Beyond Ballots or Bullets:
Creating a Free America

Saturday, March 10

• Opening remarks, by Kevin Van Horn.
• Welcome to Utah, by Rob Latham.

• Overview of Nonviolent Struggle, by Kevin Van Horn.

  Summary: An introduction to the fundamentals concepts and principles of nonviolent struggle, and how they apply to our struggle for freedom.

• The Methods of Nonviolent Action, by Jeh Cranfill and Jamie Cranfill.

  Summary: A discussion of the three classes and 198 methods of nonviolent action identified by Dr. Gene Sharp in his research on nonviolent conflict. (Dr. Sharp discusses these in detail in The Methods of Nonviolent Action.)

• 198 Ways To Leave the State Behind (a musical interlude).

• A Force More Powerful: The Game of Nonviolent Strategy (Audio), by Cato Craft. (Website)

  Summary: A discussion of and demonstration of this simulation program that teaches the strategy of nonviolent conflict, using historical data from past conflicts. (You can find the program here.)

• Libertarian Civil Disobedience in New Hampshire (Audio), by Michael Fisher.

  Summary: An account of the experiences of New Hampshire libertarians in practicing civil disobedience, and lessons learned.

• Agorism, Counter-economics and Revolution (Audio), by Brad Spangler. (Website)

  Summary: An exposition / summary of the essential ideas in New Libertarian Manifesto and Agorist Class Theory with additional thoughts on application.

• Creating a Parallel Free Society (Audio), by Paul Townsend.

  Summary: The strategy of creating a parallel free society involves establishing voluntary associations as alternatives to state-controlled economic, educational, and cultural institutions. Besides allowing for the diversity of talents and interests among libertarians, this strategy has the potential to provide real-world working models of how a free society functions. In the words of Gandhi, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” A variety of specific examples are discussed, such as alternative financial institutions, pro-freedom artistic endeavors, and mutual support networks to aid the victims of government persecution.

• The Road to Compassion and Freedom (Audio), by Glen Allport. (Website)

  Summary: No plan works without a usefully-accurate understanding of the elements required for success. The freedom movement has been held back by a flawed and incomplete understanding of these elements. Understanding and focusing on the interconnected nature of love and freedom will not only guide our actions more productively but will give others a reason to adopt our goals and become passionate about them.

• Showing of the documentary, Bringing Down a Dictator, about the nonviolent struggle that removed Yugoslavian dictator Slobodan Milosevic from power.

Sunday, March 11

• The Lost Right, by Anthony Hargis. (Website)

  Summary: There are two kinds of revolution: 1) exchange of tyrants; 2) significant reduction of slavery. The Athenian reforms of 509 BCE, the English revolution of 1640 and the American Revolution of 1774 are the only examples of the latter. Components of the Right of Revolution: speech, press, assembly, investigation, prosecution, judgment, enforcement of judgment. Such revolutions (2) are conducted thru the mechanism of assemblies; to oppose tyranny as a lone individual is always a mission of suicide; to oppose thru assemblies is sometimes successful.

• Enforcing Contracts without Government (Audio), by Stephen Villee.

  Summary: If we hope to conduct business without asking government permission, we'll need ways to enforce contracts without relying on government courts. This presentation discusses one such system, for the case that a buyer is retaining a seller to perform a well-defined service. To enforce the contract, two other parties participate: an escrow agent and an arbitrator. The Galt Escrow Agency software package can automate most of what an escrow agent needs to do.

• Rule-of-law Anarchism: A Strategy for Destroying the State's Legitimacy (Audio), by Kevin Van Horn.

  Summary: A discussion of law without the state; how the state is fundamentally incompatible with basic principles of the rule of law; and activism aimed at highlighting the state's essentially lawless nature. The difference between legislation and true law. How we can invert popular perceptions so that the state is seen as a lawless promoter of chaos, while market anarchists are seen as law-respecting promoters of peaceful order.

• Open discussion on strategy, getting organized, first steps to take.
• Concluding remarks, by Kevin Van Horn.