crony capitalism

Obama May Levy Carbon Tax to Cut U.S. Deficit, HSBC Says

"Barack Obama may consider introducing a tax on carbon emissions to help cut the U.S. budget deficit after winning a second term as president, according to HSBC Holdings Plc. A tax starting at $20 a metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent and rising at about 6 percent a year could raise $154 billion by 2021, Nick Robins, an analyst at the bank in London, said today in an e-mailed research note, citing Congressional Research Service estimates. In China, the world’s biggest emitter, greenhouse gases from fuel use rose more than 9 percent in 2011." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingObama May Levy Carbon Tax to Cut U.S. Deficit, HSBC Says

Three More Cities Vote to Ban Red Light Cameras

"Voters in League City, Texas spoke loudest against the use of red light cameras. At the end of the evening, 77 percent of the electorate sent a message to the city council that they wanted the automated ticketing machines removed. The message was reinforced with photo enforcement foes pulling off a clean sweep against incumbent city council members. Heidi Thiess defeated the number-one camera supporter, Councilman Mick Phalen, and Geri Bentley ousted Councilman Phyllis Sanborn who had voted to approve the camera contract. Todd Kinsey opposes cameras and won an open council seat." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThree More Cities Vote to Ban Red Light Cameras

Ohio judge rejects lawsuit against voting machine software

"An U.S. District Court judge has rejected a suit alleging that Ohio voting machines were using dangerously vulnerable software that would allow votes to be blocked or altered. Judge Gregory Frost ruled that election activist and Green Party Congressional candidate Bob Fitrakis provided 'zero' evidence for his claims, offering instead only conjecture as to how and why the machines could fail. The judge sided with the state, which argued that discarding the ES&S system and finding and implementing a new system would cause confusion and delays within an already potentially overloaded voting infrastructure." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingOhio judge rejects lawsuit against voting machine software

PA voting machine ‘taken out of service’ for flipping votes to Romney

“A Pennsylvania electronic voting machine was taken out of service after being captured on video changing a vote for President Obama into one for Mitt Romney, NBC News has confirmed. Republicans have also said machines have turned Romney votes into … Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPA voting machine ‘taken out of service’ for flipping votes to Romney

2012 Election Spending Will Reach $6 Billion, Center for Responsive Politics Predicts

"The 2012 election will not only be the most expensive election in U.S. history, the cost will tower over the next most expensive election by more than $700 million. Earlier this year, the Center for Responsive Politics estimated that the 2012 election would cost $5.8 billion -- an estimate that already made it the most expensive in history -- but with less than a week to go before the election, CRP is revising the estimate upwards. According to CRP’s new analysis of Federal Election Commission data, this election will likely cost $6 billion." Continue reading →

Continue Reading2012 Election Spending Will Reach $6 Billion, Center for Responsive Politics Predicts

Monsanto Funded Anti-GMO Labeling Campaign Gets Away with Impersonating Govt. Agencies

"Once again, major corporations are exempt from the laws that heavily apply to the average citizen. One Idaho woman found out in 2011 that misuse of government seals really can land you in jail when you don’t have billions of dollars. Found to be illegally using a phony government seal (sound familiar?), one Caldwell, Idaho woman now faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release — the sentence that applies to the average citizen." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMonsanto Funded Anti-GMO Labeling Campaign Gets Away with Impersonating Govt. Agencies

U.S. waives Jones Act to help get fuel to Northeast

"The Department of Homeland Security's waiver of the Jones Act allows foreign-flagged vessels to begin shipping petroleum products, such as gasoline and diesel, from the Gulf of Mexico to Northeastern ports effective immediately. The Merchant Marine Act of 1920, better known as the Jones Act, was created to support jobs in the maritime industry. It requires goods moved between U.S. ports to be carried by ships built domestically and staffed by U.S. crews." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. waives Jones Act to help get fuel to Northeast

Pentagon to end exclusive deal with RIM’s Blackberry

"The US military and intelligence agencies have long preferred the Blackberry due to security concerns and had worried that Apple, Android and other smart phones lacked sufficient safeguards. The Canadian firm RIM has struggled to compete against the iPhone and devices that use Google’s Android system. Questions remain as to whether companies other than Blackberry can meet the strict encryption criteria employed by intelligence services within the Defense Department, including the eavesdropping National Security Agency." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPentagon to end exclusive deal with RIM’s Blackberry

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