Electoral Reform

[kandrathe]

As a somewhat tinfoil-hat-type observation linking this to the other thread, it is interesting that the state chosen for the Free State Project, New Hampshire, happens to be the only state with an *explicit* (rather than, as Occhi argues, 9th-10th amendment derived) right to resist the government, should it cease to defend the rights of the people, and all other avenues of redress have bene exhausted.

Libertarians rejoice, you have found your haven, and its name is New Hampshire. "Live free or die" indeed.

-Jester

I think one of the most interesting things about New Hampshire is that many of the provisions of it's government are codified into their constitution. Such as, the legislatures pay is set at $200 and it would require a constitutional amendment voted on by the people to change it. This results in the politicians in New Hampshire being normal citizens who need to lay in the beds they make, and are interested in public service.

Look at New Hampshire's Taxes! I mean, how could they function without the excessive taxation most other states impose? All the other states surrounding New Hampshire are in the top ten tax levying states. But NH's burden is nationwide ranked at 49 out of 50 at the state level, and 20 out of 50 after adding federal taxes. And they seem to have a high quality of life.

The first act of the new legislature in my state was to vote themselves a pay raise in the form of $77 (House) and $96 (Senate) per day expense account (on top of their $31000 salary for 120 days of a legislative session). The unconstitutional rub on this was that if the legislator voted "no" on the per diem raise they are denied it, while those voting "yes" get the raise. So, their pay, including per diem, if extended to the entire year would be $125,000. Most of our legislature also work in other professions outside of the session, but still feel the need to engorge themselves at the public trough.

[Sarcasm]I believe Minnesota's legislatures new goal is to reclaim the #1 spot as the most tax punitive state in the union. Perhaps we could work on changing our state electoral system to be more parliamentary as well. We do this in hopes of encouraging State growth by attracting Canadians who are looking for a better climate, and still desire a highly socialist state and tyrannical government oppression. [/Sarcasm] ;-)