Monthly Archives: July 2013

eEconomics Episode 10: Austerity

"David examines austerity and its effects on austerity and austerity austerity. Also, austerity is discussed briefly. A note on Reinhart-Rogoff: Who cares? The idea of fiscal responsibility wasn't created in a Harvard classroom three years ago. (a) we don't have austerity (b) two people messing up a spreadsheet doesn't somehow negate the laws of economics. Also, we've actually had deficit spending/stimulus. That's what demonstrably didn't work. But now that's seen as the solution once again because of a spreadsheet advocating a policy we don't follow? It's too insane to really think about." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingeEconomics Episode 10: Austerity

How Many Millions Do Washington D.C, Crony Capitalist CEOs Get Paid?

"Lockheed Martin, Robert J. Stevens, $23.8 million; General Dynamics, Jay L. Johnson, $18.0 million; Northrop Grumman, Wesley G. Bush, $15.5 million; Alliant Techsystems, Mark W. DeYoung, $6.8 million; Exelis, David F. Melcher, $5.8 million; SAIC, John P. Jumper, $5.4 million." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingHow Many Millions Do Washington D.C, Crony Capitalist CEOs Get Paid?

Virginia Gov. did not disclose $120,000 in donations from company he promoted

"Virginia Gov. Robert McDonnell (R) and his family received another unreported $120,000 from the head of a dietary supplement company he promoted, the Washington Post reported Tuesday. McDonnell and his family are already being investigated for allegedly accepting a $6,500 watch and $15,000 in catering costs for his daughter’s wedding from Star Scientific CEO Johnnie R. Williams, Sr. in exchange for his help urging state health officials to approve the company’s anti-inflammatory supplement as an option for Medicare recipients, despite not being federally approved. McDonnell has argued that the payment toward the catering expenses was a gift for his daughter." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingVirginia Gov. did not disclose $120,000 in donations from company he promoted

Sticky Thoughts: The Market, Not The Government, Gave Us Super Glue

"It was the competitive market that finally gave the product life, but first it had to struggle through an incredible array of barriers, from disincentives to monopoly grants to regulatory restrictions. What might have helped people at daily life since the 1940s took a half a century. Part of that time passage is inherent in the market process, but much of the rest of it was due to intervention. It was not science as such that made the difference. It was science given flight by market forces. At each stage of its development, the market was there, encouraging, prodding, guiding, and leading to the light, despite all odds." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSticky Thoughts: The Market, Not The Government, Gave Us Super Glue

Support the Egyptian Uprising and Go to Jail

"Lynne Stewart read a note to the press that was construed as exhorting Egyptian radicals to rise up and violently overthrow the Egyptian military dictatorship under Hosni Mubarak. She is now living the rest of her life in a federal penitentiary. Thus, the state of U.S. law is this: In principle, it’s okay to support the right of people to use force to resist tyranny. After all, that’s what the Declaration of Independence says, a document that Americans just celebrated on the Fourth of July. But in the minds of U.S. officials, by exhorting Egyptians to violently overthrow their tyrannical, U.S.-supported regime, Stewart was guilty of being a supporter of terrorism." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSupport the Egyptian Uprising and Go to Jail

Fukushima appears to be leaking highly radioactive wastewater into ocean

"Members of the Nuclear Regulation Authority voiced frustration at Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO), which has failed to identify the source and the cause of spiking readings of radioactive materials in groundwater. 'It is strongly suspected that highly concentrated contaminated waste water has leaked to the ground and has spread to the sea,' the authority said. The giant utility that services Tokyo and its surrounding regions has said groundwater samples taken at the battered Fukushima Daiichi plant on Tuesday showed levels of possibly cancer-causing caesium-134 were more than 110 times higher than they were on Friday." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFukushima appears to be leaking highly radioactive wastewater into ocean

Suspension over gun-shaped toaster pastry is now permanent mark on kid’s record

"This week brought more bad news for Joshua Welch, the Baltimore-area second-grader who was suspended for two days because his teacher thought he shaped a breakfast pastry into something resembling a gun. School officials have denied an appeal to have the suspension expunged from the boy’s permanent record. Welch, who is now eight, was suspended from Park Elementary School for two days in March after he allegedly sculpted the pastry into something that maybe looked like a gun. At the time, Welch said that his goal was to turn the prefabricated delicacy into a mountain, but that didn’t really materialize." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSuspension over gun-shaped toaster pastry is now permanent mark on kid’s record

Taxation of Americans Abroad versus the 14th Amendment

"The 'citizenship penalty' deserves consideration. Both US citizens abroad and non-resident aliens are non-residents of the U.S. The fact that the U.S. citizen pays higher taxes, because of U.S. citizenship, is arguably a violation of the 'equal protection' clause of the 14th amendment. Furthermore, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that 'citizenship classifications' are 'suspect classifications' and that they can be upheld only if the government can demonstrate a compelling state interest. Why should US citizens abroad pay a penalty because of their citizenship?" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTaxation of Americans Abroad versus the 14th Amendment

Nullification: Not a Temper Tantrum

"When the Supreme Court ruled the feds have the authority to make medicinal marijuana illegal across the U.S., more than 15 states said, 'No,' and created medical cannabis programs anyway. And when the Bush administration pushed through the Real ID Act in 2005, seeking to create a national system of identification, states said, 'No,' and refused to take steps to implement the program. In fact, state governments have utilized nullification to fight a wide range of overreaching federal actions, from military conscription during the War of 1812 to the Fugitive Slave Acts in the 1850s. From overreaching FDA regulations to groping TSA searches today." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNullification: Not a Temper Tantrum

Glenn Greenwald: Edward Snowden likely to accept Venezuela asylum

"Greenwald told Reuters after speaking with Snowden on Tuesday that of the three countries that have offered Snowden asylum, Venezuela is better positioned 'to get him safely from Moscow to Latin America and to protect him once he’s there,' Greenwald said. 'They’re a bigger country, a stronger country and a richer country with more leverage in international affairs.' In addition to Venezuela, Nicaragua and Bolivia have indicated they would offer Snowden asylum. Cuba’s president said he supported Snowden and countries’ offers of asylum, but did not put forth an offer from Cuba." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGlenn Greenwald: Edward Snowden likely to accept Venezuela asylum