Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;kaparthy, post: 92827, member: 57463&quot;]I got a Minerva coin for a wedding present!</p><p><br /></p><p>As for the Strauss book:</p><p><a href="http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_300.html" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_300.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_300.html</a></p><p>A COUNTRY OF ONE&#039;S OWN: A FOLLOW-UP</p><p>To the Teeming Millions:</p><p><br /></p><p>Regarding my column on how to start your own country, a reader has chastised me for not mentioning the 1984 book by that title written by Erwin Strauss and distributed by Loompanics Unlimited, an outfit that also peddles sells such gems as Human Sacrifice in History and Today and Ragnar&#039;s Guide to Home and Recreational Use of High Explosives. Strauss describes successful new countries such as Sealand, founded in the 60s by former pirate radio operator Paddy Roy &quot;Prince Roy&quot; Bates on an abandoned antiaircraft platform off the coast of England. He also mentions the smallest country in existence, the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, whose realm consists of one building in Rome. So there&#039;s hope for you would-be potentates.</p><p><br /></p><p>Strauss describes five routes to nationhood: </p><p><br /></p><p>(1) Traditional sovereignty. This is the approach I mentioned in my column. You need territory, people, and a government, and you have to defend it against all comers. Strauss takes this pretty seriously. Readers who do likewise may wish to obtain his other book, Basement Nukes, priced to move at $8.95 (no kidding). If that sounds a bit drastic, you might check out another book from Loompanics, Uninhabited Ocean Islands, by Jon Fisher. </p><p><br /></p><p>(2) Ship under flag of convenience. Register your tub with a see-no-evil outfit like Liberia (well, maybe not Liberia these days, but you know what I mean), and for all practical purposes you&#039;re independent, and mobile too. Not exactly sovereignty, but maybe close enough. </p><p><br /></p><p>(3) Litigation. Sue the *******s and make them recognize you, or at least let you alone. It worked for Roy Bates in England, but I wouldn&#039;t try it in Iraq.</p><p><br /></p><p>(4) &quot;Vonu.&quot; A coined term basically meaning out of sight, out of mind. Slip off into the forest where the gummint can&#039;t find you and establish your own society. The favored region for this seems to be the Pacific Northwest. Fine if you can stand the giant slugs.</p><p><br /></p><p>(5) Model country. That&#039;s model as in pretend. Declare your bungalow a sovereign state, issue stamps, fly your own flag--the &quot;real&quot; government won&#039;t care so long as you pay your taxes and otherwise cooperate with your oppressors. Maybe not as spiritually satisfying as traditional sovereignty but you might live longer. Hunger to know more? Write Loompanics Unlimited for a catalog of books on this and related topics at PO Box 1197, Port Townsend, WA 98368.</p><p><br /></p><p>--CECIL ADAMS</p><p><br /></p><p>See also --</p><p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micronation" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micronation" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micronation</a></p><p>which cites the Strauss book in the bibliography.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

Your name or email address:

Do you already have an account?

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

Stay logged in