How Libertarians can attain political power | Eric Brakey | The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie
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Published 2024-07-10
0:00- Ad: The Dispatch
1:05- Introduction
2:01- The Free State Project: a place for 'the libertarian diaspora'
5:00- Free State Projects’ political wins in New Hampshire
8:38- Free State Projects’ cultural wins in New Hampshire
10:20- Brakey’s priorities for Free State Project
11:07- Who are Free Staters?
14:11- Libertarian movement’s internal tensions
18:15- 2024 election for libertarians
21:51- Ad: Bank On Yourself
23:43- Brakey’s history & accomplishments in Maine politics
26:15- Why are gun rights so important to libertarians?
27:06- Democrats & Republicans v Libertarians
29:20- Cannabis policy reform in Maine
30:47- Brakey’s history with Young Americans for Liberty
34:20- Are American elections rigged against Libertarians?
38:19- How to gauge Free State Project’s success?
reason.com/podcast/2024/07/10/eric-brakey-how-libe…
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Today's guest is Eric Brakey, the new executive director of The Free State Project, a nonprofit that has been working since 2001 to get small-government diehards to move to New Hampshire and make the Granite State a stronghold for libertarian ideas. Prior to becoming head of the Free State Project, Brakey was a Republican state senator in Maine, where he authored successful legislation that expanded gun rights, legalized over-the-counter birth control, and enacted Right To Try legislation. Reason's Nick Gillespie talks to Brakey about the state of the libertarian movement, how Ron Paul and Young Americans for Liberty shaped his worldview, and how he hopes to concentrate what he calls "the libertarian diaspora" in New Hampshire.
#podcast #libertarian #interview #election #antiwar
All Comments (21)
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the fact the population is decreasing in New Hampshire, yet more people of this mindset keep moving there, sounds good for the future
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The Libertarian Party will never be more than a debate club for those who say they are Constitutionalists but would gladly trade The Constitution AND The Bill of Rights for the legalization of Marijuana
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Brakey channeled Milton Friedman there for a moment: “I do not believe that the solution to our problem is simply to elect the right people. The important thing is to establish a political climate of opinion which will make it politically profitable for the wrong people to do the right thing. Unless it is politically profitable for the wrong people to do the right thing, the right people will not do the right thing either, or it they try, they will shortly be out of office.” - Milton Friedman
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Brakey is one of the best in the business. He's going to do great things with the Free State Project. Class act and a great guy.
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I've met Brakey. There was an AR-15 raffle at a fair in Maine. Seemed like a stand up guy.
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Great interview. That said, I suspect that this will likely only happen (on a large enough scale) after everything collapses. Thankfully, the duopoly has been working overtime to achieve just that.
: "Enjoy the decline, boys!" 🍻 -
it would be hilarious if the free state project had been in New Jersey
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Get NH to pass a RC employment protection law and wayy more people would be willing to move where libertarians have democratic power through numbers. But you simply can't compete with states that already have it if you don't.
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The FDA should be dissolved.
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Actually try to win an election would be a good place to start.
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I have completely had it with the Libertarian Party. In Arizona the Libertarian candidate failed to drop out of the governors race in 2020, taking votes that would have put Kari Lake over the top. I don't blame Libertarian incompetence and frivolousness; it was on purpose. And the Libertarian border plan is to OPEN IT COMPLETELY. So hard pass on Libertarian/Democrat liars.
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How is weed still illegal in the live free or die state?
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Oh yeah, this is gonna be good 😂
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The only way we will have power is if prospective voters have to pass an aptitude test. A test showing the ability to reason
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The wife wants cooler weather and I like to hike. Researching NH. Property tax though.
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Weather- location, location, location
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Maine would have been a better choice.
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Texas / Florida = better weather than NH. -bZj
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I'm not trying to boss people around in their bed rooms, but I also don't want people bringing children into their bedroom activities,or bringing their bedroom activities out into public.
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When you asked what Joe Biden could do to gain libertarians' votes, i had to wonder if you were going to mention pardoning Assange. Had to laugh when you did.
