The campaigns we will be running will depend on volunteers much more than the campaigns of our opposition.
Ted, do you have any facts to verify this? Are you assuming in all of your posts that we are running candidates under the LP? We first need to support people who are already in office who at least partly support our views. We will be there 4-6 years before putting forth our own candidates. By then, some reform should have taken place and we will have support for our ideas. And if we run as Dems or Reps, campaign funds are much easier to get.
If this wasn't true, we would be considering all the states, not just the low population ones. We want low population ones because we are so short of money and people.
No one person will *have* to travel the entire state.
Many of us will be going from one city to another frequently. There will always be state fairs, candidate debates, "meet the candidate" picnics, air shows, Octoberfests, and many other things that will be happening where we will want as many volunteers as possible to come and help out. Most of us will not be living in whatever city these events are in whenever one occurs.
For example, if we chose Montana, I would be living in Billings. Great Falls is a sizeable place, and would be having things happening there that I would be driving to. Same with Helena, and some other places. And, of course, people from those cities would be coming to Billings when something is happening there.
But remember these 20,000 volunteers traveled well over that for the possibility of freedom. How many will really balk at driving 50-60 miles (one hour or so)? Or even more?
Diana
1. Once we get the 20K to commit to the move, whether or not we really will get that many to actually do it remains to be seen. After reading many of the posts, I am very worried about the level of commitment FSP people really have. It is not so much what they are saying as what they are NOT saying. I am not hearing very many "war stories" of campaigns and voter education efforts. I have not yet had anyone tell me that they too went to the Leadership Institute. (Am I the only one?

If you went there, please speak up!) I haven't even heard from anyone who went to the Campaigns & Elections training (as I have) or any other such school. (If you went to one PLEASE POST ABOUT IT!) Heck, I haven't heard anybody but Joe talk about going to city council meetings! (I haven't either, but I will. Thanks, Joe!) And I am supposed to believe that the same people who won't do anything where they are now will move to a state and start doing things there? I find this very hard to believe.
2. Just because we CAN and WILL do something doesn't mean that it is a good idea. Once again, every hour spent driving is an hour not spent doing something else. Every dollar spent on gasoline, tires, and car repairs is a dollar not spent on brochures and newspaper ads.
I know what I want my time and money going to.