Americans Realize Washington Is the Problem, Support Cap to Control Spending

"Here’s some new polling data that seems very encouraging. Americans, by an overwhelming margin, think that Washington is causing serious harm to the nation. That same poll also found strong support for a limit on federal spending, which warms my heart since I’ve been trying to build support for a Swiss-style spending cap in America. I also was shocked to see another poll that found French and Italians were more supportive of spending cuts than Americans." Continue reading

Continue ReadingAmericans Realize Washington Is the Problem, Support Cap to Control Spending

ICE Agents Raid Wrong House In Moore, OK

"With guns drawn in the home he's lived in for over 10 years, Estrada says agents realized after about five minutes they had the wrong guy. But he says he was kept in handcuffs for another 40 minutes to be fingerprinted. He says he was even asked for his green card. Carlos says he's done nothing but try to do what's right and obey the law. He's been a legal U.S. citizen since 1988. He was told he had been under surveillance by ICE agents for three years and was showed a picture of himself at his job in 2010." Continue reading

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Camden, NJ Agrees to Pay $3.5M to Victims of Police Corruption

"The City of Camden has agreed to pay $3.5 million in damages to 88 people whose convictions were overturned because of widespread corruption in the Camden Police Department. The settlement stems from a series of lawsuits filed against Camden Police in federal district court and state superior court over the last two years, after five officers were charged with a number of federal civil rights violations from conduct involving evidence planting, fabrication of reports and evidence, and perjury." Continue reading

Continue ReadingCamden, NJ Agrees to Pay $3.5M to Victims of Police Corruption

San Diego mayor halts local marijuana shop crackdown

"City code enforcement officers and police will no longer target medical marijuana dispensaries under a directive issued Friday by Mayor Bob Filner. Filner, in letters to Kelly Broughton, director of the Development Services Department, which oversees code compliance, and San Diego police Chief William Landsdowne, also directed both of their departments 'to stop sending dispensary code enforcement cases to the City Attorney's Office for prosecution.'" Continue reading

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Kentucky sheriff says federal gun laws won’t apply in his county

"He says it's his job to protect the people who elected him even if that means going against federal law. A Kentucky sheriff says he's gaining support from across the country for his stance on possible gun regulations. Jackson County Sheriff Denny Peyman says no one in his county will ever have to give up their guns. Sheriff Peyman received a round of applause from a group of almost one hundred gathered at Opal's restaurant this afternoon." Continue reading

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GM says 2012 sales in China hit record highs

"US auto giant General Motors said that its sales in China, the world’s biggest car market, hit a record 2.84 million vehicles last year, despite the country’s slowing economy. GM’s China sales grew 11.3 percent in 2012 from 2011, which recorded the previous record of around 2.55 million vehicles, the company said in a statement. GM’s sales growth outpaced China as a whole. A Chinese industry group said Friday that China’s auto sales rose only 4.3 percent year-on-year to 19.31 million vehicles in 2012." Continue reading

Continue ReadingGM says 2012 sales in China hit record highs

German activists start campaign to destroy surveillance cameras

"German activists are attempting to destroy security cameras in anticipation of the European Police Congress in Berlin in February, according to Michael Ebeling, an opponent of public surveillance writing for France 24′s The Observers. The group organizing the actions, CAMOVER, believe such cameras lead police to discriminate and use stereotypes in search of criminals and criminal activity. They are encouraging people to participate in the 'game' until Feb. 19, when the congress convenes. The country’s Interior Ministry claims the cameras have been shown to reduce crime by almost 20 percent." Continue reading

Continue ReadingGerman activists start campaign to destroy surveillance cameras

Uncle Sam’s Marijuana Patch

"Not many people are aware that the United States government has been dispensing cannabis to several patients across the country for over three decades. The hypocrisy of a government that seizes personal property, locks people in cages and ruins lives for doing exactly what the government has been doing for more than 30 years is simply astounding." Continue reading

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The Death of Privacy

"If the War on Drugs was an erosion of the Fourth Amendment, the 'War on Terror' sounded its death knell. The NSA’s warrantless domestic spying program has turned America into the most surveilled society in history, eclipsing conditions of East Germans under the Stasi. The government is illegally monitoring (in real time) activities not tethered to any suspicious or illegal conduct—for example, phone calls, purchases, email, text messages, Internet searches, social media communications, health information, employment history, travel, and student records—and creating dossiers on everyone (even senators, congressmen, and decorated generals)." Continue reading

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