Middle Class Dismissed

“You’re Sick, Fatso. I’m Billing Your Insurance Company.”

"Physicians are not paid by health insurance companies to treat people with behavior 'problems.' They get paid only to treat diseases. So, understanding where their bread is buttered, and by whom, the American Medical Association has now identified obesity as a disease. The Los Angeles Times had spotted the economic nature of the re-definition. You know what an incurable disease is, don’t you? A permanent stream of income. The patient does not die, so he keeps coming back for 'treatment.' Treatment means billable procedures. Think of this as lowering the bar. People who are over a BMI of 30 are now called fat." Continue reading →

Continue Reading“You’re Sick, Fatso. I’m Billing Your Insurance Company.”

Survey Finds that 41 Percent of Small Business Owners Have Frozen Hiring Because of Obamacare

"Forty-one percent of the businesses surveyed have frozen hiring because of the health-care law known as Obamacare. And almost one-fifth—19 percent— answered 'yes' when asked if they had 'reduced the number of employees you have in your business as a specific result of the Affordable Care Act.' The poll was taken by 603 owners whose businesses have under $20 million in annual sales. Another 38 percent of the small business owners said they 'have pulled back on their plans to grow their business' because of Obamacare. More than half—55 percent—said they expected Obamacare to result in higher health care costs." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSurvey Finds that 41 Percent of Small Business Owners Have Frozen Hiring Because of Obamacare

Official: Water quality complaints could be ‘act of terrorism’

"A Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation deputy director warned residents that unfounded complaints about water quality could be considered an 'act of terrorism.' 'We take water quality very seriously. Very, very seriously,' said Sherwin Smith, deputy director of TDEC's Division of Water Resources, according to audio recorded by attendees. 'But you need to make sure that when you make water quality complaints you have a basis, because federally, if there's no water quality issues, that can be considered under Homeland Security an act of terrorism.' Smith went on in the recording to repeat the claim almost verbatim." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingOfficial: Water quality complaints could be ‘act of terrorism’

Welcome, baseball fan. Go directly to jail.

"You see, they take law and order Very Seriously in Washington. Oh, sure, there is murder, drugs and prostitution (and solicitation, but more on that later), but those crimes are a byproduct of any large metropolitan area, and, well, folks will be folks. No, I am talking about the unspeakable crime of trying to resell tickets to a Washington Nationals makeup baseball game. I went to jail. I sat in a cell for 2½ hours, stood for a mug shot, got fingerprinted, paid 50 bucks and was released. In the grand scheme of things, my travails were minor to all but me. But when that cell door slams shut, the world becomes a different place." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWelcome, baseball fan. Go directly to jail.

U.S. Leaving $7 Billion of Military Equipment Behind in Afghanistan

"Not only has the U.S. created a disaster with the unconstitutional invasion of Afghanistan, but now that they've been forced to retreat, they're leaving behind some stuff...$7 BILLION worth! The Washington Post reports: 'Military planners have determined that they will not ship back more than $7 billion worth of equipment — about 20 percent of what the U.S. military has in Afghanistan — because it is no longer needed or would be too costly to ship back home.' What's $7 billion when you can always just turn on the taxpayer spigot? And doesn't Bernanke create $7 billion just in his sleep? What's the big deal?" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. Leaving $7 Billion of Military Equipment Behind in Afghanistan

Video: Huge Protests In Brazil Sweep The Country

"Though the protests initially began following the announcement of bus fare increases, they have evolved to include a wide range of groups that have grown dissatisfied over everything from government corruption and income inequality, as well as to outrage over the police's harsh response to protesters last week. In a sign that public dissatisfaction was still simmering, soccer fans booed president Dilma Rousseff on Monday during the opening of a two-week tournament at a stadium in the capital Brasilia. The heckling only intensified when the president of the global soccer body, FIFA, reprimanded the crowed for failing to show the president 'respect.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingVideo: Huge Protests In Brazil Sweep The Country

Depositing a Little Common Sense into the Law

"Did you know that small business owners can be prosecuted for making repeated cash deposits of under $10,000? Randy and Karen Sowers, owners of a successful Maryland creamery, learned that accounting detail the hard way when the federal government seized $62,936 from their company’s bank account and charged them with violating the Bank Secrecy Act. The Sowers did not intend to violate the law. The couple simply found themselves caught in a net of federal prosecution because their everyday business practices and ignorance of obscure banking laws ran afoul of a federal statute." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDepositing a Little Common Sense into the Law

Britain’s Co-operative Bank faces nationalisation if junior bondholders reject ‘haircut’

"The Co-operative Bank's rescue recapitalisation needs the support of £1.05bn – or around 80pc – of the holders of £1.3bn of its junior debt or the lender could end up being nationalised. A group of pensioners and other retail investors in the Cooperative Bank are facing massive losses under the rescue. Holders of £370m of permanent interest bearing shares (PIBS) issued by the Co-op and Britannia Building Society before its takeover are expected to have their coupons cancelled, making them effectively worthless. Roughly 7,000 retail investors will be affected and the bank said that, on average, they held less than £1,000 in these bonds." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBritain’s Co-operative Bank faces nationalisation if junior bondholders reject ‘haircut’

Western Union now prohibits sending money to the USA from Argentina. Bitcoin may be the only way out.

"Western Union will no longer allow the outflow of dollars from Argentina to the U.S.. Two U.S. companies, Western Union and Delta Airlines, began to suspend some operations. According to the report said 'The Chronicle', the company's overseas remittance sent the following statement: 'As of 03/06/13 will not be able to ship from Argentina to the United States'. The company had discontinued their service, in part, to Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania. For shipments to Latin America, only allowed up to 1,500 pesos per month ($ 280). Meanwhile, Delta Airlines sell tickets Argentines abroad only if they enter and depart from the country." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWestern Union now prohibits sending money to the USA from Argentina. Bitcoin may be the only way out.

Brazilian authorities face fresh protests against government corruption despite concessions

"Authorities in Sao Paulo and Rio, Brazil’s two biggest cities, canceled the transit fare hikes that had been the initial spark for two weeks of nationwide protests. But there is no sign that the movement, which has no political coloration and no clearly identified leadership, is about to lose steam. Initially ignited by the fare increases, the protest fed on widespread resentment at the billions of dollars the government is spending on the Confederations Cup, the World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics. The demonstrators instead want higher funding for education and health and a cut in salaries of public officials, railing against rampant corruption within the political class." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBrazilian authorities face fresh protests against government corruption despite concessions