used a Condorcet method to determine which state was most preferable to the most people. On October 1, 2003, it was announced that New Hampshire had been chosen as the Free State.

After the vote, the focus of the FSP shifted towards getting 15,000 more people to sign up for the move to New Hampshire. Once membership hits 20,000, all members are supposed to move within five years. There is no obligation to move until and unless 20,000 members are reached, but many members expressed their desire to move before that time. As of January 5, 2004, 5,306 people had signed up.

Once in the new state, members will work within the political system to reduce the size and scope of government through reductions in taxation and regulation, reforms in state and local law, an end to federal mandates, and a restoration of what they see as constitutional federalism.

Insignia of the FSP

The porcupine signifies a cute and cuddly creature which one is advised to avoid stepping on. This is meant to imply that the FSP is friendly and non-aggressive, but wants to be left alone and will defend itself if attacked. This mascot has given rise to "porcupine" or "porc" being used as a slang term for one who supports the FSP. The insignia bears the FSP's motto, "Liberty in Our Lifetime".

See also: libertarianism, Libertarian Party