Free State Project

The Free State Project (FSP) is a nonprofit corporation with a mission statement of creating "a society in which the maximum role of government is the protection of life, liberty, and property. The success of the Project would likely entail reductions in taxation and regulation, reforms at all levels of government to expand individual rights and free markets, and a restoration of constitutional federalism."

"The Free State Project is a plan in which 20,000 or more liberty-oriented people will move to a single state of the U.S. to secure there a free society," Jason P. Sorens wrote, in a history of the effort. "We will accomplish this by first reforming state law, opting out of federal mandates, and finally negotiating directly with the federal government for appropriate political autonomy. We will be a community of freedom-loving individuals and families, and create a shining example of liberty for the rest of the nation and the world."

In May 2009, the FSP web site listed 9,275 FSP "participants," 704 of whom had already moved to New Hampshire, the project's target state.

Contact information
Free State Project, Inc. PO Box 1684 Keene, NH 03431

Phone: 888-377-2515 Website: http://www.freestateproject.com

Related SourceWatch articles

 * U.S. presidential election, 2004

External resources

 * Libertarian Party home page.
 * Libertarian Party of New Hampshire home page.

External articles

 * Jason P. Sorens, Announcement: The Free State Project, The Libertarian Enterprise, July 23, 2001.
 * Marego Athans, Libertarians seek a state to call their own, Baltimore Sun, February 23, 2003.
 * N.H. chosen by Free State group for libertarian revolution, wmtw.com, October 3, 2003. : "Some members of the Free State Project want to eliminate public schools, others will work to legalize medicinal marijuana, prostitution and restore gun rights. ... Project Vice President Elizabeth McKinstry said New Hampshire won because of low taxes, lean state government, local support for the movement and a constitution which protects citizens' rights to revolution and secession."
 * Jon Dougherty, 'Free State Project' seeks to restore liberty. Activists plan to move to 1 area, then 'implement the liberation', WorldNetDaily, October 14, 2003: "A win in a single vulnerable state means the 'cause' gains two U.S. senators, one or two members of Congress, a state governor and hundreds of local political positions. ... 'We could end state redistribution of wealth, repealing state taxes and wasteful government programs,... privatize education and utilities.... repeal laws regulating guns, drugs and other victimless crimes.... abolish asset forfeiture, abuses of eminent domain, inefficient regulations and state monopolies.' ... Ultimately, according to the FSP website, the newly won 'free state' would negotiate 'directly with the federal government for appropriate political autonomy.'"
 * Pam Belluck, "Libertarians Pursue New Political Goal: State of Their Own", New York Times, October 27, 2003.
 * Kate McCann, "State Project Balloting Concludes:Libertarian-Minded Group Votes on State to Which Members Will Relocate", Washington Post, September 22, 2003. (This is an Associated Press story).
 * Pam Martens, "The Far Right's Plot to Capture New Hampshire," CounterPunch, April 27, 2009.