Libertarians Move In To Make A Small N.H. Town Even Smaller - Jack Rodolico, NPR:
March 9, 2014 - "Maureen O'Reilly beams with pride as she shows a visitor around Grafton, N.H., a town so small it doesn't even have a traffic light.
"'Have a look at this,' O'Reilly says, pointing to a postcard view of hilly rural New England. 'How beautiful is this? It's really pretty in the fall, really, really pretty.'
"But behind the beautiful view, locals are dividing into opposing camps. About 50 Libertarians have moved into Grafton from around the country, splitting the town over their push to shrink its government....
"About 15 years ago, a prominent Libertarian hatched the idea of moving Libertarians to New Hampshire, with the hope of having a big impact in a small state. They called it the Free State Project, and a handful of Free Staters settled in Grafton.
"O'Reilly was surprised by how quickly Free Staters started pushing their agenda.
"'Almost seems as if they walked in the door and started running for office and hold positions,' she says. 'It's not the typical way someone who's a New Englander does things.'
"Free Staters say Grafton should withdraw from the school district, cut the $1 million budget by 30 percent over three years, and carve Grafton out as a 'U.N.-free zone'....
"Even though Grafton has always had a Libertarian streak, Free Staters are a minority and locals have mostly blocked their agenda. Still, Free Stater Jeremy Olson is confident they could shift the balance if they reach out to locals."
Read more: http://www.npr.org/2014/03/09/288069880/libertarians-move-in-to-make-a-small-n-h-town-even-smaller
March 9, 2014 - "Maureen O'Reilly beams with pride as she shows a visitor around Grafton, N.H., a town so small it doesn't even have a traffic light.
"'Have a look at this,' O'Reilly says, pointing to a postcard view of hilly rural New England. 'How beautiful is this? It's really pretty in the fall, really, really pretty.'
"But behind the beautiful view, locals are dividing into opposing camps. About 50 Libertarians have moved into Grafton from around the country, splitting the town over their push to shrink its government....
"About 15 years ago, a prominent Libertarian hatched the idea of moving Libertarians to New Hampshire, with the hope of having a big impact in a small state. They called it the Free State Project, and a handful of Free Staters settled in Grafton.
"O'Reilly was surprised by how quickly Free Staters started pushing their agenda.
"'Almost seems as if they walked in the door and started running for office and hold positions,' she says. 'It's not the typical way someone who's a New Englander does things.'
"Free Staters say Grafton should withdraw from the school district, cut the $1 million budget by 30 percent over three years, and carve Grafton out as a 'U.N.-free zone'....
"Even though Grafton has always had a Libertarian streak, Free Staters are a minority and locals have mostly blocked their agenda. Still, Free Stater Jeremy Olson is confident they could shift the balance if they reach out to locals."
Read more: http://www.npr.org/2014/03/09/288069880/libertarians-move-in-to-make-a-small-n-h-town-even-smaller
No comments:
Post a Comment