RussH
12-15-2010, 06:44 AM
First, thank you to Claire for the novel. I'm not quite finished with it yet, but the first 3/4 have been very enjoyable and thought provoking. It's written in her usual style, which is to say, personal, witty, easy to read, fun.
Now, just a little mental exercise, strictly for fun (at least for the moment). For any who don't know, Hardyville is a town where government just doesn't exist. No taxes, no oversight, no big brother. Given the fact that Hardyville is a figment of Claire's imagination (wink, wink, nudge, nudge), I'd be interested in the closest place in the US to this ideal.
Where is the place where freedom is most valued over convenience? Don't worry, your secret is safe with us. :wink: So, any nominations for the freest place in America (or elsewhere, but I think we should restrict this exercise to earth).
I'll start. I don't believe my home state of PA is terrible, but it would be a whole lot better if not for Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Any state where the politics is controlled by a major metro area is not likely to contain Hardyville. On the other hand, my land is zoned agricultural, and I've never seen any sign of a building inspector. My neighbors keep to themselves. The taxes are just too high (we need to work to support the aforementioned metro areas, after all). Get rid of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia and Pennsyltucky has promise.
(Oh, Claire, if you are reading this, please let me know if you ever get out this way. I'd love to get you to sign my copy of Hardyville tales. Maybe you will be in the area on your book tour. You are going on a book tour, aren't you? Talk shows, Oprah, Letterman, mall book stores? :yes4:)
Now, just a little mental exercise, strictly for fun (at least for the moment). For any who don't know, Hardyville is a town where government just doesn't exist. No taxes, no oversight, no big brother. Given the fact that Hardyville is a figment of Claire's imagination (wink, wink, nudge, nudge), I'd be interested in the closest place in the US to this ideal.
Where is the place where freedom is most valued over convenience? Don't worry, your secret is safe with us. :wink: So, any nominations for the freest place in America (or elsewhere, but I think we should restrict this exercise to earth).
I'll start. I don't believe my home state of PA is terrible, but it would be a whole lot better if not for Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Any state where the politics is controlled by a major metro area is not likely to contain Hardyville. On the other hand, my land is zoned agricultural, and I've never seen any sign of a building inspector. My neighbors keep to themselves. The taxes are just too high (we need to work to support the aforementioned metro areas, after all). Get rid of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia and Pennsyltucky has promise.
(Oh, Claire, if you are reading this, please let me know if you ever get out this way. I'd love to get you to sign my copy of Hardyville tales. Maybe you will be in the area on your book tour. You are going on a book tour, aren't you? Talk shows, Oprah, Letterman, mall book stores? :yes4:)