Laboratories Of Democracy

Doors swing open for advocates of marijuana legalization on Capitol Hill

"Advocates for the legalization of marijuana plan to step up their political giving and lobbying efforts now that members of Congress are taking an interest in changing federal drug laws. The lobbyists say lawmakers who wouldn’t give them the time of day are suddenly interested in meeting with them and introducing legislation following the approval of ballot initiatives in Colorado and Washington that legalized recreational use of the drug. Lobbyists say the battle that is brewing over drug laws will be far-reaching and not confined to recreational use of marijuana." Continue reading →

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Arizona bill would make gold, silver coins acceptable forms of payment

"Arizonans who fear the federal government will make their folding money worthless may soon be able to substitute privately minted gold and silver coins. The measure is crafted to get around a provision of the U.S. Constitution which bars states from minting their own coins. But supporters also note it says that states cannot 'make any thing but gold and silver coin a tender in payment of debts.' That, they contend, permits states to recognize coins minted by others. Crandell said the ultimate bottom line is a lack of confidence in the dollar -- or at least the real value of the dollar, what with the Federal Reserve Bank continuing to print new money." Continue reading →

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7 Ways States Are Defying the Federal Government With Local Laws

"In light of an overbearing federal government pushing gun control, health care reform, and the NDAA, some local governments have taken actions to increase the freedom in their states. There are, of course, so many ways that states try to exert their constitutional power but these are the top seven." Continue reading →

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Seasteading: Striking at the Root of Bad Government

"We know it is possible to live on the ocean; we know there are ways to make money there, and our mission is to drive down the costs of seasteading to transform the ocean from potential frontier into real frontier and eventually into just another option with some serious advantages. This will lead to experimentation and innovation in governance and force existing States to improve or wither away for a lack of residents. The challenges are large but the potential payoffs are much, much larger. By transforming the political problem of bad governance into a hard but achievable technological problem, which humans have a knack for solving, we make success possible." Continue reading →

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The DEA Wants to Use a $37 Pot Sale to Seize a $1.5 Million Anaheim Building

"As it happens, the building owners are the kind of clients whom defense attorneys love to represent: law-abiding citizens. Specifically, they are married, in their late middle age and from Irvine. The wife is a dentist; the husband a computer engineer who holds a government security clearance, which is why the latter asked to remain anonymous. Although he feels he has done nothing wrong, he explains, even being accused of allowing his property to be used to break the law is embarrassing to him." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe DEA Wants to Use a $37 Pot Sale to Seize a $1.5 Million Anaheim Building

Washington state prepares to take on TSA

"HB 1454, The Washington State Freedom Of Travel Act, uses clear and commonsense language to point out the illegal activities which the TSA is already carrying out on a regular basis and sets penalties for violations within the state. The bill goes on to mention the illegality of groping and removing children from parental custody without permission, important sections in light of the TSA's apparent policy of hiring criminals, including a former Catholic priest who was defrocked for sexually abusing young girls." Continue reading →

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Food Freedom vs. Regulatory Busybodies

"Cottage food laws, state laws permitting people to sell some foods prepared in the home, are one such development. In California, the state’s new cottage food law (which I wrote about previously here) appears to be a huge hit just a month into its existence. The law has already helped formerly illicit sellers to enter the legal food market. State laws permitting cottage foods are quickly catching up with the demand for looser regulations. Nearly three-dozen states now have cottage food laws in place. And advocates in other states—including Minnesota and Alabama—are pushing to add their states to the growing list." Continue reading →

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Charlottesville, Virginia Becomes First City to Pass Anti-Drone Legislation

"Charlottesville, Va., has become the first city in the United States to formally pass an anti-drone resolution. The resolution passed by a 3-2 vote and was brought to the city council by activist David Swanson and the Rutherford Institute, a civil liberties group based in the city. The measure also endorses a proposed two-year moratorium on drones in Virginia. Councilmember Dede Smith, who voted in favor of the bill, says that drones are 'pretty clearly a threat to our constitutional right to privacy'." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCharlottesville, Virginia Becomes First City to Pass Anti-Drone Legislation

Rick Perry urges Californians to relocate to Texas

"In a new radio ad, the Republican governor urges California businesses to relocate to Texas to avoid high tax rates and regulations. The ad will air in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento, Inland Empire and San Diego. 'Building a business is tough, but I hear building a business in California is next to impossible,' Perry says in the ad. 'This is Texas Gov. Rick Perry, and I have a message for California businesses: come check out Texas. There are plenty of reasons Texas has been named the best state for doing business for eight years running.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRick Perry urges Californians to relocate to Texas

Rick Perry urges Californians to relocate to Texas

"In a new radio ad, the Republican governor urges California businesses to relocate to Texas to avoid high tax rates and regulations. The ad will air in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento, Inland Empire and San Diego. 'Building a business is tough, but I hear building a business in California is next to impossible,' Perry says in the ad. 'This is Texas Gov. Rick Perry, and I have a message for California businesses: come check out Texas. There are plenty of reasons Texas has been named the best state for doing business for eight years running.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRick Perry urges Californians to relocate to Texas