Pirate Island: More Dreams of a Government Free Community

Dreams of getting government off their backs are being put into reality through chartered cities, free cities, seasteading and now the Pirate Island.

From the register.co.uk (hat tip Bob Wenzel)

Over 100 international tech companies have registered their interest in the floating geek city, Blueseed, which will be launched next year in international waters outside of Silicon Valley.

The visa-free, start-up friendly concept launched late last year aims to create a fully commercial technology incubator where global entrepreneurs can live and work in close proximity to the Valley, accessing VC dosh and talent as required.

A new research report released by Blueseed reveals that the bulk of registered demand germinated from the US at 20.3%, Indian start-ups rank second at 10.5% and Australians third at 6%.

The research found that international start-ups nominated living and working in an “awesome” start-up- and technology- oriented space; proximity to Silicon Valley's investors and an alternative to having to get US work visas for company founders or employees as the key reasons for getting on board.

The Blueseed model budgets for around 1,000 live-in entrepreneurs on deck with costs ranging US$1,200 to $3,000 per month, per person for living quarters and office space.

It is most likely that Blueseed will revamp a decommissioned luxury cruise liner which the founders estimate would cost between $10 -$25 million to fit out.

Seasteading: A Dreamworld For Anarchists?

John Stossel suggests one way to escape the clutches of the government: Try Seasteading-an idea derived from Patri Friedman.

Photo from Seasteading Org

Writes John Stossel,

What is someone looking for better governance to do? In 2008, Friedman set up The Seasteading Institute. His website states: "(W)e believe that experiments are the source of all progress: To find something better, you have to try something new. But right now, there is no open space for experimenting with new societies. That's why we work to enable seasteading communities -- floating cities -- which will allow the next generation of pioneers to peacefully test new ideas for government. The most successful can then inspire change in governments around the world."

Read the rest here.

Adds Professor Bryan Caplan,

The whole point of seasteading is to get outside of existing jurisdictions, then create new institutions. Whatever else you think about seasteading, it does bypass the problem of changing either structure or policy in existing societies.

Hmmmm