Alternative News

“Butt Out,” 60% of 18 to 34-Year Olds Tell Federal Government

"Despite a horrendous unemployment rate of 45% for this age group — almost as bad as Spain’s and Greece’s — about 60% of America’s young adults believe that the government should get out of their lives. Even more amazing, half believe that the government is not helping the economy. Two-thirds are favorable to entrepreneurship. These opinions were made clear in a recent poll sponsored by the Young America Foundation. Unfortunately, only 44% think that free markets are positive." Continue reading →

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Idaho Seizes Medical Marijuana Activists’ Kids

"There have been sporadic local marijuana legalization efforts in past years, and this year, medical marijuana supporters are in the midst of signature-gathering campaign to put an initiative on the ballot. That campaign is led by Compassionate Idaho, some of whose most stalwart and publicly visible members are Lindsey and Josh Rinehart and Sarah Caldwell. But with an incident that began while Caldwell and the Rineharts were away on a retreat, the trio are learning a harsh lesson in hardball pot politics. When they got back home, their kids were gone, and the police and child social services had them." Continue reading →

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Lead bullets for artists in Buenos Aires

"Since January this year, the building has been militarized by the city government, with numerous metropolitan police officers and unidentified security personnel circulating its facilities and with all the activities suspended. This is how those in charge of 'culture' in the city of Buenos Aires chose to solve a long-standing conflict. At night on Wednesday, an operation by the Metropolitan Police seriously escalated the level of violence of the conflict trying to evict forcefully the protesters who were carrying out a cultural camp at the square adjacent to the complex, causing at least three gunshot wounds." Continue reading →

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Shocking video: Rio police heli opens fire in slum during drug baron car chase

"A shocking video of Rio de Janeiro police in a helicopter firing on a moving car in a populous slum has sparked a probe. Footage emerged of the high-octane chase a year after it happened, raising concerns over the excessive use of police force." Continue reading →

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Detroit Threatens To Remove Community-Provided Bus Stop Benches

"Some people from the Detroit Enterprise Academy think that bus patrons - especially older folks - shouldn't have to stand and wait at the city's bus stops, so they put together a voluntary force to do something about it. They build benches from reclaimed wood, fancy them up a bit, and place them at bus stops where resting spots are much needed. The benches built by the crew seat six people, and they also have bookcases in the bottom, filled with books. DDOT (Detroit Department of Transportation) officials have said the placement of benches has not followed protocol, and therefore the benches are not approved and must be removed." Continue reading →

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DOJ: We don’t need warrants for e-mail, Facebook chats

"The U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI believe they don't need a search warrant to review Americans' e-mails, Facebook chats, Twitter direct messages, and other private files, internal documents reveal. Government documents obtained by the American Civil Liberties Union and provided to CNET show a split over electronic privacy rights within the Obama administration, with Justice Department prosecutors and investigators privately insisting they're not legally required to obtain search warrants for e-mail." Continue reading →

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Gun Violence in the USA Has Declined for 20 Years

"Gun violence has been falling in the United States for two decades. Between 1993 and 2010, the gun homicide rate fell by 49%. The public does not perceive this, thanks to media attention to specific cases of gun violence. Rates for all categories of violence have fallen. This includes gun violence. The same study revealed that 56% of those surveyed believe that gun violence is worse today than in 1993. Another 26% think it is about the same. Only 12% think it has declined. What about mass shootings? These account for 1% of all homicides. But stories about them attract readers. The public is uninformed. This comes as no surprise." Continue reading →

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Bank Of Korea Delivers The Latest Surprise Interest Rate Cut This Week

"The Bank of Korea just unexpectedly cut its key interest rate to 2.5% from 2.75%. This is pretty remarkable, considering that market economists have already been surprised by two other central bank rate cuts this week. On Monday, the Reserve Bank of Australia unexpectedly lowered its key interest rate to 2.75% from 3%. Earlier Wednesday, the National Bank of Poland unexpectedly cut its key interest rate to 3% from 3.25%. These three surprise rate cuts follow the ECB and the Reserve Bank of India last week. Global growth slowdown, 'currency wars,' etc. – call it whatever you'd like, but it seems to really be getting going now." Continue reading →

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This Is Your S&P; This Is Your S&P Without Tuesdays

"Since the mid-November lows, the S&P 500 has gained a remarkable 268 points on the back of faith, hope, and Bernanke/Kuroda charity. But perhaps what is more mind-numbing is that this efficient market has given us more than 50% of those gains on Tuesdays. With 17 up-days in a row, Tuesday is the Monday dip-buyers dream. Since 1/18, absent Tuesdays, the S&P 500 has gone nowhere. Maybe Bob Geldof needs to write a new song for the US investor 'I do like Tuesdays', or at least a slightly revised cover version of the Bangles' 'Manic Tuesday'. What would we do without Tuesdays?" Continue reading →

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