my family is in a cult
It's called the Free State Project.
Wikipedia says the FSP is
an agreement among 20,000 libertarian activists to move to New Hampshire, where they will exert the fullest practical effort toward the creation of 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, demonstrating the benefits of liberty to the rest of the nation and the world.
Ok.
To me the FSP is something that has absolutely overwhelmed and pervaded the Condon household since my sophomore year of high school. There were dinners with scuzzy libertarian men who owned mail order bride services, were convicted tax evaders, or were just plain fucking crazy.
I have some problems with it.
Why are so many Free Staters borderline insane?
I really cannot answer that. I have to chalk it up to libertarian philosophy's uncanny ability to attract freaks, akin to socialist philosophies' inherent magnetism for assholes.
Why are none of the men attractive?
- Combination of being relatively out of touch with reality and their reliance on objectivism to get away with being hopelessly egocentric
- the inability to discuss politics without going off the anarchocapitalist deepend
- the relentless citation of conspiracy theories (hilarious)
- the Cartoon Network sense of humor
They..they like punk pop. And Southpark.
Did I mention I despise cartoons?
And while I'm at it: Why are the girls so pretty?
...........
Oh! Um..er..
heeHAA! won't somebody tread on me?
...........
Yeah yeah. I know. Feel free to retaliate. Hit me with your best shot.
The breeding prospects are pretty slim.
Otherwise, it is a sweet idea (and ideal), and a full community, complete with incessant infighting and mudslinging. But that is what makes a community fun.
oh dad.Free State Project
Reason blogs the "First 1000" FSP Pledge, faceless internet users balk
22 comments:
Not really a cult, thank you very much.
Now, growing up in the Condon household, that might explain your perceptions, knowing Tim. He's a cult unto himself.
The mail order bride guy: NOT in the FSP (tossed out in fact)
There are attractive men, but funny enough, most of them are married. In other words, you are likely looking at a very pre-selected group: the ones who aren't married, and thus not (as) attractive, and then wondering why that stat seems so disproportional.
If you are looking for 'normal', it's gonna be rare in the first place: those happy with the status quo, aka normality, likely aren't going to join the FSP. They'll want the wife and 2.3 kids, in a white picket fence house surrounded by neighbors who think the same way they do, not to rock the boat.
FSPers tend to be freethinking folks - whether they are religious or not (so we have freethinking atheists, freethinking christians, and freethinking pagans of all flavors)
As for why are the girls so pretty?
Their natural beauty shines thru, instead of the plastic culture the rest of the world lives in. My wife's a looker, but then I'm biased, for good reason.
And as for breeding chances being slim, tell that to Rep. Joel Winters, who met and married his wife since moving to NH a scant 3 years ago, and now has a son, and is a respected (and elected) member of the community. It's still early yet, but at any FSP get together, there are plenty of young kids of all ages.
Libertarian women are hot: I should know, I married one :)
I'd say there's a very vocal hard-core dozen or so "wack-a-loons" in the FSP. The majority of us don't get written up in newspapers, nor do we get arrested for tax evasion. We just work quietly within the system, run for office, that sort of thing. Many of our stories are over at http://freestateblogs.net
Oh, by the way... two single and (presumably) attractive Free-Stater guys are opening up a sports bar in Manchester, NH. Maybe you should pay 'em a visit sometime!
Seth, I have minimal disdain for libertarian normality.
That said, your freethinking buddies seem to have a boo-hoo chip on their shoulder towards the status quo and "normal."
Perhaps we should bridge the gap a little bit, or recognize that a supposed libertarian counterculture need not be intellectually subpar or borderline sensationalistic in, um, almost all of their views.
Also, I'm not quite sure why you point out freethinking folks having different religious backgrounds. Well. Great. Good..for..them...?
In the meantime, congratulations on the move, your nonplastic wife, and your contributions to the libertarian movement.
Please though, consider buying some pants other than earth-toned corduroys. Yuck.
I agree that there is sensationalisism and/or extremist in many libertarian circles, the FSP being no exception. I'm a strong believer in the 'moderate' approach, as are others out there.
