A Libertarian Walks Into a Bear: The Utopian Plot To Liberate an American Town (And Some Bears) is a 2020 book by journalist Matthew Hongoltz-Hetling regarding the efforts of the libertarian Free Town Project to take control of a small town's government. The town of Grafton, New Hampshire plays host to this social experiment in dismantling all sorts of regulations, which runs into trouble when bears are emboldened to come into contact with humans due to easily available food. The history of the town is examined along with a colorful cast of local characters, ranging from a pastor on a mission from God to a kindly woman who feeds doughnuts to bears.
This book provides examples of:
- Bears Are Bad News: Bears unafraid of human contact cause all sorts of trouble in Grafton and all around New Hampshire, from destroying fences even to attacking humans.
- Close-Knit Community: As expected of a small American town, which generates resistance to the Free Town Project's efforts. This is undone when the libertarian initiative succeeds.
- Crazy Survivalist: Subverted by Adam Franz, who is helpful to others and holds leftist political positions.
- Deadly Euphemism: "Friendly Advice" is the term used by the author to refer to how locals talk about the guns they own and carry as a veiled warning to any trespassing.
- Dying Town: Even in the decades before the Free Town Project, Grafton was already declining economically, with its mine being closed. The lack of public investment caused by the Free Town project further accelerates the decline of the town, leading to people and a few of the named townspeople leaving it.
- Everyone Has Standards: While volunteer firefighter John Babiarz has strong feelings against government-imposed rules, he does not compromise on fire safety standards.
- Friend to All Living Things: "Doughnut Lady", who keeps all sorts of animals on her compound and feeds bears with her titular pastry.
- Hand Cannon: Adam Franz's preferred weapon, a .410 caliber revolver he only plans to use in self-defense against bears.
- Hearing Voices: John Connel gets messages from God regarding the church he operates in the town.
- Pacifist: John Connel dislikes having weapons brandished in his church.
- Purple Prose: Occasionally shows up in some of the author's descriptions.
- Rules Lawyer: Often used by libertarian characters to stymie efforts by authorities to rein in their actions.
- Small Town Boredom: Unlike towns with better infrastructure and maintenance, Grafton has very little amenities other than a library and a small general store, the latter of which ends up closing.
- We ARE Struggling Together: The Free Town Project's members often quarreled with each other. This infighting contributed to the eventual failure of the effort.
