Liberty Forum 2014

Would what the media calls the “sharing economy” be better called the "free-agent economy”?  Where did this term come from?  Qui bono?  We’ll look at what’s being “shared” vs. what’s being traded, and discuss the implications the free-agent economy has for the state—in light of the trouble it currently makes for hard-working entrepreneurs.  To wit:

"Across the country, occupational licensing laws raise prices for consumers and prevent workers from pursuing self-employment. Cities across the country have shut down hair braiders, food trucks, and other small businesses frequently founded by members of economically vulnerable groups. In California, police conduct violent sting operations to arrest people doing unlicensed house painting, carpentry, and landscaping. Gaining the required licenses requires time and money that most poor and working people just don’t have.” (http://c4ss.org/content/21496)

Additionally, the free-agent economy already has deep roots in New Hampshire and is the bedrock of many, if not all, of the vendors at PorcFest.  How can we leverage this to coalesce a community that shares their skills and services without going through the state while mitigating the risk of being caught by the state?  We’ll discuss the arsenal of free-agency aid that many libertarians may not realize they have at their disposal.