Crash Across America

more Crash Across America photos

from your friendly neighbourhood camera addict. Documenting some of our antics in Boston - enjoy!

by Janet on 08/27/07

Crash Across America

by Jason on 08/26/07

Cigarettes and Socialism in Canada

In Canada I embarked on an epic expedition for cigarettes. It was epic not because cigarettes are difficult to find in Canada but because they are difficult to find in the Bureaucrash Van, where we have been spending many an hour. When we finally reached civilization I merrily skipped toward the nearest convenience store, full of glee and exhilaration. Upon my entrance I decided to make small talk with my savior, the Canadian convenience store man.

I naively started babbling about how expensive cigarettes are in Canada. Can you blame me? They are TEN DOLLARS!

The jolly Canadian convenience store man pulled a card out of his pocket. “Well, little miss,” he said mysteriously, “I have something you don’t have back home.” I peered cautiously at his plastic card. THE ONTARIO HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN, it read sadistically.

I was stunned, shocked even. I didn’t want to argue with the jolly Canadian convenience store man, but I didn’t really want to admit that his brilliant heath care system, full of long lines and shoddy service, was something I envied (especially enough to pay five extra dollars for each pack of cigarettes.) I politely smiled and told him that it was a very pretty little card.

It wasn’t good enough. The jolly Canadian convenience store man continued on about the merits of the Canadian health care system. I stood paralyzed, really needing a cigarette, and ready to bolt at the soonest possible opportunity.

When the jolly Canadian convenience store man told me that I should really watch Michael Moore’s “Sicko,” I could take it no more. “Thanks, need a smoke.” I ran.

by erin on 08/23/07

Photos of Crash Across America... So Far

by Jason on 08/23/07

Against the Grain

As part of our wacky shenanigans through New Hampshire today, the Crash Across America team made an appearance on Gardner Goldsmith's radio show Against the Grain on 107.7 WTPL in Concorde, New Hampshire. You can have a listen here

by Janet on 08/22/07

At the Montebello Protest

Went to the SPP Protest in Montebello today but most of the protesters had already cleared out. The stench of Tear Gas was still strong in the air. There were still small handfuls of activist there to make their statements, but they were easily outnumbered by the press and police. The biggest shock was the amount of discarded posters, fliers, signs and empty water bottles that littered the streets. Whatever message the crowd wanted to present, environmental responsibility did not appear to be included. We did several interviews with some of the protesters and the crowds standing outside the IndyMedia safe house. I even did my first on camera interview, which turned out alright, even though I was shaking like a leaf. Stay tuned for more of our shenanigans. read more »

by XaqFixx on 08/21/07

Security and Prosperity Partnership protest

Today, Crash Across America hit up a North American Leaders' Summit in Montebello, Quebec, where George Bush, Stephen Harper and Felipe CalderÃ³n met to discuss opening the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America, (SPP) an initiative to develop a more integrated North American Community.

There were some pretty large protests in Montebello yesterday - there's a heavy police presence and residual tear gas offending the senses of anyone passing by.

While there seem to be some legitimate concerns about the SPP - the initiative seems to have been led by a group of corporations and government leaders with very limited transparency and accountability regarding their initiatives - and small government types will be unhappy to hear that it sounds like one of the goals are common and possibly more stringent restrictions on trade (tariffs) and movement (biometric ID) from outside of North America.

On the other hand, the SPP also has some goals that could really help everyone in the deal - the establishment of an economic community and therefore complete freedom of trade and movement within North America.

Protesters are still hanging around, and Bureaucrash - and the people - needed to know, why are people so opposed to these deals? Is it for all the right, or all the wrong, reasons? We interviewed a bunch of people there to protest the summit to get their views and Erin, Minister of Propaganda, is compiling the videos. Stay tuned!

UPDATE: here's the video

by Janet on 08/21/07

Some Pix from LSS 2007

by Shane on 08/21/07

Crash Across America '07

Bureaucrash HQ is currently on the road "Crashing Across America" and will update bureaucrash.com with constantly updated blogs, photos and video from the road daily. Enjoy the trip! read more »

by Jason on 08/20/07

CRASH ACROSS AMERICA '07: ORONO, ONTARIO
(Saturday)

We woke up and made some final preparations before registration began at 11. Karen Selick made her annual appearance and gave a great talk on "Canada's Human Rights Codes -- Ugh!" She was followed by Gerry Nicholls who spoke on a topic crashers should care about: "Pigs, Power & Politics: Fighting for Freedom Che Guevara-style." He listed rules and examples to conduct a guerilla campaign in the information war. Marc Emery then spoke about his creative and principled tactics in his battles against the big U.S. and Canadian bureaucracies and their political masters.

To transition from the interesting talks to the upcoming entertainment I took the stage to be the master of ceremonies so that people could share how they are making the world a more free place. Based on audience clapping the brave volunteers would get a Bureaucrash t-shirt.

