The Free View-- weblog of a presidential candidate

The Free State Project (plus some rambling thoughts on my campaign)

I'm a few days late on my promise to talk more about The Free State Project.

The idea behind The Free State Project is deceptively simple. The plan is to amass 20,000 serious libertarians who are willing to move to an agreed-upon small-population state and, essentially, take it over.

Simple enough, and surprisingly feasible when you think about it. They're limiting their choices to states with a population of 1.5 million or less, and some quick math tells me that probably less than 500,000 people in even the biggest of those states actually vote. Which makes 20,000 like-minded voters a powerful swing vote. More importantly, these are serious libertarians, as I mentioned. They are going to be running for office in droves-- my guess is that there would be a Libertarian on the ballot for every single elected office in the state within a year or two, with the most promising campaigns enjoying the enthusiastic financial support of 20,000 free-staters. Their ability to get initiatives on the ballots, both statewide and locally, would be comprehensive. their ability to recruit and grow would be phenomenal. It's not at all unthinkable that they could turn a state libertarian within 10 years, during which time they would surely become a growing haven for emigrating libertarians from around the country.

When I first heard about The free State Project and checked out their web site, I had the same reaction a lot of people probably have: I chuckled, thought it was a funny and interesting idea, and probably a good one. But I didn't take it too seriously -- I filed it under "keep an eye on it and see where it goes".

At the California Libertarian Party Convention last week I met Jason Sorens, founder of The Free State Project. I'm pretty much sold. I'm certainly convinced that it will happen, and that it's a good idea. These folks aren't fooling around -- they're taking it very seriously, and strategically-- analyzing the various states in every way they can. The state is going to be chosen by mail ballot once 5,000 people have signed up, and then once it's chosen, people will start flowing there, with recruiting continuing until 20,000 have signed up (and probably continuing on informally for long after that). There are 2,700 or so signed up now, if I recall correctly. They anticipate reaching 5,000 this year I think. I'm starting to think about joining in, but I'm a little divided, partly because of the geographical considerations (it's probably going to be either Maryland, Delaware, New Hampshire, or something like Wyoming), partly because I'd like to remain a California resident through 'til the '08 election (for political reasons), and partly because I'm still absorbing the whole idea. It's pretty radical stuff.

I dunno...having been a California resident for 11 years would be a good thing to have on my resume in the '08 campaign. Without that, I'd basically be campaigning as being from wherever the Free State is, plus Massachusetts, where I grew up. California would just be somewhere I had lived for a few years...which doesn't carry much clout in comparison. Plus, I genuinely like California. I don't live here just for the Electoral College votes. :-) If I had to vote for my favorite state, California would win hands down.

I could always move to the Free State after the '08 election. One of my possible plans in preparing for Election 2016 (if I don't win in '08) is to win local and state-level elected offices between '08 and '16. In a Free State with 20,000 die-hard libertarians, and with the name recognition coming from the '08 race, it's possible I could move through the ranks pretty well in 8 years. Mayor or City Councilman after 2 or 3 years, state assembly or Governor after that term...something like that. All depending on terms of office and election years for the offices, of course. I may not go that route at all...if I don't win in '08, I plan to "fill in the blanks" in my candidacy over the next 8 years, in whatever way I think will make the greatest improvement in that time. I will probably get a law degree then, I will write books, will try to have a talk radio or TV show, and so on. Running for office may or may not fit in that mix. I won't know until the election's over probably. It's all heavy-duty conjecture at this point.