EMT, author, and activist Alu Axelman is a rising star in the liberty community. Today, I get to hear his “Coming to New Hampshire” story, and he walks us through his growing body of books covering various liberty topics from due process to independence.
NH Independence
A discussion about the advantages of each state choosing to stay or leave the Union with:
Daniel Miller, father of the modern TEXIT movement
Steve Axelman, Vice President of CALEXIT
Alu Axelman, President of the Foundation for NH Independence
Carla Gericke, moderator
Video thread:
— Libertarian Party NH (@LPNH) January 21, 2022
Free Stater and libertarian activist @CarlaGericke was on ? in her testimony on New Hampshire Independence (CACR32)
“I am testifying today in support of CACR32 because it should always be in the hands of the people, how they are governed.” pic.twitter.com/mu90Bsd82z
Honorable Committee Members,
Thank you for your time today. My name is Carla Gericke, but my friends call me Queen Quill. I am an immigrant to America and became a US citizen in 2000, having to take a citizen’s test, where, you know, New Americans learn about the Constitution and the enumerated things the federal government is supposed to be limited to doing, which isn’t supposed to be much.
I am an author, activist, and attorney. I am a political refugee to New Hampshire, moving here in 2008 as part of the Free State Project. I was the Republican nominee for NH Senate in District 20, and received 45% of the vote in the last election. I’ll be running again. [DONATE!]
I am a proud Free Stater, and, like many, but not all Free Staters, I support NH Independence.
I am testifying today in SUPPORT of CACR 32 because it should always be in the hands of the people how they are governed.
CACR 32 simply states: “Are you in favor of amending the first part of the constitution by inserting after article 7 a new article to read as follows:
The federal government has failed us. It no longer follows the Constitution. The federal government ushers in unconstitutional wars. The federal government hurts our fellow Granite Staters with its War on Drugs, which just makes bad personal choices, worse. The federal government, colluding with the Federal Reserve, makes us all poorer due to inflation caused by money printing. Face it, Granite Staters are being abused by DC.
What do we advise victims to do when they are being abused?
TO LEAVE.
Which means, we have the right to ask for a DIVORCE. This is all today’s proposed amendment is: an opportunity–a DEMOCRATIC OPPORTUNITY–for Granite Staters to decide whether our relationship with the federal government is worth salvaging.
I say it is NOT, and everyone should know, we would ALL be better off if we went our separate ways.
What are we taught about abusers?
They will tell you, you can never leave.
They will tell you they will change.
They will tell you it’s your fault.
Abusers, and the federal government, are gaslighting liars who cannot be trusted. We all know the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, and it is YOUR duty to at least create an OPPORTUNITY for Granite Staters to DECIDE our own destinies.
As an independent nation state, NH will be prosperous and peaceful, along the lines of small, successful countries like Lichtenstein, Luxembourg, or Switzerland. We would have four times the size of Iceland’s population. We would easily be able to work with our neighbors to trade, much like the countries do in the Schengen Area in Europe. Many American retirees already receive their social security pensions in foreign countries like Mexico.
No future challenge related to independence is insurmountable: Where there is a will, there is a way.
Let’s see if there is a WILL.
There are many compelling reasons to support a #NATIONALDIVORCE and I encourage folks who are curious to visit the Foundation for NH Independence’s website. I serve on this federally recognized 501c3 educational nonprofit’s board and at nhindependence.org you will find for hundreds of reasons why YOU should support a free and independent New Hampshire, not least of which we would all be SIGNIFICANTLY wealthier, probably on average about $25,000, if we could keep our hard earned federal income taxes.
Today, your ONLY duty is to democracy, which every single one of you claims to support. YOU need to vote in favor of this OPPORTUNITY because it is NOT up to you. It is up to individual Granite Staters.
We are called the live free or die state. When we become independent, we will also be the Live Free and THRIVE state. Afford us the opportunity to TRY.
Thank you for your time, I’d be happy to answer questions.
On January 7th, 2021, together with hubby, Louis, and our rescued dog, Nellie, I attend the rally outside the state house while Chris Sununu was being sworn-in in secret inside. For weeks, King Sununu, who now rules New Hampshire by decree, has been perpetuating the Big Lie that “armed protestors” made it impossible to safely handle a public swearing-in ceremony. Everyone involved, Chris included, knows the untruths being perpetuated here, but be it as it may, the fact is, Chris Sununu is unwilling to face his constituents. That says everything I need to know about his character.
In Depth NH covered the rally and swearing in, and you can read more HERE.
Patch NH covered it HERE, and includes the following quote from me:
“The question we have is what do we do next,” Gericke asked. “I am a peaceful person but I am very much in favor of problem-solving and I think we all understand we have a serious problem. If our politicians will not even face us … when our politicians suspend the U.S. and New Hampshire constitutions … then he, Chris Sununu, has opened the door to a discussion of New Hampshire independence and peaceful secession. If we cannot drain the swamp, then we need to take matters into our own hands … peacefully.”
I wrote a wrap up of the rallies that took place at the State House yesterday, April 20th. You can read about it at Shire Liberty News.
"As Granite Staters, we have to decide. We have to decide whether we want to walk this path towards socialism and its undeniably disastrous ends, or whether New Hampshire’s ‘Live Free or Die’ ethos is the very thing that makes our home so uniquely awesome, and that we need to fight to preserve our freedoms.
I believe ‘free markets, free people, and free enterprise’ is worth preserving. I believe our natural rights are worth fighting for. That’s why I am running for office."
