Watching the documentary Cryptopia: Bitcoin, Blockchains, and Future of the Internet yesterday, I saw so many familiar faces, people I have interacted with and/or invited to speak at Free State events over the years–Roger Ver, Tone Vays, Vitalik Buterin, Andreas Andreopoulos, and more–I was reminded of how long I’ve been flirt-skirting the crypto community. A quick online search brought up a past coverage in Bitcoin Magazine, so I thought I’d share a couple.
“A Chat with The Quill Queen a.k.a. Carla Gericke,” Bitcoin Magazine (2014):
“I come from a long lineage of people who don’t take crap, and who moved time and time again for more freedom. My forefathers left Europe for more freedom in Africa. They then left the Cape in the Great Trek to get away from the British. I left South Africa for the promise of a brighter future in America. I left California for New York for more opportunity. I left NYC for New Hampshire to pursue Liberty in Our Lifetime. MY lifetime. Before signing up for the FSP, I researched other options–moving back to South Africa, going to Belize, Uruguay, Argentina, the informed know the drill–but ultimately I decided I wanted to make a stand. I wanted to held build a community of like-minded people to see if we can keep one little slice of America free. We are turning the tide, we picked the right state, and now all we need is more…”
Bitcoin At Porcfest, Part 0: Exploring Boston And New Hampshire (2013):
But what is this Free State Project that has let Bitcoin consume it to such a great extent? The underlying objective is simple. In 2001, a number of libertarian activists, disappointed with their failures to get anyone elected inside the United States’ Republican and Democrat-dominated federal government, decided to try a different strategy: find a state that is (i) already very free in both personal and economic matters, and (ii) has a low population, allowing for smaller groups to achieve significant change, and convince 20,000 people to move to that state to actively influence local politics in a libertarian direction. New Hampshire proved to be the perfect candidate; its current population is only 1.3 million, allowing 20,000 movers to have significant control over state politics simply by playing the dominant and evenly matched Republicans and Democrats against each other, and as far as freedom is concerned one must only look as far as the state’s motto: “Live Free or Die”.
The libertarian appeal of New Hampshire can be seen from the moment one drives in; on one highway leading into the state, on the border there is a sign stating that wearing seatbelts is mandatory for those under 18 – that is, unlike every other state, only for those under 18. Read more from Vitalik Buterin on his first PorcFest experience…
Buy YOUR PorcFest Tix today! Prices will go up April 1st, and it will never be cheaper!