But funny enough, only the extremes get any press coverage... the more 'out there' you are, the more press you get, and obversely: the less 'out there' the harder.
Re: "freethinking", I clarified the range, because the typical meaning of 'freethinkers' means something akin to 'rationalism to the point of atheism' these days, not just 'freely thinking individual who questions authority', which is how I meant it. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freethought
I must confess I do own at least one pair of earth-toned cords, though I tend toward jeans and t-shirts myself...
I don't know...Obama is pretty milquetoast and he's getting a lot of press..but then again..that is an entirely different beast.
I am in NH because of the FSP and I think that the FSP has of wack jobs. However there are 'normal' families moving all the time as well.
: )
Mackenzie... come to Porcfest with your dad... I will make sure you meet all the cute guys.
Well of course Tim's doty complains, as it is the weirdos who get all the press, including from within the family.
Adolescent rebellion is so predictible, if it wasn't the counterculture of the 60's rebelling against the man, then it was the young republicans rebelling against their hippie parents (e.g. Alex, Family Ties). So here we got Mackenzie predictibly rebelling against her not-quite-counter-culture dad.
Do you think her blog would get as much play if it said the opposite? - "My dad knows what he's doing and has a great plan, he has so many interesting people over to the house, that I find it an education just talking to them all. Wow this thing he's got going sure is great! I'm glad my dad isn't like everyone else!"
Naw! Boorrinngg!
Well, scuzzy libertarian men, are just scuzzy, whether libertarian or not, convicted tax evaders that comes with the territory almost by definition, and crazy is just plain fucking crazy.
Commentary carrying all the hallmarks of "I hate my life, and I hate what my dad makes me go through, and I wish my life was different!"
Considering the source, and motivation therefrom, this blog is a whole lotta heaping nothing.
Its just life, and how new adults try to make it special by being too cool to deal with it for what it really is.
Maybe it takes one to recognize one -- insanity, I mean. You don't seem all that happy, or normal, for that matter.
Ahhhaha Gary. A WHOLE LOT OF HEAPING NOTHING.
Waaah, waah.
That is quite a lot of rabid, passionate, rambling commentary for a whole lot of heaping nothing.
Is this adolscent rebellion? Really? I am a member of the Free State Project (not rebelling) and TECHNICALLY no longer an adolescent (ends at 20, allegedly).
So there's that.
As disappointing as it may be, I do not hate my life OR my parents OR libertarians. There goes that theory.
Just pointing out the silly stereotypical libertarian and his lack of a sense of humor or taste...and once again I am proven right.
You guys are a bunch of tightasses!
[Macenzie: Yeah yeah. I know. Feel free to retaliate. Hit me with your best shot.]
Aw comon Macenzie, you asked for it.
I do a whole lot of (rabid, passionate) commentary as a habit generally. Nuthin special here.
Anyway, my wife sez you are dead-on on your observations of the stereotypical libertarian. I asked her if she thought that the average libertarian starts out as an angry, anti-social person, who gravitates to libertarianism as a support group, or whether a libertarian proceeds from a conclusion of political outrage and finds the libertarian party as an outlet for his animous. She think the former.
Me, I don't know, it could be average libertarian.
I know I am the latter, I know that I am a moderate libertarian, possibly a little eccentric, but well aware of it; I could even pass for normal if I try hard enuf :^))
Also:
Personally, (if you have to typify them) I find the libertarians to be assholes and the socialist types to be freaks.
And I luv SouthPark, Family Guy, American Dad, Ren & Stimpy, and used to lub the Simpsons.
All of it irreverent and counter-milquetoast-culture, my favority kind of biting comedy.
My wife BTW hates all cartoons ;-0, and most sci-fi fantasy.
You two would probably get along famously!
http://varrin.com
Yeah, scuzzy, mail order bride, cultish... definitely... *sigh*. BTW, I actually like your dad... :)
V-
Your sent an email with a link to this post to some of us crazy FSP guys.
Unfortunately, I think you're right.
http://yoshiyoda.blogspot.com/2007/02/fsp-men-and-fsp-women.html
We libertarians do have quite a reputation of being crazy. I know a lot of these crazy folks.
