Is the Freedom Ship realistic?
by Patri Friedman
This page contains my thoughts on whether the FS project is realistic, as well as a little correspondence I've exchanged with the head of the project. I also have a page containing collected critical comments from other people, which is much more sweeping and covers a lot more concerns:
Collected Criticisms of the Freedom Ship Project
Their comments are a large part of why I believe that the project is unrealistic, and as currently envisioned has huge obstacles in the way of its success.
UPDATE: In early 2008 I was emailed by Colonel Karl Krueger, who said that the US military is interested in mobile offshore bases, and that Norman Nixon and the Freedom Ship team may possibly be involved in a venture.
Note: It seems worth noting that this page was originally written in 2001, and since then nothing substantial has happened with the Freedom Ship project.
My analysis of the project
I wish the project was more realistic, and I would be positively thrilled if I turned out to be wrong and it happened. I think that alternative forms of government are very important, and that the world is lacking in places where libertarians can live freely. In fact I've written a book called Seasteading on that very topic, which outlines what I see as the most realistic path to freedom on the oceans. So I guess I could be considered as a competitor to the Freedom Ship, but really, I'm just an enthusiastic amateur researcher. Because I believe that this area is so important for human development, I think its crucial that money and effort be directed in practical ways down realistic paths by careful people, and not wasted on flim-flam and fantasy.
For a more first-hand report of what sort of project th ...