Free State Project
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. As of September 10, 2003, 5,454 people had tentatively agreed to move to a state, which was to be chosen by a Condorcet method vote now that 5,000 people had joined the project. The state chosen was New Hampshire and the focus then shifted to getting the remaining 15,000 people to sign up. When the Project hits 20,000, all members are supposed to move within five years.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.
Other states under consideration were (in order of their ranking in the election): Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Alaska, Maine, Vermont, Delaware, South Dakota and North Dakota. These states were chosen due to their low populations, relatively pro-libertarian native cultures, lack of dependence on federal funds, and decent job markets.
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.
Insignia of the FSP
The porcupine signifies a cute and cuddly creature which one is advised to avoid stepping on. This is apparently meant to imply that the FSP is friendly, but wants to be left alone. The insignia bears the FSP's motto, "Liberty in Our Lifetime". FSP supporters are also commonly known as "porcupines."
See also: libertarianism, Libertarian Party
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