Resistance to Tyranny

New York cops’ massive salaries are robbing taxpayers blind

"Local cops in towns and counties around New York state are robbing taxpayers blind with astronomical yearly salaries — including one officer who pulled down $442,000, a new report shows. Tom Donnelly, who retired as a Ramapo school safety officer in August, earned the investment-banker-sized paycheck over a 12-month period ending in March — making him the highest paid local cop anywhere outside New York City, according to a report from the Empire Center. The study showed that local cops like Donnelly are the highest-paid group of government employes in municipalities excluding the five boroughs."

Continue ReadingNew York cops’ massive salaries are robbing taxpayers blind

Sheriff Indicted For Locking Down Entire School, Sexually Assaulting Kids

"Multiple students were subjected to invasive and outright horrifying body searches during a mass — and warrantless — search for drugs at a South Georgia high school. Attorney Mark Begnaud, who filed the class-action lawsuit, called out the sheriff for conducting '900 illegal, suspicionless searches.' To highlight the sheer unnecessary police state tactics of the tyrannical Worth County Sheriff Jeff Hobby and his deputies — not a single bit of contraband was found."

Continue ReadingSheriff Indicted For Locking Down Entire School, Sexually Assaulting Kids

No compensation for innocent man who lost spleen in SWAT raid

"The raiding cops brought the wrong-sized battering ram, making it difficult for them to get inside quickly. One of the officers shot Ferreira within seconds, despite the fact that he was unarmed. They had no layout of the house. They weren’t aware of the fact that Ferriera was a guest on the night of the raid, which is at least suggestive of little or no surveillance. The city, of course, appealed the finding against it, and Ferreira appealed the jury’s finding that the officer who shot him wasn’t liable for his injuries. Late last month U.S. district court judge Thomas McAvoy issued his decision. Ferreira is out of luck. McAvoy first upheld the finding of no liability for the officer. He then found that the City of Binghamton isn’t liable, either."

Continue ReadingNo compensation for innocent man who lost spleen in SWAT raid

It’s Time to End the Paid Militarization of the NFL

"Between 2012 and 2015, the DOD shelled out $53 million to professional sports—including $10 million to the NFL—on 'marketing and advertising' for military recruitment. To be sure, some of that was bona fide advertising. But many of those heart-tugging ceremonies honoring heroes and recreating drills and marches and flyovers are what the report denounced as propaganda. Of course, this being government, no one is really sure how much has been spent or where the money went."

Continue ReadingIt’s Time to End the Paid Militarization of the NFL

New Ghost Gun Update Allows Rapid Creation Of Untraceable Handgun

"In addition to selling a computer-numerically-controlled (CNC) mill which can complete unfinished lower receivers for AR-15 semi-auto rifles, Defense Distributed will now sell unfinished receivers for Glocks and single-stack M1911s. Using Defense Distributed’s mill, known as the Ghost Gunner, anyone with $1,600 and some basic milling knowledge can create the lower receiver of an AR-15 rifle."

Continue ReadingNew Ghost Gun Update Allows Rapid Creation Of Untraceable Handgun

The end of a world of nation-states may be upon us

"Nation-states are nothing but agreed-upon myths: we give up certain freedoms in order to secure others. But if that transaction no longer works, and we stop agreeing on the myth, it ceases to have power over us. So what might replace it? The trends that are pinching the nation-state are helping the city-state. In a highly connected, quasi-borderless world, cities are centres of commerce, growth, innovation, technology and finance."

Continue ReadingThe end of a world of nation-states may be upon us

India Central Bank Governor Warned Against Cash Ban Before Resigning

"Raghuram Rajan left the central bank last September after unnerving political leaders with his outspoken nature. Several months later, Modi blindsided the nation by scrapping 86 percent of currency in circulation, saying the move was essential to unearth unaccounted wealth and fight graft. Since then, speculation has raged over who thought up the policy, with the debate getting more divisive last week as a slew of data showed demonetization contributed to a growth slump without meeting its targets."

Continue ReadingIndia Central Bank Governor Warned Against Cash Ban Before Resigning

India Demonetization Loses Credibility; 99% of Banned Notes Returned

"Indians have deposited nearly all the currency bills voided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, denting the central bank’s profit and dealing a blow to his drive to unearth unaccounted wealth. The cash ban prompted the central bank to print new currency, reducing its profit and cutting annual dividend payout to the government by half."

Continue ReadingIndia Demonetization Loses Credibility; 99% of Banned Notes Returned

European Central Bank Criticizes Estonian National Cryptocurrency Plans

"Despite the dismissive statements from the European Central Bank’s president, Estonia may still be able to conduct a launch of a national cryptocurrency if it is to do so through a private-public partnership. The head of Estonia’s E-residency scheme’s public relations department, Arnaud Castaignet, has expressed that the republic plans to move forward with the project – however, made no reference to the potential ramifications of EU obligations with regard to the national cryptocurrency."

Continue ReadingEuropean Central Bank Criticizes Estonian National Cryptocurrency Plans