Strange Country Ep. 287: Free Town Project

New Hampshire seemed like the perfect state to start a libertarian utopia. No sales or income tax, aversion to governmental interference and the motto “Live free or die.” But for residents of Grafton, it soon became un-BEAR-able. Do you see what I did there because I don’t. Join Strange Country cohosts Beth and Kelly as they share this remarkable tale of libertarian hijinks from the book A Libertarian Walks into a Bear by Matthew Hongoltz-Hetling.

Theme music: Big White Lie by A Cast of Thousands.

Cite your sources:

Austin, Elizabeth. “Libertarians Took Control of This Small Town. It Didn't End Well.” Washington Monthly, 30 August 2020, https://washingtonmonthly.com/2020/08/30/libertarians-took-control-of-this-small-town-it-didnt-end-well/. Accessed 27 July 2024.

 

Barry, Dan. “What Is the Free State Project?” The New York Times, 15 July 2022, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/15/us/politics/nh-free-state-project.html. Accessed 30 July 2024.

 

Bookman, Todd. “Libertarian activist sentenced to 8 years in prison for role in cryptocurrency money laundering scheme.” NHPR, 2 October 2023, https://www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2023-10-02/libertarian-activist-sentenced-to-8-years-in-prison-for-role-in-cryptocurrency-money-laundering-scheme. Accessed 30 July 2024.

 

Hongoltz-Hetling, Matthew. A Libertarian Walks Into a Bear: The Utopian Plot to Liberate an American Town (and Some Bears). PublicAffairs, 2020.

 

Malone, Clare. “What Does Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Actually Want.” The New Yorker, 5 August 2024, https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/08/12/robert-f-kennedy-jr-profile-presidential-campaign.

 

“Pastor Killed in Fire at 200-Year-Old Grafton Church.” nhpr, 14 January 2016, https://www.nhpr.org/post/pastor-killed-fire-200-year-old-grafton-church.

 

Sullivan, Adam. “Judge settles dispute over fire-ravaged church in New Hampshire.” WCAX 3, 2 May 2019, https://www.wcax.com/content/news/Judge-settles-dispute-over-fire-ravaged-church-in-New-Hampshire-509395891.html.

 

Sullivan, Adam. “New life for New Hampshire church destroyed by fire.” WCAX 3, 21 August 2019, https://www.wcax.com/content/news/New-life-for-New-Hampshire-church-destroyed-by-fire-557778101.html.