Author: The Freedom Watch Staff

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Moody’s downgrades France’s credit rating

"In what will be a severe blow to Socialist president François Hollande, the agency said it was reducing the country’s rating from AAA to AA1, claiming France’s ability for economic growth was being hampered by 'structural challenges' including its lack of competitiveness, high unemployment, public debt and market rigidity. It said it was not confident Hollande’s government could – or would – introduce the necessary structural reforms and spending cuts to improved its rating in the medium term and expressed concern over France’s exposure to risks from other ailing eurozone countries." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMoody’s downgrades France’s credit rating

Spain considers automatic residency to foreign home buyers

"Spain may offer automatic residency to foreigners such as Chinese and Russians who buy homes in the country, aiming to help the ruined housing market, a government official said Monday. 'We have proposed to the other ministries that for residents who acquire a home in Spain for more than 160,000 euros ($205,000), that will automatically entail a residency permit,' said junior trade minister Jaime Garcia-Legaz. Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy later told a news conference that 'no decision' had yet been taken on formally launching the scheme, but said that Spain’s stock of unsold housing needed to be sold at 'reasonable prices'." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSpain considers automatic residency to foreign home buyers

Coerced Foreign Tax Compliance Is Killing American Jobs

"No doubt thanks in part to FATCA, foreign direct investment in the US for the first half of 2012 declined by 39.2% over the prior year, and China surpassed the US as the world’s largest recipient of global foreign direct investment for the first time since 2003. At a time when Washington should be pursuing policies designed to attract foreign investment capital to American shores, politicians seem intent on driving it away." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCoerced Foreign Tax Compliance Is Killing American Jobs

Will Judge Napolitano Run for President in 2016?

"Judge Napolitano talks to Wenzel about his new book, Theodore and Woodrow. Find out how these presidents were instrumental in Americans losing many of their freedoms. In addition, the Judge tells Wenzel if he will run for president in 2016. He also discusses why the potential for civil unrest and a totalitarian state are a very real possibilities." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWill Judge Napolitano Run for President in 2016?

Piedmont Officer Fired After Writing Controversial Public Urination Ticket

"Piedmont police have fired the officer who ticketed a mom $2,500 after her son urinated in their front yard. After allegedly being harassed by this officer, the Warden family got justice. The $2,500 ticket was dropped, the police chief personally apologized, and the officer was disciplined. Both the mayor and the police chief said the officer should have used better judgment. Veteran officer Ken Qualls was suspended on Tuesday, and he was fired on Friday." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPiedmont Officer Fired After Writing Controversial Public Urination Ticket

Student Expelled for Refusing Location Tracking RFID Badge

"The letter, sent on November 13, informs her father that the Smart ID program, which was phased in with the new school year, is now in 'full implementation' and requires all students to comply by wearing the location-tracking badges. Since Andrea Hernandez has refused to wear the badge, she is being withdrawn from the magnet school and her program at the Science and Engineering Academy, and instead will have to attend William Howard Taft HS, which is not currently involved in the ID scheme, unless she changes her position." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingStudent Expelled for Refusing Location Tracking RFID Badge

Greeks commemorate 1970s student uprising crushed by US-backed military junta

"Thousands of Greeks marched behind a blood-stained national flag on Saturday to commemorate the violent suppression of a 1973 student uprising against a US-backed military junta. The bloodied flag that flew over the Athens Polytechnic on the night of November 17, 1973 — seen as a key moment in the restoration of democracy to Greece — was carried as usual at the head of the annual demonstration in memory of those who died. Police said about 20,000 people marched in total in the capital. Outside the U.S. embassy, some of the protesters set fire to an American flag." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGreeks commemorate 1970s student uprising crushed by US-backed military junta

Here’s What’s In That Economist Article That Has France Outraged

"Here are some key bullets from the report. Public spending is 57% of the nation's output. Debt-to-GDP is 90%. No new company has entered the CAC-40 stock market index since 1987. Nobody gets fired. Unions protest over any reforms. France still has a high standard of living, and has some of the best companies in the world, but growth has stalled. Unemployment is 10%. Youth unemployment much higher. France can still borrow cheaply, but it's also resting on past laurels (it's still a gigantic tourist destination). New President Francois Hollande is ostensibly powerful, but his approval rating has plunged." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingHere’s What’s In That Economist Article That Has France Outraged