Freedom to Travel Event, Part 2

[Russell Kanning]

That will bring back good memories of LAX and the San Diego Zoo
I like the idea.

[Kat Kanning]

Is it OK if I dress like a Hare Krishna?

I wanted someone to go with him and dress like Obi-One and when they ask to see his ID, you could wave your hand and say, "You don't need to see his identification."

[foreverfree]

So you can run into a lot of interesting situations in a week at the airport.

I am new here and am interested in this whole airport thing....What are they doing at that place!?  We have the right to fly without be intruded on!!!!

[Dreepa]

Is it OK if I dress like a Hare Krishna?

I wanted someone to go with him and dress like Obi-One and when they ask to see his ID, you could wave your hand and say, "You don't need to see his identification."

That is great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Pat K]

Is it OK if I dress like a Hare Krishna?

I wanted someone to go with him and dress like Obi-One and when they ask to see his ID, you could wave your hand and say, "You don't need to see his identification."

That is great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah LOL I spit a little soda on the keyboard reading that.

[Dave Ridley]

Kat will be putting together a flyer before the event and would love ideas for what to put on it. We also could use as many friendly freedom lovers to spread the word at the airport.

Good, remind me to pick some up from you guys before the 11th

[Dave Ridley]

Just for the record the quote below and some of the other quotes listed as "DadaOrwell"  are actualy quotes from RBarnes on Merrimackforum.org

<<Getting yourselves arrested in protests in which you don?t have a vast majority of the public supporting you on will accomplish nothing.>>

I am much more supportive of all these protests than Barnes is.

[JonM]

More coverage from the Portsmouth Herald, with a Concord Monitor byline . . .

Libertarians push limits of law

[KBCraig]

More coverage from the Portsmouth Herald, with a Concord Monitor byline . . .

Libertarians push limits of law

Surprising comments from Gorman.

The key, of course, is that you need both publicity and traditional politics. You can talk to your reps all you want, but unless you get the publicity to get others on their case, nothing will change. And you can do all the publicity events you want, but unless you take advantage of it and follow up with the legislature, the law won't change.

Kevin

[JonM]

I'm glad Russel is such an affable guy, cause if anyone is paying attention this part should make his life interesting.

Such advice holds little attraction for Kanning. He claims not to have paid federal income tax since 1998 and drives without a valid driver?s license because he thinks it?s a nuisance. He?s considering burning his Social Security card. The idea of speaking before the Legislature disgusts him.

"I wish there weren?t things like government because they just get in the way of us living our lives," he said. "I don?t want to have to deal with it at all."

[Russell Kanning]

Libertarians push limits of law

By Daniel Barrick
Concord Monitor
   

CONCORD - This Saturday, Russell Kanning will attempt to board a flight from Manchester to Philadelphia, carrying nothing but a Bible and a copy of the Declaration of Independence. He doesn't expect to get very far.

In what he calls an act of civil disobedience, Kanning, a 35-year-old accountant from Keene and a staunch libertarian, will refuse to show identification to airline officials or submit to a security search. But even if he's barred from his flight, Kanning hopes his actions will highlight what he considers overly burdensome state intrusion.

"They're not going to be happy I'm doing this," Kanning said. "But people shouldn't have to go through all the hassles we have to go through. They just want to control us."

Kanning's performance at Manchester Airport will be the latest in a series of public protests that libertarians here and elsewhere are using to promote their belief in individual freedom and limited government.

Last month, a Newmarket man spent a night in jail after he filed a friend's fingernails without a license from the state cosmetology board. The man, Mike Fisher, made sure to reap maximum publicity for the stunt, telling police, state officials, and local news outlets about his plans ahead of time. Unlicensed manicuring is a misdemeanor in New Hampshire.

"Normally, we would like to handle this kind of situation with a warning," said Lt. Jay Brown of the Concord Police Department, which handled Fisher's arrest. "But this individual was asked to stop and when he did not stop, we arrested him."

