Editors Note: The follow is by Oklahoma state Representative Jason Murphy and was originally published on his blog. It is reprinted here with permission. Last week I wrote of the shared feeling of helplessness which many feel regarding their inability to have their voice heard in the large, ever-more intrusive federal government. There is certainly…
"'Going under the innocuous name of Sesame Credit, China has created a score for how good a citizen you are,' explains Extra Credits’ video about the program. 'The owners of China’s largest social networks have partnered with the government to create something akin to the U.S. credit score — but, instead of measuring how regularly you pay your bills, it measures how obediently you follow the party line.' In the works for years, China’s ‘social credit system’ aims to create a docile, compliant citizenry who are fiscally and morally responsible by employing a game-like format to create self-imposed, group social control. In other words, China gamified peer pressure to control its citizenry." Continue reading →
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Dec. 30, 2015) – A bill prefiled in the Missouri House for the 2016 legislative session would prohibit the state from denying medical licenses based on failure to participate in a health insurance plan or system, preemptively protecting health care professionals in the state from federal regulation related to Obamacare or Medicaid.…
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (Dec. 30, 2015) – Two bills prefiled for the 2016 session in the Maryland legislature would nullify in practice some Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rules that deny access to experimental treatments by terminally ill patients. Sen. Bryan Simonaire (R – Dist. 31) prefiled Senate Bill 63 (SB63) over the summer. Del. Karen…
COLUMBIA, S.C. (Dec. 29, 2015) – Passage of bills introduced in the South Carolina and Tennessee legislatures for the 2016 legislative session would likely lead to law enforcement agencies operating weaponized drones in those states. Tennessee House Bill 1456 (HB1456) sponsored by Rep. David Byrd (R-Waynesboro) and South Carolina House Bill 4425 (H.4425) sponsored by…
AUGUSTA, Maine (Dec. 29, 2015) – A bill prefiled in the Maine House for the 2016 legislative session would withdraw the state from Common Core standards, an important step toward nullifying nationalized education in the state. Rep. Will Tuell (R- East Machias) along with a bipartisan group of nine cosponsors prefiled LD1492 on Dec. 23.…
MONTPELIER, Vt. (Dec. 29, 2015) – A bill introduced in the Vermont legislature would legalize marijuana for recreational use, taxing and regulating the crop similar to alcohol. The proposal would not only legalize marijuana in the Green Mountain State, it would also take a big step toward nullifying federal cannabis prohibition in practice in Vermont.…
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (Dec. 29, 2015) – A bill prefiled in the Indiana Senate for the 2016 legislative session would reform the state’s asset forfeiture laws, making it more difficult for police to seize property. But a loophole in the legislation would allow law enforcement to work with the feds to skirt the more stringent state law. Sen.…
Yesterday, most of our acoustic panels were installed, and we’re getting close to being ready to start recording!
When I talk about NSA spying and mass warrantless surveillance, I’m pretty sure most people react something like this: yeah, it’s bad, but it doesn’t have any direct impact on me. I mean, why would the government ever bother to spy on me? Really, that’s for the bad guys, or the Muslims. It can’t happen…