I can assure you, however, that we are no less crazy than any other political group you find out there. My roommates listen to Michael Savage and take his word for gospel. Try that philosophy out for awhile and tell me that we're the only crazies out there. Really.
Of course, you shouldn't lower your standards just because you want to be with a libertarian guy, but you also shouldn't lower your standards just because you want an attractive guy.
Also, when among friends, libertarians are more likely to divulge their most sensationalist thoughts simply because they can. We all have our grandiose ideas - it's not fair to label that as the norm.
I assure you, there is a lot more out there than you are realizing.
bitch, please.
i am realizing plenty and not concerned with being fair when it comes to my personal opinions.
besides, why is it so difficult for yall to sense sarcasm and exagerration? give me a fucking break.
Hey Kenzie, could you tell Tim to uninstall his e-mail application? Thanks!
Btw, why not work out your man+liberty-hate issues by hanging out with Doug Stanhope over at his e-puke webboard? Great fun for all! You could be the Nancy to his Obama! Yay!
http://www.purefuckingevil.com/vomitorium/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=5
Hehe, Gary called you a "New Adult." Fits though. :D
Mackenzie said...
bitch, please.
i am realizing plenty and not concerned with being fair when it comes to my personal opinions.
besides, why is it so difficult for yall to sense sarcasm and exagerration? give me a fucking break.
Because you lack public performance art talent?
*oh snap*
Anyhoo, I need to address Gary T's loaded question: "starts out as an angry, anti-social person, who gravitates to libertarianism as a support group, or whether a libertarian proceeds from a conclusion of political outrage and finds the libertarian party as an outlet for his animous."
I prefer a life-positive view of liberty, such as Philip K Dick's concept of an Authentic Human:
"Objects, customs, habits and ways of life must perish so that the authentic human being can live."
"The authentic human being is one of us who instinctively knows what he should not do, and, in addition, he will balk at doing it."
http://academic.evergreen.edu/p/parjen08/progress/
http://users.ox.ac.uk/~ousfg/misc/pkd.html
Or Bucky Fuller's simple ethical rule for design scientists; his own "first do no harm" maxim: create maximum options!
Responsibilities of the Design Scientist
by Buckminster Fuller
Number one consideration on the part of the design scientist is the question: What can I do for other human beings that will not trespass on any humans nor frustrate any of the regenerative integrity of the environment?
What do I have the right to do that is going to affect other people? As an example, let's say that you don't know it, but I can see that something is going to fall on your head. I don't have time to warn you verbally so I just jump in and pull you out of the way as this thing comes crashing down. I don't think I am trespassing on you to arrange for you not to be killed. But what if you were to say, well, supposing I wanted to be killed? I would say that has to be your option. You didn't know that there was an option; I did, and so I have the responsibility to turn that option over to you. If you then want to jump out of the window, you can do that yourself.
The design scientist has the responsibility to increase the options of humanity, not to decrease them. I must always be sure that I am increasing your degrees of freedom. What I mean by degrees of freedom is directly related to the question, what is your life? And how many hours do you have of it? And how many of those hours are really free?
http://www.salsburg.com/design_science/design_science.html
Now does thinking these things make me creepy or freaky? Maybe just weird; maybe even an Outsider? I'm not conventionally attractive but I do have a long-hair mountain man charisma about me complete with streaks of premature white locks.
You need to find the funny here again Kenzie.
MAMMY...
blah blah blah blah blah blah blah. blaaaaaah blah blah blah. I don't think Gary T posted a question, and it seems your babbling is fairly irrelevant.
I lack public performance art talent? haa...well i suppose that's crystal clear.
It was the question he asked of his wife. blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah. I bet you're as bald as your dad.
Kyle's mom is a South Park reference. She's the mother of Kyle (both Jewish), and if you know anything about Jewish mothers....
I've got disagree with your comment on my blog. Libertarian women are the cutest.
This is great!
Would you like to do an interview about your father? ;)
I bet you have some great stories.
Are you gunna visit your Father in Grafton? I noticed he was at some town meetings not too long ago....
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