Author: The Freedom Watch Staff

This author has written 11091 articles

Government Imposed Disaster: Price Controls in the Wake of Sandy

"For thousands of years governments have imposed maximum price laws and the results have always been the same—shortages that leave consumers worse off. Much as the Roman threat of death couldn’t force producers to bring products to the market, neither can New Jersey’s excessive fines. If gas prices in New York and New Jersey could rise high enough to reflect its true scarcity the profit incentive would induce more suppliers to redirect gas from other states to these areas. Instead, the federal government is scrambling to deliver 22 million gallons of gas itself since the price controls have destroyed the private incentive." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGovernment Imposed Disaster: Price Controls in the Wake of Sandy

Hacking Through the Ole Gordian Knot

"Our Rulers couldn't get serfs to their jobs at all last week, and yesterday, they expected workers to stand in line for two hours just to get on a bus, never mind the actual commute. But suddenly, miraculously, these wunderkinds are 'providing free [sic for 'paid for by others'] 'voter shuttles' ... for people in the Rockaways, Staten Island, and Coney Island whose regular polling places were damaged in last week's storm. The MTA says the shuttle buses will run every 15 to 20 minutes ... in addition to regular bus service and carry voters to alternate voting sites.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingHacking Through the Ole Gordian Knot

Ron Paul: The Economics of Disaster

"Sandy raises uncomfortable questions about the extent to which taxpayers should fund the cleanup and the extent to which government programs create moral hazards. For example, FEMA and the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) are expected to pick up the tab for much of the flood damage caused by the hurricane. Of course, this will mean more federal debt and inflation for the rest of us, since the program only has about $4 billion to work with and is already $18 billion in debt from hurricanes Katrina and Rita. We can only hope FEMA has learned this time not to impede and frustrate private efforts as they have in the past." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRon Paul: The Economics of Disaster

Sandy victims furious as FEMA troubles begin to build

"Homeowners looking to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for assistance to rebuild their homes are learning they won’t get the immediate aid they expected. And maybe no aid at all. While the federal agency has approved $210 million in financial assistance — mostly in vouchers for hotel rooms — aid for rebuilding homes damaged or destroyed last week isn’t flowing as smoothly. FEMA won’t award grants for damage to second homes. It won’t duplicate benefits paid by private insurance. And most of its recovery aid comes in the form of low-interest disaster loans." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSandy victims furious as FEMA troubles begin to build

Internet pirates get 2 years in U.S. prison over bootleg new releases

"Two members of an Internet piracy group were sentenced to prison Friday on charges stemming from unauthorized online distribution of first-run films, officials said. The Justice Department said a Virginia court sentenced Willie Lambert, 57, of Pennsylvania, to 30 months in prison and Sean Lovelady, 28, of California to 23 months. Lambert was ordered to pay $449,514 in restitution and Lovelady $7,500. Lambert and Lovelady were indicted along with two other defendants in April for their roles in the IMAGiNE Group, a ring that sought to copy and release to the Internet copies of movies only showing in theaters." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingInternet pirates get 2 years in U.S. prison over bootleg new releases

Oklahoma Man On No Fly List Fighting To Come Home

"An overseas Oklahoman who hasn't been on the Sooner soil for more than a decade is now fighting to come home. Forty-three-year-old Saadiq Long lives in Qatar where he teaches English. In April, the U.S. Air Force veteran was told he was on the Department of Homeland Security's no fly list. He's been fighting to get taken off the list ever since, but now he's running out of time. Long's mother who still lives in McAlester is terminally ill. Long will try to fly back to Oklahoma this week to visit her, perhaps for the final time. Long, a U.S. citizen, hasn't been given a reason for why he's on the list." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingOklahoma Man On No Fly List Fighting To Come Home

4 police officers arrested for performing rectal searches

"A prosecutor says criminal charges are being filed against four Milwaukee police officers accused of illegally strip searching suspects. Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm says Officer Michael Vagnini faces 25 counts of violating the strip search law, misconduct in public office and sexual assault. The investigation into potentially illegal searches began in March. Police Chief Edward Flynn said at the time the department was aware the searches for drugs had possibly crossed the line to sexual assault and civil rights violations. Seven people have filed notices claiming they were illegally searched." Continue reading →

Continue Reading4 police officers arrested for performing rectal searches

Woman Sues Pantego Police Over Burst Breast Implant

"A North Texas woman who says a Pantego police officer caused her breast implants to rupture during an arrest is suing the town. Rebecca Van Hooser said the officer threw her against her car when he arrested her during a traffic stop on Bowen Road. The Pantego officer pulled her over on a headlight violation and arrested her after learning she had a warrant for an unpaid speeding ticket. Van Hooser spent the night in jail. Her attorney said the rupture has led to health problems." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWoman Sues Pantego Police Over Burst Breast Implant

Ayahuasca-drinking shamans in Peru give Obama the win

"Using maracas, coca leaves and a hallucinogenic brew, shamans in Peru got down to business Monday using pre-Columbian traditional ceremonies to pick a winner in the US presidential race. Members of the group placed flower petals on photos of the candidates that were also swept over with tobacco smoke. The shamans chewed coca leaves, a traditional ceremonial and medicinal plant since Inca times that helps fight altitude sickness. And the crew took some swigs of ayahuasca, a psychoactive brew used widely among Amazon basin indigenous people." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAyahuasca-drinking shamans in Peru give Obama the win