Network Archives

Will the End of Cannabis Prohibition Benefit the Small Farmer?

"The answer has as much to do with simple accounting as the more common outsider assumption: that farmers fear the price drops that come when a prohibitionary economy dissolves (though this is certainly part of the story). When, in three generations of farming, your family has never had to pay taxes, record payroll or meet building code, let alone meet a customer (the Emerald Triangle has an entire caste of middlemen and women who broker wholesale deals, so the farmer doesn’t have to leave the farm), the prospect of coming aboveground -- and dealing with the same red tape every other industry does -- can be terrifying." Continue reading →

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Czech Republic Legalizes Medical Marijuana Use

"Czech President Vaclav Klaus has signed into law legislation that makes it legal in the Czech Republic to use marijuana for medical treatment. Klaus gave his approval on Friday, after the law had been approved by both houses of Parliament. It allows marijuana to be imported and later grown locally by registered firms licensed for such activity, which is currently illegal. Medical marijuana use is legal in a number of European countries and parts of the United States. The drug is commonly used to relieve conditions such as chronic pain and cancer." Continue reading →

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Guerrilla surveillance camera destruction hits the U.S.

"It started in Berlin: Anarchists, donning black bloc attire, hit the streets at night in pairs, small groups or alone to smash and dismantle the CCTV surveillance cameras adorning the city streets. The anti-surveillance project quickly spread throughout Germany, to Finland, Greece and hit the U.S. West Coast this month. A group identifying itself as 'the Barefoot Bandit Brigade' released a statement claiming to have 'removed and destroyed 17 security cameras throughout the Puget Sound region,' with ostensible photo evidence published alongside." Continue reading →

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Marines, sailors to ‘invade’ Jasper County for training mission

"About 150 Marines and sailors will hold 'realistic urban training' in Jasper County later this week as part of pre-deployment training. Times and exact locations for the training are not being announced. Residents will likely see and hear military vehicles and possibly see aircraft. The Marines and sailors likely will be stationed on ships, and the training is part of a certification for deployment to Mediterranean and African shores. Participants will be in uniform and carry weapons. Some exercises will take place at night. Residents might hear 'popping' sounds as Marines fire blanks. The training has been coordinated with local, county and state agencies and officials." Continue reading →

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Obama’s Drones – Coming to a Window Near You

"The Constitution of the Unites States guarantees that we shall not be 'deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law,' that we have a right to trial and to be charged with a crime. But if the president of the United States, as a Columbia Law School professor described President Obama’s actions a few days ago, 'is acting as judge, jury and executioner,' how are we to defend ourselves? We can at least start by demanding that Capitol Hill outlaw the use of surveillance drones against the 315,279,355 presumed innocent Americans now living in the United States." Continue reading →

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As Secretive “Stingray” Surveillance Tool Becomes More Pervasive, Questions Over Its Illegality Increase

"A few months ago, EFF warned of a secretive new surveillance tool, commonly referred to as a 'Stingray,' being used by the FBI in cases around the country. The device, which acts as a fake cell phone tower, essentially allows the government to electronically search large areas for a particular cell phone's signal—sucking down data on potentially thousands of innocent people along the way. At the same time, law enforcement has attempted use them while avoiding many of the traditional limitations set forth in the Constitution, like individualized warrants. This is why we called the tool 'an unconstitutional, all-you-can-eat data buffet.'" Continue reading →

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How Big Was the Tax Hike for Everyone Earning a Paycheck?

"The payroll tax paid by workers increased from 4.2% to 6.2% at the start of the year. The regressive tax is paid by everybody who earns $113,700 annually or less. That means someone making the median income of about $50,000 will pay $1,000 a year more in taxes, or a little more than $19 a week. These receipts are supposed to pay for Social Security and Medicare, but they are actually spent along with all other revenues. I monitor the 260-day moving sum of withheld income and employment taxes deposited at the US Treasury. It was $1,791 billion on December 18. It jumped $25 billion to $1,816 billion on January 18. That’s a significant tax increase." Continue reading →

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Millions Improperly Claimed ‘Lifeline’ Phone Subsidies

"The U.S. government spent about $2.2 billion last year to provide phones to low-income Americans, but a Wall Street Journal review of the program shows that a large number of those who received the phones haven't proved they are eligible to receive them. The Lifeline program—begun in 1984 to ensure that poor people aren't cut off from jobs, families and emergency services—is funded by charges that appear on the monthly bills of every landline and wireless-phone customer. Payouts under the program have shot up from $819 million in 2008, as more wireless carriers have persuaded regulators to let them offer the service." Continue reading →

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