CLibertyC

Donations, lobbying by high-speed traders on the rise

"High-frequency trading firms increased their campaign contributions to federal lawmakers by 673 percent from the 2008 to the 2012 election cycle, according to a report that sheds light on their political connections in Washington and efforts to impact policymaking. It compiles the campaign and lobbying records for 48 different firms like Citadel Investments, Getco, Knight Capital (KCG.N), Virtu Financial LLC and Tradeworx which engage in high-speed trading, a strategy that uses lightning-fast computers to search for ways to take advantage of tiny price moves in the marketplace." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDonations, lobbying by high-speed traders on the rise

Cables reveal American diplomats lobbied aggressively overseas for genetically modified food crops

"The review of more than 900 diplomatic cables by the campaign group Food and Water Watch showed a carefully crafted campaign to break down resistance to GM products in Europe and other countries, and so help promote the bottom line of big American agricultural businesses. The cables, which first surfaced with the Wikileaks disclosures two years ago, described a series of separate public relations strategies, unrolled at dozens of press junkets and biotech conferences, aimed at convincing scientists, media, industry, farmers, elected officials and others of the safety and benefits of GM products." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCables reveal American diplomats lobbied aggressively overseas for genetically modified food crops

The Digital Trap in your Offshore Plan

"It is concerning to see people contacting their offshore lawyers, real estate agents, investment professionals, bankers, etc. using their Gmail, Yahoo, or Hotmail account. Even more concerning is how many offshore professionals were using these free US email accounts themselves. When I told these providers that US law enforcement authorities could access any emails over 6 months old without a warrant in any US-based email account, they were, by and large, surprised. Many discussions took place on how to help protect themselves and their customers by moving their email communications offshore, just like other services." Continue reading →

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Skype with care – Microsoft is reading everything you write

"Back in January, the Electronic Frontier Foundation and Reporters without Borders expressed concern that the restructuring resulting from the takeover meant that Skype would have to comply with US laws on eavesdropping and would therefore have to permit government agencies and secret services to access Skype communications. In summary, The H and heise Security believe that, having consented to Microsoft using all data transmitted over the service pretty much however it likes, all Skype users should assume that this will actually happen and that the company is not going to reveal what exactly it gets up to with this data." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSkype with care – Microsoft is reading everything you write

*Action Alert* Medicaid Expansion Battle Pt. 2 “Lipstick on a Pig”

“Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is argument of tyrants.It is the creed of slaves.”–William Pitt in the House of Commons November 18, 1783 “The appropriation of public money is always is perfectly lovely until some one is asked to pay the bill..” President Calvin Coolidge–New York Herald Tribune, August …

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Continue Reading*Action Alert* Medicaid Expansion Battle Pt. 2 “Lipstick on a Pig”

New Hampshire city suing ‘Robin Hood’ for paying parking meters of strangers

"The six 'Robin Hooders' named in the suit troll downtown Keene — often tracking parking enforcement officers — in search of cars parked at expired meters. When they find one, they pay the meter and slip notes under the windshield wiper of the vehicle that says: 'Your meter expired; however, we saved you from the king’s tariffs, Robin Hood and his Merry Men. Please consider paying it forward.' The note includes an address where people can send donations for the effort. The city claims in the lawsuit that the 'Robin Hooders' are causing the city’s three parking enforcement officers so much anxiety and distress that they’ve considered leaving their jobs." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNew Hampshire city suing ‘Robin Hood’ for paying parking meters of strangers

Florida quietly shortened yellow lights, resulting in millions in additional red light camera fines

"A subtle, but significant tweak to Florida's rules regarding traffic signals has allowed local cities and counties to shorten yellow light intervals, resulting in millions of dollars in additional red light camera fines. The 10 News Investigators discovered the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) quietly changed the state's policy on yellow intervals in 2011, reducing the minimum below federal recommendations. The rule change was followed by engineers, both from FDOT and local municipalities, collaborating to shorten the length of yellow lights at key intersections, specifically those with red light cameras (RLCs)." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFlorida quietly shortened yellow lights, resulting in millions in additional red light camera fines

Why Are Cops Acting Like Soldiers?

"In 1981, President Reagan signed the Military Cooperation with Law Enforcement Act, a law that granted the Pentagon permission to assist domestic police departments engaged in enforcing the nation’s drug laws. Similar legislation accompanied efforts to combat terrorism even before 9/11. A 1997 federal law known as Program 1033 made it easier for state and local law enforcement agencies to obtain surplus military hardware—including body armor, armored vehicles, and surveillance equipment—for use in counterdrug and counterterrorism activities. In 2011, the program transferred $500 million worth of equipment to state and local law enforcement agencies." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWhy Are Cops Acting Like Soldiers?

Pentagon Unilaterally Grants Itself Authority Over ‘Civil Disturbances’

"The lines blurred even further Monday as a new dynamic was introduced to the militarization of domestic law enforcement. By making a few subtle changes to a regulation in the U.S. Code titled 'Defense Support of Civilian Law Enforcement Agencies' the military has quietly granted itself the ability to police the streets without obtaining prior local or state consent, upending a precedent that has been in place for more than two centuries. The most objectionable aspect of the regulatory change is the inclusion of vague language that permits military intervention in the event of 'civil disturbances.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPentagon Unilaterally Grants Itself Authority Over ‘Civil Disturbances’

U.S. Army investigates sexual assault prevention officer for sex abuse

"The unnamed Army sergeant first class had been assigned as an Equal Opportunity Advisor and Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) program, according to the Army. He was immediately suspended from his position once the allegations were made, but has not been charged yet. The alleged incident or incidents involved pandering, abusive sexual contact, assault, and maltreatment. The investigation came just a week after an Air Force sexual assault prevention officer was arrested for drunkenly assaulting a woman in a parking lot." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. Army investigates sexual assault prevention officer for sex abuse