Eric Brakey and Andrew Heaton debate whether libertarians should prioritize building local liberty-focused societies like the Free State Project or focus on reforming the federal government. The resolution: "Libertarians should focus on building liberty-for-real societies like the Free State Project, rather than reforming an ever-expanding, uncontrollable federal government."
https://reason.com/podcast/2025/05/02/should-libertarians-prioritize-their-own-communities/
In this Soho Forum debate on April 26, 2025, Eric Brakey, executive director of the Free State Project and former Maine state senator, argued that libertarians should prioritize building local liberty-focused societies like the Free State Project, citing the effectiveness of state-level nullification and local action, as exemplified by New Hampshire’s resistance to federal overreach and the global impact of Bitcoin. Comedian and author Andrew Heaton countered that the federal government remains the primary threat to personal autonomy, advocating for national-level reform efforts, as demonstrated by Ron Paul’s influence, and warning that local initiatives face federal interference.
00:00 Trailer
00:37 Introductions
03:27 Eric Brakey's opening statement
13:30 Andrew Heaton's opening statement
23:25 Eric Brakey's rebuttal
26:02 Andrew Heaton's rebuttal
28:24 Q&A
01:04:05 Eric Brakey's closing statement
01:36:34 Andrew Heaton's closing statement