Mad Statists

Ted Turner: I Think It’s “Good” U.S. Troops are Killing Themselves

"Ted Turner said he thinks it's 'good' that U.S. soldiers are killing themselves because it shows humanity has evolved a distaste for war. Some have argued that Turner is expressing his satisfaction at U.S. troops killing themselves because it indicates that humanity is starting to spiritually evolve an aversion to war. However, Turner has repeatedly voiced his wish to see billions of people wiped off the planet via population reduction programs." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTed Turner: I Think It’s “Good” U.S. Troops are Killing Themselves

Hospitals bribed by NHS to put patients on pathway to death

"Hospitals are paid millions to hit targets for the number of patients who die on the Liverpool Care Pathway. The incentives have been paid to hospitals that ensure a set percentage of patients who die on their wards have been put on the controversial regime. In some cases, hospitals have been set targets that between a third and two thirds of all the deaths should be on the LCP, which critics say is a way of hastening the deaths of terminally ill patients. At least £30million in extra money from taxpayers is estimated to have been handed to hospitals over the past three years to achieve these goals." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingHospitals bribed by NHS to put patients on pathway to death

Government Gives Samsung and Motorola Monopoly Patent Grants; then Probes them for “Patent Abuse”

"The state is schizophrenic. It grants monopolies aimed at limiting competition (patents and copyright), and then penalizes companies for using ('abusing') them, in contravention of state antitrust law–so that there is a 'tension' between these state laws. Then courts have to 'balance' these against each other. Each state law gives the state an excuse to ratchet up its power. Here’s an idea: get rid of both antitrust and patent law. (Likewise, there is also a 'tension' between copyright censorship, and the right to free speech.)" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGovernment Gives Samsung and Motorola Monopoly Patent Grants; then Probes them for “Patent Abuse”

Catalan politicians ask for EU help against Spanish army

"Four Catalan MEPs have asked the European Commission to tell Spain it cannot use military force to stop Catalonia from splitting away. The letter says: 'We are writing to you to convey our deep concern over a series of threats of the use of military force against the Catalan population ... In these circumstances, the EU should intervene preventatively to guarantee that the resolution of the Catalan conflict be resolved in a peaceful, democratic manner.' Spanish MEP Alejo Vidal-Quadras had said: 'They [the government] should be briefing a general of the Civil Guard ... the government should think of intervening in the rebellious region if they persist.'" Continue reading →

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An assault on living standards set to run and run

"Sir Mervyn King, Governor of the Bank of England, warned this week that the next generation may have to live under the shadow of today's economic correction 'for a long time to come'. The Governor is still as reluctant as ever to concede the central bank's own culpability in the crisis. In his own speech, Sir Mervyn makes a clear distinction between what he calls 'good' money printing of the type the Bank of England is already practising through quantitative easing, and 'bad' money printing of the 'helicopter' variety." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAn assault on living standards set to run and run

Convicted Italian earthquake scientists resign over L’Aquila quake verdicts

"Earthquake experts worldwide expressed shock at the manslaughter convictions of six Italian scientists who failed to predict the deadly L'Aquila quake, warning that the decision could severely harm future research. Two scientists resigned their posts with the government's disaster preparedness agency Tuesday after a court in L'Aquila sentenced six scientists and a government official to six years in prison. Seismologists were aghast at the court's decision, noting that earthquakes remain impossible to forecast with any kind of accuracy." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingConvicted Italian earthquake scientists resign over L’Aquila quake verdicts

Glenn Greenwald: Obama moves to make the War on Terror permanent

"What has been created here - permanently institutionalized - is a highly secretive executive branch agency that simultaneously engages in two functions: (1) it collects and analyzes massive amounts of surveillance data about all Americans without any judicial review let alone search warrants, and (2) creates and implements a 'matrix' that determines the 'disposition' of suspects, up to and including execution, without a whiff of due process or oversight. It is simultaneously a surveillance state and a secretive, unaccountable judicial body that analyzes who you are and then decrees what should be done with you, how you should be 'disposed' of." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGlenn Greenwald: Obama moves to make the War on Terror permanent

Romney on drones: ‘Use any and all means necessary to take out’ enemies

"I believe we should use any and all means necessary to take out people who pose a threat to us and our friends around the world. And it’s widely reported that drones are being used in drone strikes, and I support that and entirely, and feel the president was right to up the usage of that technology, and believe that we should continue to use it, to continue to go after the people that represent a threat to this nation and to our friends.” Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRomney on drones: ‘Use any and all means necessary to take out’ enemies

Romney on drones: ‘Use any and all means necessary to take out’ enemies

"I believe we should use any and all means necessary to take out people who pose a threat to us and our friends around the world. And it’s widely reported that drones are being used in drone strikes, and I support that and entirely, and feel the president was right to up the usage of that technology, and believe that we should continue to use it, to continue to go after the people that represent a threat to this nation and to our friends.” Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRomney on drones: ‘Use any and all means necessary to take out’ enemies

The Sad History of U.S. Peace Negotiations

"Negotiating for peace to prevent war is not the forte of U.S. governments. The Iranian story is yet to be written, but the press is now reporting that the U.S. and Iran have agreed for the first time to one-on-one negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program. Republican Senator Lindsay Graham wants none of it, stating that 'The time for talking is over.' After all, just take a look at all the U.S. military bases surrounding Iran. Sadly, with the above graphic, combined with the U.S.'s history of not negotiating peace, it's not looking so good for those of us who don't want more foreign wars." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe Sad History of U.S. Peace Negotiations