A Flag of Convenience.

A ship is not subject to the laws of any sovereign nation when sailing beyond 200 nautical miles.  The ship might be registered in Liberia and fly the Liberian flag for the reduced cost and absence of any strict rules involved.  Therefore, by flying a flag of convenience a ship, platform or a homestead on these waters can create their own form of government.  The Seasteading Institute is the brainchild of Patri Friedman, grandson of Nobel prizewinning economist Milton Friedman.  ClubStead is a free-standing island community which will be built on a platform much like an oil rig off the coast of San Francisco.  There will be space for about 270 people: living quarters, offices, shops, restaurants, a hotel and spa.   Michael Keenan, President of The Seasteading Institute and I spoke at length about this unique and innovative lifestyle two years ago.  We agreed that our government is no longer what its founders intended.  Too many newbies  have tried to work within the system, to change it and hatch new ideas without success.  It seems an opportune time to provide an alternate concept with a minimum of government interference.  Seasteading will experiment with different forms of government and fly a flag of convenience until they are able to establish sovereignty of their own.  They will use American dollars, eventually switching to digital currency.  Their ambitious plans call for several island nations and their startup money has come from a group of working Silicon Valley billionaires, including Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal (the online secure payment system used by eBay and most online merchants).

Far too many of us have grown weary of the divisive negativity and lack of accountability of our elected representatives in government.  We have become outraged by not having a true voice in the direction of our country.  We are saddened by the tragic unemployment and foreclosure numbers, an economy on life supports, not to mention a 17 trillion dollar debt.  We are stunned by the fact that we may be forced to buy healthcare insurance which we cannot afford and possibly be punished and penalized for not buying it from a system which doesn’t even function.  The Seasteaders think it's time for the pioneer spirit to prevail – to incubate and allow new ideas to form and grow.

If you've been fortunate enough to sail the Mediterranean you've probably seen a gigantic floating condo called The World.  It's a sort of Flying Dutchman – a ship without a country.  It has lavishly appointed suites where owners can have a new country brought in every few days.  Still in all, suppose you don't get along with your next door neighbor?  As a frequent visitor to the area I always opt for the smaller yacht-like craft which allow you to dock or anchor at far more interesting ports than the Costa Concordia (if you catch my drift)  ClubStead will differ in that it will be more of an island concept on a platform with diesel engines which will give it the ability to re-position from time to time.  Life on ClubStead may not be for everyone.  If you can't live without “Meet the Press” or Starbuck's, if you have difficulty adapting, adjusting, meeting challenges or lack the curiosity and fortitude to examine new ideas and lifestyles you should probably stay put and not ask for permission to come aboard.

Another group of innovators has formed Blueseed.co and will operate on a ship off the coast of Silicon Valley.  The pioneer spirit -- an old way of moving forward -- has become the new revolution.  If you can't beat 'em, move away and create your own destiny.