This being the first Raffle Permit ever sought from the Board of Selectmen, they did sign off on Ned’s permit and stated they would sort out their policy on Raffle Permits in the future. It also came to light at the meeting that the Chocorua Public Library is currently holding a raffle without the appropriate governmental blessings via a Raffle Permit.

In an effort to persuade the Board of Selectmen into not participating in assisting the state government in preserving their gambling monopoly, and to support the un-permitted raffle being put on by the Chocorua Public Library, LiveFreeAndComply.org is announcing its own Illegal Liberty Raffle:

Up for grabs is an original 1844 American Letter Mail Company stamp in excellent condition. In the spirit of government monopolies such as the NH Lotto, the American Letter Mail Company was founded by an interesting character named Lysander Spooner in an effort to challenge the US Postal Service’s unethical monopoly on mail delivery. As with most of those who choose not to comply with government rules, he and his business were rather vigorously put to rest with the enforcement of the Private Express Statutes, which make it unlawful to compete with the US Postal Service; but ’tis an inspiring story of a cheeky fellow and a good example of the typical response of government.

Lottery tickets are on sale for $10 per ticket, though only $5 if you’re under 16 in an effort not to comply with RSA 287-A:4. Raffle tickets will be printed on plain raffle tickets, in conflict with RSA 287-A:3. So as not to comply with RSA 287-A:1 II. (b), the proceeds from this raffle will be solely utilized to provide lavish and luxurious niceties for the editors of LiveFreeAndComply.org, and for no charitable reasons whatsoever. Please contact info@livefreeandcomply.org to arrange to buy tickets.

Should you desire to support another good cause, voluntary donations through a raffle are a great way to fund the Chocorua Public Library, and much preferable to library funding acquired through involuntary taxation. Hopefully this gives the Selectmen two positive reasons to not participate with the state in hassling local charities with another layer of bureaucracy to deal with.

Update: [Selectmen Go Crazy Regulating Local Charities] – The Tamworth Selectmen, professionals at sitting indefinitely on positive actions they could take, swiftly move at their 11/9/09 meeting to start helping the state enforce their gambling monopoly and cause more paperwork problems for local non-profits.

“I’d like to say, that as a resident of Tamworth, that I’m pretty disappointed.”

“And her [referring to Cassandra Pearce]: incredibly rude of you to laugh at somebody while they’re standing up here. I don’t know how your mother raised you, but it’s polite to treat people the way you want to be treated. Very, very rude.”

“I think that you guys are supposed to reflect the residents of this town and you don’t. The residents of this town have been amazing since I’ve been here. You three [Farnum, Roberts, Pearce], on the other hand, have not. They are helpful, they are kind, they are polite, they are understanding – and they span every generation, young couples that bought their homes the same time I did, and older people who live next door to me: unbelievable people. You three, on the other hand, do not do a good job of representing the people of this town.” – Well, on the other hand, when most of the constituents the Selectmen see are those that are avidly involved in local government, various town committee’s, and such, rather than those folks who are busy with 9-5 jobs, family, and other more productive endeavors: they probably really do think their views and actions represent a lot of Tamworth residents.

“…and then your secretary, which, by the way [to Cassandra Pearce], you are just a secretary – you don’t run this town – decided to laugh…that’s not the way you treat residents, and that’s not the way you treat people. Your parents should have raised you better.” – This is at least the second time in recent history that Cassandra has shown an odd sense of bemusement towards a family’s problems.

Willie Farnum: “Well, some you win, some you don’t.” John Roberts: “I guess we didn’t win that one.”

The problem lays not with Farnum, Roberts, and Pearce in particular, but in a system that gives people you may think are rude and obnoxious (or even people you may think are wonderful) control through the force of government over your actions, money, and property.

Dozens of US cities may have entire neighborhoods bulldozed as part of drastic ’shrink to survive’ proposals being considered by the Obama administration to tackle economic decline. The government is looking at expanding a pioneering scheme…which involves razing entire districts and returning the land to nature.

Farnum ought to be proud: a “pioneering scheme”! Perhaps Willie is a behind-the-scenes advisor to the president, or the Obama administration is perusing this site in detail; either way, ’tis a big day for Tamworth, NH!

“Once again, the earth has become wicked and over-populated, and I see the end of all flesh before me.  Build another Ark and save two of every living thing along with a few good humans.”

He gave Noah the blueprints, saying, “You have 6 months to build the Ark before I will start the unending rain for 40 days and 40 nights.”

Six months later, the Lord looked down and saw Noah weeping in his yard – but there was no Ark.
“Noah!” He roared, “I am about to start the rain!  Where is the Ark?”

“Forgive me, Lord,” begged Noah, “but times have changed. I’ve been arguing with the fire chief about the need for a sprinkler system. My neighbors claim that I’ve violated the town’s 25 foot wetlands buffer zone by building the ark too close to a stream. We received a certified letter from the Selectmen, and had to go to the Planning Board to beg for a waiver.”

“Then the NH Department of Transportation along with PSNH demanded a bond be posted for the future costs of moving power lines and other overhead obstructions, to clear the passage for the Ark’s move to the sea.  I told them that the sea would be coming to us, but they would hear nothing of it.”

“Getting the wood was another problem.  I did not have my Notice of Intent to Cut Timber filed with the town, and the Conservation Commission objected to cutting so many trees through a known wildlife corridor.  I tried to convince the environmentalists that I needed the wood to save the wildlife – but no go!  When I started gathering the animals, the NH SPCA sued me. They insisted that I was confining wild animals against their will. They argued the accommodations were much too restrictive, and it was cruel and inhumane to put so many animals in a confined space.”

“Then the NH DES ruled that I couldn’t build the Ark until they’d conducted an environmental impact study on your proposed flood.  They did seem excited that this would expand their purview over wetlands to pretty much everywhere. I’m still trying to resolve a complaint with the NH Department of Employment Security on how many minorities I’m supposed to hire for my building crew.”

“The New England Carpenters Union says I can’t use my sons.  They insist I must hire only union workers with Ark-building experience. FOCUS is complaining that they may hear all the sawing and hammering from across town, for which they are also suing me. The town tried to pass an Ark Ordinance, and I had to buy off a couple politicians in the NH senate to prevent this.”

“To make matters worse, the town tax collector seized all of my assets, claiming that I have not converted my ark building site out of Current Use.  So, forgive me, Lord, but it would take at least 10 years for me to finish this Ark.”

Suddenly the skies cleared, the sun began to shine, and a rainbow stretched across the sky.  Noah looked up in wonder and asked, “You mean you’re not going to destroy the world?”

“No,” said the Lord. “The government beat me to it.”

Should the swine flu come lurking for residents of Tamworth: never fear, your local leaders are already preparing! With local rescue squad member Dana Littlefield and selectman Tom Abugelis leading the charge, future flu-stricken Tamworth residents can sleep a little easier knowing that plans are being put into place to provide an emergency phone hotline and face masks to citizens, along with suggestions to wash one’s hand and not cough on other people.

Just as a warm summer’s breeze could turn into a hurricane, one never knows what an impact the swine flu could have in rural New Hampshire. And your elected leaders are there for you.