Update - Here's the video:

by Jason on 08/20/07

CRASH ACROSS AMERICA '07: ORONO, ONTARIO
(Friday)

On Friday we followed Brendan to Orono, home of the Liberty Summer Seminar, and immediately started helping set up. Already there was Crasher Infamous Prodigy and Erin, the Bureaucrash Minister of Propaganda. We put up the tent just as it started to rain. At one point we all had to hold onto the poles to keep the bad weather from ruining our work. At an especially awful part of the experience a large amount of cold rain water fell off of the tent and landed on my back. Everyone laughed at my pain.

After everything was set up we opened the bottles of Liberty Ale and Jack Daniels and threw a party. The bravest of us (me, Jamie and Agata) went swimming in lake Jawoski (a pond). The three dudes that drove seventeen hours from New Brunswick kept the fire raging thanks to their impressive outdoor skills. Also joining us was Chris Kilmer who joined us all the way from New York. We went until the wee hours of the morning.

by Jason on 08/20/07

CRASH ACROSS AMERICA '07: WATERLOO, ONTARIO,
CANADA (Thursday)

We made good time to Waterloo where we checked into a Howard Johnson's motel at 2:30PM after a meal at a burger joint. We passed out for a few hours before Peter and Agata Jaworski, two of the hosts of the Liberty Summer Seminar, and Aaron stopped by. We all had dinner before we headed to our main objective: Major Maker in Concert at the Starlight. Brenden, Matt and Janet met us at the venue where we rocked out. We all dig Major Maker because they have a great sound AND because their lead singer Lindy is a crasher. We support our own so it was great to see him in action and are thrilled that Major Maker is such a hit. After the gig we enjoyed some karaoke T.J.'s Road House and then called it a night at 4AM.

by Jason on 08/20/07

CRASH ACROSS AMERICA '07: WASHINGTON, DC to
WATERLOO, ONTARIO, CANADA

Tom and I rented our sweet minivan from Dollar Rent-A-Car at noon on Thursday and drove it to Bureaucrash HQ where we packed it up nice. Lots of camping gear and Bureaucrash swag filled our ride up before we picked up our first passenger.

We then headed north with Tom as the driver and I served as the navigator with the help of Google Maps on my iPhone. We drove all night only stopping to sleep at a rest stop for a few hours. We woke up and drove to the Canadian border not looking forward to crossing a state checkpoint and showing our "papers." When we got there the Canadian border agent (We call him Wally) couldn't have been nicer. Don't get me wrong, he has a shitty job but he just asked us a couple of questions and had us hold up our passports. We told him about the documentary we are filming and that we hadn't planned on leaving anything in Canada. (We ended up leaving some empty beer bottles from Xaq Fixx's awesome homebrew and lots of seminar attendees walked away with Bureaucrash tees.)

This is in sharp contrast to my experience with the border patrol when entering the United States. I'm sure we'll have stories to tell about the unpleasantness of border enforcement in the "land of the free."

by Jason on 08/20/07

Crash Across America Goes North East

Join Bureaucrash on an international odyssey from beautiful Orono, Ontario (home of the the Liberty Summer Seminar) to the bowels of bureaucracy in Washington, DC.

There will be a crew of five crashers (JA$ON, MisesFan, Janet, Erin and Xaq Fixx.) who will be talking to people and reporting on places via blogs, photos and video diaries.

Some of the events along the way will include crashing statism (duh), breaking at least one dumb law in every state, visiting liberty landmarks, meeting / picking up crashers along the way, Major Maker concerts and lots of singing to the radio.

We will have daily video updates posted on this map so people can follow our zany misadventures.

TU 14 - Tom arrives in DC

WE 15 - Tom & Jason leave DC (9 hours 38 mins)
WE 15 - Tom & Jason cross the US / Canadian border?

TH 16 - Talk to Debbie about Immigration (Mississauga, ON)
TH 16 - 20:00 See Crasher Lindy/MajorMaker in concert

FR 17 - Arrive (Orono, ON)
FR 17 - Set up Liberty Summer Seminar

SA 18 - Liberty Summer Seminar (Orono, ON)
SA 18 - Talk to Marc Emery

SU 19 - Liberty Summer Seminar (Orono, ON)

MO 20 - Capitol tour (Ottawa)
MO 20 - North American Leaders Summit (Montebello, QC)

TU 21 - North American Leaders Summit (Montebello, QC)
TU 21 - Cross the Canadian/U.S. border?

WE 22 - Profile the Free State Project (New Hampshire)

TH 23 - Talk to Al Rosenberg (Boston, MA)
TH 23 - See Historic Boston
TH 23 - See the Liberty Bell and Constitution Hall (Philadelphia, PA)

FR 24 - Return (Washington)
FR 24 - Tour of Bureaucrash HQ
FR 24 - 17:30 Happy Hour!

by Jason on 05/17/07