There are two kinds of people in the liberty movement whom I deem worthy of the ambition: those who fit the Free State Project and those who should move to the unincorporated South.
The rest should argue over bylaws in Hell—or New York City.
I jest… sort of.
Two Paths for Liberty
But to the point: a suburbanite who wants the conveniences of city living and craft beer while fighting city hall should move to New Hampshire. Those who want to homestead without huge property taxes and regulations—and who want to build communities capable of resisting the advance of the administrative and surveillance state—should move to an unincorporated town in Alabama.
Neither path is inherently better than the other. Both are worthy endeavors. But your personality, commitment, and goals will determine which one fits you.
Lifestyle and Environment
If you’re a tech guy who wants to walk to the coffee shop, grab your hipster brew on the way to the office, and meet friends at the brewery afterward, you’d probably hate everything about my life once the romanticism met the manure.
Conversely—and with fewer adjectives—I would be just as out of place in Manchester.
Someone—I can’t remember who—called the rural homesteading vision I’m describing the Free County Project. That’s as good a name as any.
Building Intentional Communities
I’m a bit nervous to really push the idea because I don’t want my way of life transformed by outsiders who only think they want it too.
But the pragmatist in me realizes that if we don’t intentionally build communities of free-minded homesteaders, my fight will eventually be with the city, the county, or the state anyway.
I’d rather take my chances with people who love liberty.
So which are you?
A bylaws nerd?
A Free Stater?
Or a homesteader?
Whichever you are, I’d love to get to know you and help build something worth defending.
Socials:
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Facebook: Mike Shaner | Writing The Revolution | Voluntary Alabama | Black Market Cattle
And if you’d like to support what I’m building, subscribe to the Black Market Report at the Black Market Cattle website—and pick up a T-shirt while you’re there.
Related Merchandise
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About the Author
Mike Shaner is the founder of Black Market Cattle Company and River Cade Farms. He writes about faith, liberty, food freedom, family, self-reliance, rural life, and building outside centralized systems.