Bill O’Brien, the newly elected Speaker of the New Hampshire State House, recently spoke with Talley.TV about various issues including the Free State Project, the peaceful people who were recently aggressed against by the state, why he thinks government is necessary, and what he believes should happen to those who choose to opt out of compulsory government “services.”

The new Speaker of the State House told Talley.TV that “this is an opportunity to rethink government.” O’Brien isn’t the first politician to use such rhetoric. Former Vice President Al Gore “Reinvented Government” and Governor Cuomo is currently leading a “Government Redesign” in New York State. Unfortunately, the idea of government achieving its goals without resorting to violence is never on the reformists’ table.

The new speaker deserves a lot of credit for being honest about the true nature of the State. He says: “I understand what government does. It goes to people and says, ‘give me your money or we will cause you to go to jail.” But O’Brien does not see the threat of violence as a problem, and continues, “Certainly we have to organize as a society. There is some compulsion in some instances where you have to go to people and say we need money to run this government.” According to OBrien, the government’s use of violence is not only permissible – it’s necessary.

The location of my interview with Mr. O’Brien was the Grafton County Courthouse in Haverhill, NH where the State is accusing my Free Grafton friend and neighbor Robert Constantine of growing illegal plants. They want to “organize” Bob into a cage for the crime of owning himself. I have no use for a system that takes peaceful people like Bob and turns them into prisoners.

Speaker O’Brien told Talley.TV that “Communities as a whole will rise and take care of their friends, family and neighbors and we don’t have to have a strong centralized government in Concord that has to answer all of those needs.” Nowhere is that more clear than in Free Grafton, where a growing voluntary community hopes to replace coercive town “services” with ones that are based on consent.

O’Brien claims that New Hampshire Government is premised on volunteerism, and offers that he and other law makers don’t make much, if any, money. I countered that those government employees who enforce immoral laws – such as judges and police – get paid well, as do political operatives. And since taking office, Bill O’Brien agreed to pay Greg Moore $75,000 annually to be the new “House Policy Director.”

Speaker O’Brien invites you and me to “participate and work to change the system” so we can “work to lower taxes.” He adds, “it’s open to anyone that wants to participate in the system.”

I will join with Speaker O’Brien in working to lower taxes but I don’t need to work within his coercive system in order to accomplish that. I can stop paying most taxes right now, and so can you.

When O’Brien was asked about the growing number of people moving to New Hampshire for “liberty in their lifetime” as part of the Free State Project, he replied “I wish there were more.” He pointed to the recent election of legislators who are members of the FSP. O’Brien says of Free-Staters: “They are responsibly participating in expanding liberty in New Hampshire and that’s a great thing.”

Also discussed were the peaceful people currently being held captive in New Hampshire cages. O’Brien told Talley.TV: “I think we really need to look at that.” New Hampshire Republicans promised to rein in government spending if elected so I asked about the cost savings of freeing these prisoners. O’Brien calls it an ongoing concern and states: “I don’t want people who are committing victimless crimes to not be in jail because we can save money; I don’t want them in jail because they haven’t harmed other individuals.” When I followed up, asking if this would be a priority, he answered, “The priorities are going to be the fiscal issues.” O’Brien must have overlooked the significant cost savings that would take place if peaceful people were no longer held captive in New Hampshire cages. Entire State prisons could close.

The Speaker was insistent that “We all have an obligation to participate in society. One of the ways is paying taxes.” But when I asked about opting out of a violent system he warned me and Talley.TV viewers that opting out “could be miserable if they catch up with you.”

“They” is the government and if you don’t pay for the crimes they commit against peaceful people, you could be thrown into one of their many cold cages.

Speaker O’Brien agreed that he’d like for people who opt-out of his system to be left alone, but acknowledges that if we are to have a government, people would be compelled “under threat of violence” to give them our money.

Thanks to the Kinks for the use of their song “Well Respected Man” and to Talley.TV producer Bob Constantine for helping “get it done.” Thanks to Anton Lee and Graham Nadig for use of their photography. This report from the front lines of freedom was sponsored by FreeGrafton.com, the place to live free.

Meet the Shire Activists featured in episodes of Talley.TV at Porcfest 2011. Save 20% off Porc Fest registration and merchandise by using the discount code PF2011TBEAR at registration.porcfest.com.