Alternative News

Some Private Sector Contestants for the U.S. vs U.K. Stupidity Contest

"I’ve had some fun on this blog by comparing moronic government policies in the United States and United Kingdom. In my never-ending search for cheap laughs and juvenile entertainment, I’ve ever turned this into a contest to see which nation has more pathetic and useless bureaucrats. The United Kingdom has some very strong contestants. But as a patriotic American, I’m proud to say that we’re giving the Brits a run for their money. As you can see, the United States is filled with equally stupid and clueless government officials." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSome Private Sector Contestants for the U.S. vs U.K. Stupidity Contest

Former Mich. mayor sets bronze statue of himself outside home

"The former mayor of Flint, Mich., Don Williamson, recently set a bronze statue of himself outside his gated home surrounded by six bronze lions, reported Michigan Live. Williamson says the statue itself was made 20 years ago and at one time sat in the building of a company he ran, The Colonel’s Inc., which burned down in 1993 in a suspected arson. His wife imported the lions. Williamson, who now lives in nearby Davison Township, resigned as mayor of Flint soon before his looming defeat in a recall election in 2009." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFormer Mich. mayor sets bronze statue of himself outside home

Illinois Teacher Retirement System Is Broke

"There are only two numbers that matter: the amount of money the pension fund will pay out for earned benefits, and the amount of money it has on hand. Between now and 2045, TRS will pay $376.5 billion to retired teachers. It has just $36.3 billion on hand. In order for these assets to cover future payouts, TRS would need to see average investment returns of more than 18.5 percent per year. The simple fact is that TRS is broke. Under new accounting rules, TRS has less than 23 percent of the money it should have in the bank today in order to make its pension payments." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIllinois Teacher Retirement System Is Broke

Bill Bonner: An Empire of Debt Leading to a “Crack-up” in the Global Monetary System

"As we head into the last few days of the presidential race, we ask Bill Bonner, bestselling author and founder of Agora financial what he thinks the biggest issues on the electoral agenda should be. Considering the problems facing the country took decades to form, can they be easily resolved by the casting of a vote? And what about the debt and the deficit? Both presidential candidates express some concern about the debt, but are either really going to act on those concerns in meaningful ways?" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBill Bonner: An Empire of Debt Leading to a “Crack-up” in the Global Monetary System

Please, for Heaven’s Sake, DON’T CALL THE POLICE

"Michael Kelly of Clayton, Georgia did what he believed to be his duty as a law-abiding citizen. As a result, he and his wife were arrested and spent two days in jail, and nearly lost custody of their 9-year-old son to the department of child services. Michael Kelly’s family has joined the ever-growing roster of innocent victims who can testify that it is NEVER a good idea to call the police for ANY reason." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPlease, for Heaven’s Sake, DON’T CALL THE POLICE

School district calls 12-year-old rape victim ‘negligent’ and ‘careless’ in her own abuse

"The Moraga School District in Moraga, California alleged that a 12-year-old girl, who suffered prolonged sexual abuse at the hands of two different middle school teachers in the 1990s, was 'negligent,' 'careless' and 'was herself responsible for the acts and damages of which she claims.' Former Joaquin Moraga physical education teacher Julie Correa pleaded guilty to rape and sexual battery of Cunnane over a four-year period beginning in 1996, when Cunnane was an eighth grader. The suit also alleges that Cunnane turned to her science teacher, Daniel Witters, to report the abuse, who in turn molested her." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSchool district calls 12-year-old rape victim ‘negligent’ and ‘careless’ in her own abuse

Canadian Law Bans Concealing Face At Protests

"This bill simply adds another layer of restraint when it comes to protests. It will have a chilling effect on anonymity and thus on participation in even peaceful protests. This is because those who wish to remain anonymous simply won't go for fear that a peaceful protest will turn violent – and they will then be ensnared by this new legislation. Both Washington and Canada are rolling out tiny drones that can take pictures of protestors. The law combating anonymity can be seen as a clever step toward making drone surveillance even more effective." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCanadian Law Bans Concealing Face At Protests

The Police-State’s Fascist Strength

"1) WidePoint Corporation has been awarded ... contract to provide mobile Telecom Expense Management Services (TEMS) to the TSA. ... approximately $33 million dollars.... 2) 'L-3 Communications Beats Estimates—Key contract wins during the quarter included ... explosives detection and advanced imaging technology systems to the TSA. Funded order backlog was $11.0 billion. 3) Morpho Detection, Inc. received a five-year indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract from the TSA with a maximum value of $528 million. And this is just one day's gleaning from my Google Alert on the TSA!" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe Police-State’s Fascist Strength

Obama granted clemency to just 22, less than any modern president

"Obama has parceled out forgiveness far more rarely than his recent predecessors, pardoning just 22 individuals while denying 1,019. He has given pardons to roughly 1 of every 50 individuals whose applications were processed by the Justice Department. At this point in his presidency, Ronald Reagan had pardoned 1 of every 3 such applicants. George H.W. Bush had pardoned 1 in 16. Bill Clinton had pardoned 1 in 8. George W. Bush had pardoned 1 in 33. Obama also has been stingy with commutations, applications for early release by those still serving federal prison sentences." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingObama granted clemency to just 22, less than any modern president

POLICING FOR PROFIT: Feds try to take innocent elderly couple’s Mom-and-Pop motel

"Because their property was worth one million dollars and carried no mortgage, and because a handful of drug crimes had taken place on the property over 20 years (which represent less than .05 percent of the 125,000 rooms the Caswells rented over that period of time), the federal government is trying to take the Caswell's property through civil forfeiture, sell the land and keep the money. Under a process known as 'equitable sharing,' the federal government would keep 20 percent of what they net and the local police department would pocket 80 percent." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPOLICING FOR PROFIT: Feds try to take innocent elderly couple’s Mom-and-Pop motel