The Free State Project identified ten small states where 20,000 active libertarians would be a critically large voting bloc. They are signing up libertarians and like-minded people to vote on the target state and to move there when the group passes 20,000. The winning state will be announced on 1st October; they've signed up about 5400 people so far, on a classic exponential growth curve with a six-month doubling time that should get them there in late 2004.

What could be more American than migrating to a thinly-settled area to experiment with liberty?

Heh, New Hampshire won. Are they really going to move there? This is the wackiest thing that might actually happen that I've heard in a long time. Really not sure what to think.

Live free or die, I guess...
- jim 10-02-2003 4:12 pm [add a comment]

how can 20000 people (plus kids) move into one state at once. i can't imagine they'll all be able to find housing & jobs and not disrupt the local economy. esp in such a small state.
- linda 10-02-2003 5:24 pm [add a comment]

Depends what kind of people they are. My guess is that this sort of libertarian philosophy doesn't attract too many poverty level people. And who can just pick up and move their family to another state? I'm guessing (if it even happens) that the 20,000 would be people of an economic and educational background that a state like New Hampshire would be very happy to receive.

For instance, in terms of housing, if the economic disruption results in driving up property values I'd guess that most people in New Hampshire would be happy (and a little bit more wealthy.)

But yeah, I'm not saying this doesn't sound crazy. Still, I think it's possible, even if unlikely.
- jim 10-02-2003 5:35 pm [add a comment]

I am so happy Montana came in a distant third.
- Tom G 10-03-2003 2:14 am [add a comment]