I was in New Hampshire once with Amy; she was talking at some conference, I had lunch with a health inspector, watched a serious girls lacrosse game, and became familiar with the license plate slogan, Live Free or Die.

The health type told me that meant some state legislator wanted to introduce raw milk for the school lunch program.

Maria Godoy of NPR appropriates the NH slogan and writes that in Maine, towns have declared independence from state and federal regulations on locally produced foods.

In May, the tiny Isle of Haut became the 10th town in the state to pass what’s known as a food sovereignty ordinance. Essentially, these resolutions claim that small local food producers don’t have to abide by state or federal licensing and inspection regulations if they are selling directly to consumers.

Until people get sick. Then they’ll want government.