EDIT on 4/20/19 to include full article below:
Yesterday was one of those epic days for pro-liberty activists in New Hampshire. My day: Get driver’s license renewed at DMV and pay $50 for the “privilege to travel” (boo!); make protest signs; don my “this is my protest sock” socks; go to rallies at the state house; then, dinner and a show.
April 20th is traditionally the day when cannabis culture is celebrated at the steps of the state house. Yesterday, in addition, a teachers’ group hosted a demonstration called “Enough” about selective solutions to gun violence in schools. (This is a polite way of saying they weren’t exactly “down” with any pro-gun suggestions.)
I gave a lot of thought to the sign I wanted to take. Something that would get people thinking, hopefully spur conversation, and work at both rallies. I finally settled on “Pro Gun/Anti War.”
At the 420 rally, cannabis activists gave speeches, including Rich Paul, Rick Naya, Representative Caleb Dwyer (LP). I spoke about the importance of personal responsibility, how the federal government’s marijuana policies have hurt ordinary people, and how states’ rights on cannabis (and other things) should prevail. I mentioned my Senate race, and asked people to come talk to me if they had questions about my sign.
Supporters came over afterwards to say they loved it, got it, and wanted to help with my campaign. The first, best thing you can do is tell your friends and neighbors that a real choice exists this November, and that it is important to vote for liberty candidates, even if, or especially if you don’t usually vote.
Voters in District 20 (Manchester Wards 3, 4, 10, 11, and Goffstown) have a choice this November between a ten term incumbent the NHLA calls a “Constitutional Threat,” or me, an emancipator of the individual, a protector of the smallest minority… someone who cares about YOU, the taxpayer. Because I am one.
Before I arrived, according to the honorable Glen Aldrich, this happened: “A state trooper came out and told everyone to leave, many started walking away, Rick Naya tells everyone to come back then tells the trooper cannabis is decriminalized and come give him a ticket and go away. The trooper walked back into state house never to return.”
We held a moment of silence to honor the millions of people who have been harmed by the War on Drugs and then, as is custom, people sparked up at the stroke of 4:20PM.
I wandered over to the “Enough!” rally being held near Main Street. I stood towards the back with my sign, and was joined by a man whose sign read: “Scared of Guns in NH? Move to Massachusetts, ‘The Nanny State!’” The “Enough!” folks didn’t like this and swarmed around us, trying to block our signs. We were joined by a few additional counter-protestors, including a man with a baby swaddled to his chest who said he was glad we were there. “Can I stand with you?” "Yes, please!"
As I listened to the competing chants coming from the different camps–the cannabis activists demanding, “Leave Us Alone!” and the teachers chanting, “Enough!” with calls to “Do Something”–I was struck by this incongruity.
THIS is the battle for the heart of New Hampshire.
You can organize society in two ways: Top down (government as a false god, dictating everything) or bottom up (individualism with a few ground rules). Here we had two competing groups feeling equally strongly about their approach: The teachers favoring socialistic answers, more restrictions of INHERENT rights, more nanny statism; the stoners favoring a hands-off approach, desiring less police- and nanny statism.
And there’s the rub: As Granite Staters, we have to decide. We have to decide whether we want to walk this path towards socialism and its undeniably disastrous ends, or whether New Hampshire’s “Live Free or Die” ethos is the very thing that makes our home so uniquely awesome, and that we need to fight to preserve our freedoms.
I believe “free markets, free people, and free enterprise” is worth preserving. I believe our natural rights are worth fighting for. That’s why I am running for office.
I left Concord behind to attend a birthday party of Christine B, the FSP’s former events’ director and PorcFest XI producer. A dozen or so “liberty ladies” met for dinner at Piccolos in downtown Manchester, and then headed to The Palace Theater to see “Mamma Mia!”
At dinner, I mentioned to the wife of a core activist of the New Hampshire Liberty Alliance how much I appreciate the hard work he puts in to creating the weekly Gold Standard that makes pro-liberty recommendations on bills. This dedicated wife teared up, grateful that someone had noticed her husband’s tireless work.
This reminded me how important it is to thank your liberty activists early and often! Tell them you appreciate them! Show your support by donating to your favorite Shire liberty causes: the Free State Project, the New Hampshire Liberty Alliance, the Get Involved PAC, the Foundation for New Hampshire Independence, and my race.
The sold-out musical was fun. Set to the music of ABBA, the audience clapped and sang along. During the rendition of “The Winner Takes It All,” I could barely keep down my own tears.
“I don’t wanna talk
If it makes you feel sad
And I understand
You’ve come to shake my hand
I apologize
If it makes you feel bad
Seeing me so tense
No self-confidence
But you see
The winner takes it all
The winner takes it all
So the winner takes it all
And the loser has to fall
Throw a dice, cold as ice
Way down here, someone dear
Takes it all, has to fall
It seems plain to me.”
If it’s true that the winner takes it all–I’d quibble and say in a free society, where free markets function properly, voluntary exchange benefits ALL parties–then, let’s make sure we win! Our future as Granite Staters of a free state depends on it!
Stay up to date by following SLN and my senate Facebook pages.
Donate today or to avoid fees, send checks to:
Carla Gericke for NH Senate
497 Hooksett Road #134
Manchester, NH, 03104
Please include your name, mailing address, occupation and business/employer city. (Sorry, it’s the bureaucracy!)
Thanks for your support! Let’s win!
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