Land Of The Flea

Families upset with how deputies handled boys’ arrests

"'I frantically ran across the police officers where threatening to put us under custody for wanting to know what was going on with our children,' she said. Her child, Josmir, along with two of his friends, was being arrested by Charlotte County deputies. 'I saw some of the police officers laughing at me,' said Josmir. 'Like I deserved this, like I was a horrible person, a criminal. They were just laughing, laughing at all of us.' The charge was trespassing on Port Charlotte Middle School grounds. 'I think this was an innocent mistake that went too far because they have power and they though they were going to get away with it,' Mirna said." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFamilies upset with how deputies handled boys’ arrests

America’s real divide: The political class, and the rest of us

"The political class is subject to a different set of laws than the rest of us. Instead of a nation based upon the idea that all citizens have equal rights before the law, politicians, bureaucrats, and their minions are regularly shown special preference. In the words of George Orwell, 'some animals are more equal than others.' While some states are now liberalizing their drugs laws, America — the Land of the Free — has the highest incarceration rate in the world due to the War on Drugs. On the other hand, Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama have both admitted to using marijuana when they were younger. Many other high government officials are on the record as marijuana users." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAmerica’s real divide: The political class, and the rest of us

Will Congress Support Military Action In Syria? A ThinkProgress Whip Count

"A ThinkProgress analysis of the public statements of 400 Representatives found that 200 lawmakers have either decisively ruled out supporting the measure or say they are unlikely to back it. Just 48 of the 400 members of the House of Representatives said they will definitely or likely vote in favor or the resolution. A vote in the House is not expected until next week at the earliest. 152 members have publicly said they are undecided and the positions of 33 members are unknown. All told, 361 members either have not decided, or indicated they are willing to consider changing their position." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWill Congress Support Military Action In Syria? A ThinkProgress Whip Count

California Senate Says No To NDAA

"This week the California State Senate unanimously shot down the federal government's indefinite detention powers in a 37-0 vote. Lawmakers are refusing to provide material support for the National Defense Authorization Act, and if the measure becomes law it will be difficult for the government to enforce indefinite detention in the state. Tangerine Bolen, founder and director for RevolutionTruth, has more on the NDAA." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCalifornia Senate Says No To NDAA

Can the Police Go to the Front Door of a Home With “No Trespassing” Signs?

"The Supreme Court indicated that a police officer’s right to walk up to a front door of a person’s home is subject to an implied license based on existing social norms. Going on to the property and approaching the front door is a physical intrusion onto the curtilage, Jardines holds. But there is an implied license to approach a front door with the intent to knock and try to speak to the homeowner. Jardines holds that the implied license does not extend to bringing a dog to the front porch of a house with the intent to search the home. One question that arises from Jardines is whether the police can go up the front door when a homeowner puts up 'no trespassing' signs or something similar." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCan the Police Go to the Front Door of a Home With “No Trespassing” Signs?

Pennsylvania man pays $7,143 school tax bill in $1 bills

"Fed up with having to pay $7,143 in school taxes for a district his children don’t attend, a Forks Township man paid that portion of his tax bill last week in single dollar bills. And it's all on YouTube. 'We don't even use the public system, yet I am being forced to pay all this money into a public school system,' he said. 'I don't think that's really either fair or just or even ethical. It would be the equivalent if McDonald's were to force vegetarians to pay for their cheeseburgers.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPennsylvania man pays $7,143 school tax bill in $1 bills

California Gold Rush county votes to secede and form state of ‘Jefferson’

"Leaders of a rural Northern California county are inviting communities in both California and Oregon to join them after voting on Tuesday to pursue seceding from the state. The Redding Record Searchlight reported that the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors approved a plan to form their own state, 'Jefferson,' in a 4-1 vote, citing a lack of representation at the state level and complaints about a $150 fire prevention fee for homeowners in smaller counties like Siskiyou. More than 100 residents reportedly packed the meeting, most of them supporting the decision. At least one neighboring county, Humboldt County, is considering a similar plan." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCalifornia Gold Rush county votes to secede and form state of ‘Jefferson’

FTC Begins Sanctions Against Insecure Internet-Connected Device Companies

"The FTC is steadily hacking the law to make itself the country’s de facto privacy regulator. In this case, it’s using its right to punish a company for being 'unfair' to consumers. But its power is limited: it can’t fine TRENDnet; it can only require it to notify customers, establish 'a comprehensive security program' — that includes pen testing its products — and agree to 20 years of privacy audits (just like Facebook and Google). If TRENDnet messes up again after this, the FTC can then fine it up to $16,000 per violation (a power it used to fine Google $22.5 million). There may well be more FTC orders to come." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFTC Begins Sanctions Against Insecure Internet-Connected Device Companies

Jacob Hornberger: Who’s Really Getting Punished?

"It’s not just the Syrian troops and 'collateral-damage civilians' who will bear the cost of Obama’s punishment of Assad. Also paying the price will be us — the American people — who will continue to suffer the consequences of military empire, a national-security state apparatus, and an interventionist foreign policy. Our punishment will come in the form of continued destruction of our freedom, inner peace, harmony, and economic well-being at the hands of our own government." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingJacob Hornberger: Who’s Really Getting Punished?

Mexico leader to discuss alleged U.S. spying with Obama

"Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto said Wednesday he would voice concerns about alleged US spying on his emails to US counterpart Barack Obama, warning it would be illegal if proven true. The new claims of spying in Latin America came two months after allegations of widespread US electronic espionage in the region that infuriated allies and rivals alike. 'If it is proven that an action took place, with the use of espionage means, this is clearly not permitted and it is outside the law,' Pena Nieto told reporters during a layover in Canada on his way to Saint Petersburg." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMexico leader to discuss alleged U.S. spying with Obama