Author: The Freedom Watch Staff

This author has written 11091 articles

Man with strange watch arrested at Oakland airport

"A bomb squad arrived within five minutes and determined there were no explosive materials in the watch, Nelson said. The checkpoint was closed while officers secured the area. McGann was taken to Santa Rita Jail in Dublin where he was charged with possessing materials to make an explosive device, sheriff's officials said. He was still in custody Friday night and could not be reached for comment. McGann told Transportation Security Administration officers that he's an artist and the watch is art, Nelson said." Continue reading →

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Feds Expand Definition of “Cash” To Include Stored Value Cards

"Bitcoin and similar digital currencies make FinCEN’s currency reporting rules, and their expansion to encompass TPADs, obsolete before they’re even finalized. But don’t think for a minute that technological innovation will prevent these rules from coming into effect. Whether the initiative actually accomplishes anything is much less important than whether it appears to be accomplishing something. And it’s simply inconceivable to ask whether the wars are worth fighting at all, and if we should simply allow individuals to move their assets anywhere in the world, as they see fit, without government imposed restrictions." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFeds Expand Definition of “Cash” To Include Stored Value Cards

How The Alternative Minimum Tax Could Slam You

"This year, unless Congress applies a new patch, the AMT will apply to nearly half of people with incomes of $75,000 to $100,000. Without action, an estimated 27 million more tax filers could find themselves paying an average of $3,700 more in taxes for 2012. And yes, the financial hit applies to this tax year. Even if the new, incoming Congress applies an AMT patch after January, experts say it will be an accounting nightmare. It's difficult to undo the tax once the filing season has begun in January, and at the least, it would result in long processing delays of all returns." Continue reading →

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Sanctions: More Deadly Than The Atomic Bomb?

"Comparing the effects of sanctions vs nuclear bombs. Contrasting the fatalities of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima to those of the sanctions imposed on Iraq in the 1990s. 'Genocide masquerading as policy' as one congressman put it. Should the US do the same to Iran? Are sanctions a legitimate 'diplomatic tool' to avert war?" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSanctions: More Deadly Than The Atomic Bomb?

Gaza, an impoverished and besieged sliver of land

"Some 1.6 million Palestinians live in the cramped territory spread over 362 square kilometres (140 square miles) along the Mediterranean, making it one of the most densely populated parts of the world. The economic and humanitarian situation in the enclave has been precarious since Israel imposed an economic embargo after Hamas seized power in 2007. Under its blockade, Israel controls all goods entering the Gaza Strip, except those smuggled through tunnels under the border with Egypt. The blockade also involves a blanket ban on all weapons and munitions." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGaza, an impoverished and besieged sliver of land

U.S. gives ‘full backing’ to Israel while urging de-escalation of Gaza violence

"The Israeli ambassador to Washington, Michael Oren, says the US has given his government a free hand in its assault on Gaza as the Israeli cabinet ordered a large call up of military reserves, prompting fears of a ground invasion. The Palestinian delegation to Washington condemned the US response to the crisis as 'biased and weak', and called on the White House to stop Israel using American-made weapons against civilians. It also described as 'shameful' what it called the justification of the murder of Palestinians by countries supporting Israeli actions, including Britain." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. gives ‘full backing’ to Israel while urging de-escalation of Gaza violence

Israel taking steps to mobilize up to 75,000 reservists

"Defence Minister Ehud Barak sought government approval on Friday to mobilize up to 75,000 reserve troops for Israel's Gaza campaign, political sources said, in a sign of preparations for a possible ground offensive. The sources, speaking after Palestinian rockets were fired at Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, said ministers were being polled by telephone by the cabinet secretary to approve the call-up." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIsrael taking steps to mobilize up to 75,000 reservists

Swiss middle class real income continues to rise

"Switzerland’s middle class has never enjoyed as much income as it does today, but the richest and poorest groups of the population have seen theirs grow more substantially. Sixty to 80 per cent of the Swiss population are considered middle class. A couple without children with a revenue between SFr67,000 ($70,800) and SFr150,000 belongs to this category, as does a couple with children and income between SFr94,000 and SFr210,000. Over the past 20 years, real income for the Swiss middle class has increased six to eight per cent, better than in most other countries." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSwiss middle class real income continues to rise

Wealth and Prosperity Do Exist … if You Know Where to Look

"The pursuit of prosperity for ourselves and our children is the underpinning of the American dream – the idea that being all that you can be is possible. But it seems things are changing… The 2012 Legatum Prosperity Index has just been made public. It reveals that America is no longer among the Top 10 countries for the first time ever. We are now 12th. The essential question is: What pulled America out of the top 10? Was it our health care system? An antiquated educational system? Eroding personal freedoms? No. It was the rather significant decline in 'entrepreneurship and opportunity.' Many U.S. citizens no longer believe that hard work pays off." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWealth and Prosperity Do Exist … if You Know Where to Look

French officials furious at Economist “time-bomb” taunt

"French officials angrily rejected a charge by Britain's The Economist weekly on Friday that France was the 'time-bomb at the heart of Europe' and a danger to the euro single currency, accusing the magazine of sensationalism. French public spending accounts for 56 percent of gross domestic product, the highest level in the euro zone, and public debt reached 90 percent of GDP this year. Hollande's deficit-reduction strategy is based two-thirds on tax increases, much of it on businesses, and one-third on spending cuts." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFrench officials furious at Economist “time-bomb” taunt