Monthly Archives: March 2013

Austerity’s End Could Bring Additional German Turmoil

"Is Brussels backing away from austerity? If the top Eurocrats that have pushed so hard for it are now finding it impossible to implement, then we begin to ask underlying questions once more: Who pays for European insolvency? The obvious answer is the Germans. And this confirms what we have been arguing for the past several years. The Germans are not so much the 'leaders' of Europe as they are the victims of it. Ms. Merkel may not want a Euro-crisis before German elections but she may get another one after them." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAusterity’s End Could Bring Additional German Turmoil

Fed’s Evans: Keep Easing and Economy Will Hit ‘Escape Velocity’ by 2014

"The U.S. economy should emerge from the doldrums next year if the Federal Reserve sticks to its super-easy monetary policies, a top Fed official said on Thursday, even as he warned that cutting back too early would be a 'big mistake.' The Fed is buying $45 billion in Treasuries and $40 billion in mortgage bonds per month, its third round of 'quantitative easing,' and has said it will continue the purchases until it sees substantial improvement in the labor market outlook. 'I don't think we are anywhere near the end of the program,' Chicago Federal Reserve Bank President Charles Evans told reporters after speaking to the CFA Society of Iowa here." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFed’s Evans: Keep Easing and Economy Will Hit ‘Escape Velocity’ by 2014

Michigan Governor Declares Emergency in Detroit; Grabs Power from Locals

"Michigan Governor Rick Snyder plans to name an emergency manager to handle Detroit’s fiscal crisis, stripping power from local officials. Detroit has a budget deficit of about $327 million and more than $14 billion in long-term obligations, reports Bloomberg. Starting later this month, a manager will have the power to cancel labor contracts, cut spending and sell assets. This all is, of course, an attempt to prevent what could be the largest U.S. municipal bankruptcy. Snyder will act to protect Detroit's debt holders. However, the best thing that could happen to Detroit is for the city to declare bankruptcy and start fresh, rather than a Motown version of eurozone-type austerity." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMichigan Governor Declares Emergency in Detroit; Grabs Power from Locals

New Poll: 57 Percent of Americans Think Obama’s Assassination Program Is Unconstitutional

"When asked if they thought it was 'constitutional or unconstitutional for the president of the United States to order the killing of American citizens who are suspected of being terrorists,' 57 percent of respondents said they thought it was unconstitutional, including 65 percent of Republicans, 64 percent of independents, and 44 percent of Democrats." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNew Poll: 57 Percent of Americans Think Obama’s Assassination Program Is Unconstitutional

British terror suspects quietly stripped of citizenship… then killed by drones

"At least five of those deprived of their UK nationality by the Coalition were born in Britain, and one man had lived in the country for almost 50 years. Those affected have their passports cancelled, and lose their right to enter the UK – making it very difficult to appeal against the Home Secretary’s decision. Last night the Liberal Democrats’ deputy leader Simon Hughes said he was writing to Ms May to call for an urgent review into how the law was being implemented. The leading human rights lawyer Gareth Peirce said the present situation 'smacked of mediaeval exile, just as cruel and just as arbitrary'." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBritish terror suspects quietly stripped of citizenship… then killed by drones

U.S. Government Wins Appeal in Kim Dotcom Extradition Battle

"In New Zealand, data-content entrepreneur Kim Dotcom is under attack for copyright violations. In the US, Pfc. Bradley Manning faces 20 years in prison for confessing that he sent archives of military and diplomatic files to WikiLeaks, which subsequently released the information to the world. Now it seems Dotcom is losing his battle and may end up being extradited to the US and Manning may end up with close to a lifetime in prison. But on a deeper level, the suffering of these two individuals (warranted or not) will not diminish the changes being ushered in by the Internet." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. Government Wins Appeal in Kim Dotcom Extradition Battle

Two-Tier ‘Privileged Flyer’ Program Advances in EU

"We have in various articles catalogued US programs that allow one to be "pre-approved" and thus avoid the long lines of those who are yet, apparently, to be considered potential terrorists. Eventually, such system will turn into something more difficult, of course – as the emphasis shifts from the approved to the non-approved. In other words, eventually those who are not approved to travel may have trouble taking advantage of modern travel conveniences such as planes, trains, buses and eventually automobiles. Now in a press release, we are informed the EU is taking steps to harmonize its travel program with the US's and other powers." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTwo-Tier ‘Privileged Flyer’ Program Advances in EU

One Man’s Terrorist

"In honor of the release of the long-delayed 'Red Dawn' remake, Buck The System is proud to present a new, leaner cut of 'One Man's Terrorist' that presents the film as one complete story instead of 3 episodes. 'One Man's Terrorist' is an anti-war short film written and directed by David Kirk West and loosely inspired by events that changed his beliefs on war and government while he was in the military." Continue reading →

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Our Laws Make those of Medieval England Seem Reasonable

"40-year-old Orlando, Florida resident Anthony Brasfield was with his girlfriend in the parking lot of a motel when he released a handful of helium-filled, heart-shaped balloons into the air. A Florida Highway Patrol Trooper saw this and arrested Brasfield for violating the Florida Air and Water Pollution Control Act –a third-degree felony punishable by a prison term of up to five years. On February 23, Lendsey and Delilha Harbin, a married couple from Portage, Indiana, paid for a ticket to see the new action film 'Snitch' and then, after it ended, decided to switch theaters and catch the zombie movie 'Warm Bodies.' They were charged with felony theft." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingOur Laws Make those of Medieval England Seem Reasonable

West Sacramento Police officer in custody in sex assault, kidnap charges

"A West Sacramento police officer has been arrested for investigation of assault and kidnapping charges involving a half dozen women in the West Capitol Avenue area, the department announced today. The department called an unusual 7 p.m. press conference to announce that Officer Sergio Alvarez (left), who had been with the city of West Sacramento since 2007, allegedly had carried out the acts while performing uniformed patrol duties. The investigation identified six female victims ranging in age from 20 to 47 years old, police said." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWest Sacramento Police officer in custody in sex assault, kidnap charges