A well-known writer/traveler recently described this state as follows:
"This giant place is filled with people determined to live as free as possible of others' intervention. [This state] may have served as the incubator for the behavior now termed politically incorrect. They despise being herded; if they were sheep, they would never go off the cliff together. More than likely, they'd trample the shepherd."
- This state has the 4th lowest total population, and the 2nd lowest voting-age population of our ten candidate states. Had 20,000 FSP'ers voted there in 2000, they would have comprised 6.6% of total voters casting a ballot..
- In this state, as of 2000, those voters registered as "unaffiliated," "non-partisan," and "other," outnumbered those voters registered as Republican and Democrat combined: 245,379 to 192,214. That's a whole lot of politically "homeless" voters who may be looking for something new and different!
- This state has the country's largest third party (in-state only), with over 17,000 registered voters in 2002, and with some state districts returning up to 25% of registered voters affiliated with this liberty-friendly party. A former Republican governor of this state switched to this party in mid-term, thus this party has had members in the state's highest office.
- This state's LP has the equivalent of Major Party status, and slightly over 6,000 registered voters. If an alliance could be formed between the state LP and the above party, one that might appeal to the state's large number of politically "homeless" voters, a formidable political machine would be in the making. No other state offers us as many potential allies and sympathetic voters.
- It would take only 21 seats to control this state's legislature.
- This state has the initiative and referendum, excellent tools for working around stubborn legislatures, particularly since they are effective at generating publicity for issues that might otherwise get buried in the legislature.
- This state permits the possession of marijuana in one's home for personal use.
- This state has historically supported "small government" candidates by a high margin (70% in 2000).
- Over 40% of this state's population is located in one major city, (over 200,000 in the immediate area), providing FSP'ers with a chance for big city amenities and making it easy to reach the voters in such a compact area. Add the state's two other small cities and you have over 60% of the state's population in just three areas. This would be a great advantage for the purpose of campaigning.
- This state has the lowest overall tax burden, as a percentage of income, in the nation, and is one of only two states in the country lacking both a state income and sales tax.
- This state's governor and legislature worked together this past Spring to defeat income and sales tax proposals and to slash government spending to the greatest extent in recent years.
- This state's legislature recently passed a resolution authorizing state law enforcement officials to deny assistance to federal agencies where citizen's rights are concerned and there is no clear evidence of wrong-doing. This was done in response to the USA Patriot Act. The legislature also called upon Congress to revise the Patriot Act to eliminate its threats to civil liberties. The city council of this state's largest city also recently passed a resolution condemning the Patriot Act.
- This state does not require a permit to carry a concealed weapon, and has an active gun culture.
- This state's homeschooling environment is the best of all of our ten candidate states. It does not require homeschoolers to report to the state, register a curriculum, or take attendance. Recently, school system officials in the state's largest city were trying to figure out why enrollment had declined, but they were unable to do so, partly because they don't know exactly how many children are homeschooled or in private school.
- This state has the lowest percentage of people living there who were actually born in-state, thus it is used to receiving outsiders, and, in fact, it depends upon them.
- This state ranks #1 for per-capita income.
- This state receives over 1.4 million visitors per year - from all over the world. That's a lot of people who might go back home and spread word of what is being done should the FSP choose this state.
- This state has an extensive international border and an enormous coastline, one far enough away from the major population centers and infrastructure to minimize concerns of foreign infiltration should the FSP succeed in reducing scrutiny of the comings and goings of travelers and ordinary people.