Other planned demonstrations include starting a private mail service, to call attention to the federal government's monopoly on first-class mail delivery, and selling bottles of liquor, in defiance of state liquor laws. A crew of libertarians in Kentucky plans to serve alcohol to an underage military veteran next month, letting local police know ahead of time for maximum exposure.

"Libertarians have spent so much time complaining about government, but civil disobedience is a path to actually fixing things," Kanning said. "Who knows what this might inspire?"

But enthusiasm for such public displays isn't shared throughout New Hampshire's libertarian community. Some libertarians dismiss protesters like Kanning and Fisher as publicity hounds who risk turning people off with their stunts.

"This kind of protesting is non-productive, counter-productive, and in my opinion is quite sophomoric and egotistical in its approach," said Don Gorman, a former libertarian state representative from Deerfield. "Individuals can pursue the cause of liberty as they see fit, but the way to accomplish those goals is by working with the establishment."

Increasingly visible protests come as libertarians of all stripes seek a more prominent platform in New Hampshire. The Free State Project earned national headlines last year when its members settled on New Hampshire as the setting for its experiment in coordinated pro-liberty living. The project's leaders hope to move 20,000 like-minded libertarians to the state in the next few years, fostering an environment of limited government. They say hundreds have already made the move.

New Hampshire "is really where it's happening," said Fisher, who moved to the state a year ago as part of the Free State Project. "We've all come here to take part in this. More and more, we are starting to translate our ideas into reality, and people aren't going to be able to ignore it anymore."

John Babiarz, chairman of the New Hampshire Libertarian Party, said such an approach represented a generational shift in libertarian thinking.

"A decade ago, we tried to make changes by lobbying politicians and talking to people, and we got nowhere," Babiarz said. "The newer breed of younger people are making the same arguments, but instead of through the State House, they're doing it in public by creating a public spectacle. As long as it's done peacefully, it makes for great political theater and it brings the issue into the news."

Like all political parties, Babiarz said, the Libertarian Party includes both purists and pragmatists. The two sides may disagree over tactics while still sharing the same goals.

Critics in the movement say libertarians can have a bigger impact by working with the existing power structures. Gorman, for example, leads tours of the State House for libertarians who want to see government from the inside. He encourages his students to meet their local representatives, observe the lobbying process and submit their own legislation. He said he's already grooming potential candidates for next year's elections.

Staged protests might make sense in oppressive police states, Gorman said. But in New Hampshire, the relatively relaxed political environment make such displays unnecessary.

"This is not a closed society where it's difficult to reach your elected official, as it is in a lot of states," Gorman said. "If you want to talk to the governor, walk into the chamber at the next council meeting and do it."

His advice for frustrated libertarians: "Your first job is to be a good citizen. Get involved in the Boy Scouts, in local boards and committees, in the volunteer fire department. Seek political office, if you like, and bring your philosophy into the realm of government."

Such advice holds little attraction for Kanning. He claims not to have paid federal income tax since 1998 and drives without a valid driver's license because he thinks it's a nuisance. He's considering burning his Social Security card. The idea of speaking before the Legislature disgusts him.

"I wish there weren't things like government because they just get in the way of us living our lives," he said. "I don't want to have to deal with it at all."

[Kat Kanning]

Surprising comments from Gorman.

No, and he talks that way in person.  It is a little surprising to have him of all people call someone "egotistical".  He's the reason I have nothing to do with the NHLA.

[Russell Kanning]

Nice catch JonM.....the guy did a pretty good article because he spent enough time to get a feel for what is going on.

I purposely told him about other ways I don't cooperate with the government.....they just don't do anything about it.....that is why we have to step it up a little to force the action some.

[John]

More coverage from the Portsmouth Herald, with a Concord Monitor byline . . .

Libertarians push limits of law

SSSSSWWWWEET!

Nice coment by John Babiarz regarding a "new breed".

[Russell Kanning]

 "Your first job is to be a good citizen. Get involved in the Boy Scouts, in local boards and committees, in the volunteer fire department. Seek political office, if you like, and bring your philosophy into the realm of government."

"I'm glad we have people to tell us what our job is"-Kat Dillon

I don't want to bring any of my life "into the realm of government"