Alternative News

Illinois Bill to Register Buyers of Gold and Silver Coins

"It had to come. It has been introduced in Illinois, the most anti-gun state in the USA. 'Creates the Precious Metal Purchasing Act. Provides that a person who is in the business of purchasing precious metal shall obtain a proof of ownership, create a record of the sale, and verify the identity of the seller. Provides that a person who is in the business of purchasing precious metal shall not pay for the precious metal in cash and shall >record the method of payment. Requires the purchaser to keep a record of the sale for one year or, if the purchase amount is over $500, for 5 years.'" Continue reading →

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Passport Denials Long a Feature of U.S. Foreign Policy

"Neither national nor international law appears likely to stop the U.S. government’s concerted efforts to deny due process to those placed on the No-Fly List. While today’s mechanisms of travel control are far more sophisticated than those that Mrs. Shipley had at her disposal, the net effect is virtually identical: Both U.S. citizens and those wishing to visit the United States are denied a fundamental human right. Hopefully, you’ll never be placed on the No Fly List. But if you are, you’ll appreciate the utility of a second passport, 'just in case.'" Continue reading →

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Idaho Adopts Khan’s Free Online Academy

"The state of Idaho’s educational bureaucracy next year will allow public school students in two dozen schools to take Khan Academy’s free courses for full credit. This is a test. This is a huge breakthrough for liberty. It means that a state has tentatively accepted the idea that online education that is provided by a legally independent third party who is not in any way under control of the state’s educational establishment may be as good as classroom education." Continue reading →

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Barter and Alternative Currencies Growing in Greece

"The issue of tax reporting is brought into the article – and an insinuation is made that people are dodging taxes by using these systems. But so far as we can tell, such systems need central bookkeeping, which is one reason why we figure the United Nations has been a supporter of them. Gold and silver are far harder to track for personal usage than barter/currency systems that use a centralized bookkeeping system. Are Greeks turning to gold and silver as well, as those in Zimbabwe have done once the economy collapsed? We would bet gold and silver are finding their place alongside such barter/currency systems." Continue reading →

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U.S. Inflation Since 1775 And How It Took Off In 1933

"Yesterday at the American Economic Association's 2013 Annual Meeting, Carmen Reinhart and Ken Rogoff offered a paper titled Shifting Mandates: The Federal Reserve’s First Centennial. The paper included a cool chart of inflation since 1775. The authors argue that inflation didn't take off until the U.S. went off the gold standard in 1933." Continue reading →

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Krugman: Let’s Just Print Funny Money

"Don’t like the platinum coin option? Here’s a functionally equivalent alternative: have the Treasury sell pieces of paper labeled 'moral obligation coupons', which declare the intention of the government to redeem these coupons at face value in one year. It should be clearly stated on the coupons that the government has no, repeat no, legal obligation to pay anything at all; you see, they’re not debt, and therefore don’t count against the debt limit. But that shouldn’t keep them from having substantial market value." Continue reading →

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Krugman Gives the Thumbs Up on the Minting of a Trillion Dollar Platinum Coin

"Should President Obama be willing to print a $1 trillion platinum coin if Republicans try to force America into default? Yes, absolutely.[...] So if the 14th amendment solution — simply declaring that the debt ceiling is unconstitutional — isn’t workable, go with the coin." Continue reading →

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Do You Live in a “Death Spiral” State?

"Eleven states make our list of danger spots for investors. They can look forward to a rising tax burden, deteriorating state finances and an exodus of employers. The list includes California, New York, Illinois and Ohio, along with some smaller states like New Mexico and Hawaii. …Two factors determine whether a state makes this elite list of fiscal hellholes. The first is whether it has more takers than makers. The second element in the death spiral list is large debts, an uncompetitive business climate, weak home prices and bad trends in employment." Continue reading →

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Florida: Changing Car Color Does Not Justify Traffic Stop

"Courts in Florida are now split on the question of whether motorists should be subjected to stop and search simply because they repainted their car in a new color. Last year, the Fourth District Court of Appeal said yes, they should be stopped. On December 21, the First District Court of Appeal came to the opposite conclusion." Continue reading →

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‘Oregon Trial’

"The state of Oregon is considering an 'alternative tax for drivers who have bought efficient or electric vehicles that seldom or never stop at the gasoline pump, where government has traditionally collected money to build and fix roads. In its upcoming session, the Oregon Legislature is expected to consider a bill to require drivers with a vehicle getting at least 55 miles per gallon of gasoline or its equivalent to pay a per-mile tax after 2015.'" Continue reading →

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