Monthly Archives: April 2013

Sen. Chambliss: ‘We can’t just leave event security to communities’

"Chambliss did say that security around the country would have to change for large public events, including greater involvement by the federal government. 'This was a soft target. It was not a target that was able to be totally protected,' he said. 'This particular incident is going to cause the administration and Congress to evaluate our overall security programs around the country, particularly for major events. We can't leave it just to the communities that host these events to provide the security.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSen. Chambliss: ‘We can’t just leave event security to communities’

Israeli police head to US to aid in Boston Marathon bombing investigation

"The investigation into Monday’s deadly bombing at the Boston Marathon has officially gone international: law enforcement officials from Israel have been sent to the United States to assist in the probe. Israel Police Chief Yohanan Danino says he has dispatched officials to Boston, Massachusetts, where they will meet with Federal Bureau of Investigation agents and other authorities, the Times of Israel Reports." Continue reading →

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Boston Marathon Bomb Coverage Reveals Media Hypocrisy and Double Standards

"In the last decade, the U.S. has occupied Afghanistan and Iraq while bombing Yemen, Pakistan, Libya, and Somalia, imposed blockades and sanctions that prevent the poor and elderly in foreign countries from acquiring food and medicine, and yet one can spend a great deal of time searching in vain for any faces, names, or accounts of the victims from the American press. Apparently these acts aren't terrorism or mass murder, just 'foreign policy.' Why has the media covered this bombing with a fine-toothed comb, including bloody and grisly photos, yet it completely ignores the unspeakable violence when initiated by the state?" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBoston Marathon Bomb Coverage Reveals Media Hypocrisy and Double Standards

Rogue Cop Assaults Elementary School Student

"When Officer David Bailey grabbed a 10-year-old student by the back of his head and slammed it into the school cafeteria table, it is safe to say that student was not free to leave. On that afternoon, Bailey decided that his routine beat on the streets of Southeast D.C. extended into the hallways of Moten Elementary School. Although Bailey was not a trained school resource officer contracted from the Metropolitan Police Department nor one of the three contract officers assigned to Moten at the time, his presence raised no red flags. Regular visits from the police in D.C. Public Schools had become ubiquitous." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRogue Cop Assaults Elementary School Student

The Role Disability Insurance is Playing in Discouraging Young Adults from Working

"Of the nearly nine million former workers receiving federal disability payments, more than 2.5 million are in their 20s, 30s and 40s. 'It is difficult to overstate the role that the SSDI program plays in discouraging' employment among these young people, Messrs. Autor and Duggan said in one of their research papers, urging reform." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe Role Disability Insurance is Playing in Discouraging Young Adults from Working

Terrible Costs of a ‘Modern Economy’

"When large democracies create state mandates they will inevitably be exploited. Now it appears that nearly a million in Britain were taking advantage of sickness-related benefits that they were not eligible for. This figure is arrived at via reports that 878,300 'decided not to have an official assessment of whether they were fit for work.' The Telegraph informs us this was more than a third of the total number of people claiming sickness-related benefits. 'As well as the 878,300 who chose to drop their claims, another 837,000 who did take the a medical test were found to be fit to work immediately, while a further 367,300 were judged able to some level of work.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTerrible Costs of a ‘Modern Economy’

Community Charge (UK) – 1990 Opposition

"As the amount of the Community Charge began to rise and the inefficiency of local councils in collection of the tax became apparent, large numbers of people refused to pay. Local councils tried to respond with enforcement measures, but these were largely ineffective against such huge numbers of non-payers - up to 30% of former ratepayers in some areas refused to pay. In November 1990, South Yorkshire police said they were planning to refuse to arrest Community Charge defaulters even when instructed to by the courts because it would be 'physically impossible for the police because of the large number of defaulters.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCommunity Charge (UK) – 1990 Opposition

Some Good Cartoons if You’re Suffering from Post-Tax Return Traumatic Stress Disorder

"For the past 30 or so years, I’ve done my own taxes by hand. I thought this was a good approach because it would help me better understand the practical challenges of the tax code. But it’s time to confess that I broke down and used Turbotax for yesterday’s tax return. To help me deal with yesterday’s traumatic experience, I’m sharing some very good cartoons." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSome Good Cartoons if You’re Suffering from Post-Tax Return Traumatic Stress Disorder

24 IRS workers in TN accused of theft

"First it was the families of dead people and state employees. Now, authorities say Internal Revenue Service employees in Tennessee were stealing unemployment and other benefits while fully employed. On Thursday, 13 of those employees were indicted on federal charges that they lied to get unemployment, food stamps, welfare and housing vouchers. An additional 11 have been indicted on state charges of theft greater than $1,000. In all, authorities say the workers improperly received more than $250,000 in government benefits." Continue reading →

Continue Reading24 IRS workers in TN accused of theft

CNBC: So Gold Crashed. Now What?

"These days it seems like everyone is running from gold as fast as they can. Bank of America just removed—perhaps a little late— its $2,000 price target. 'Gold capitulation: No current technical or fundamental support for gold prices,' Bank of America's headline blared. 'Even the most fierce gold bulls must be feeling sheepish after bullion tumbled its most in 30 years, raising questions about gold's value as part of an investor portfolio,' Reuters notes. You can almost smell the fear and loathing of the shiny metal. To some investors, however, the sound of the stampede is not a signal to run with the herd. It's a signal to start jogging the other way." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCNBC: So Gold Crashed. Now What?