sound money

Thousands of new laws take effect on New Year’s Day

"Starting Tuesday, California hunters better not get caught using their dog to chase a bear or bobcat. Kentuckians should think twice about releasing a feral hog, and New Yorkers can get slapped with a $1,000 fine for selling even electronic cigarettes to minors. While much attention has been paid to the federal legislation poised to kick in Jan. 1 – the automatic spending cuts and tax hikes collectively known as the 'fiscal cliff' – thousands of new state laws took effect more quietly at the start of 2013." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThousands of new laws take effect on New Year’s Day

Obtained ‘Compensation log’ illustrates human cost of Afghan war

"The killing of six members of a family, including a mother and her children, when a rocket overshot a target and hit the compound in which they were living are among the incidents in recent months for which the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has paid out compensation to Afghan civilians. The cases – contained in a log released by the MoD to the Guardian under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act – paint a picture of the ongoing human cost of the conflict ranging from many frequent payments for crop damage caused by operations through to more serious events involving civilians caught up in the war." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingObtained ‘Compensation log’ illustrates human cost of Afghan war

Group warns military: Prepare now for risks of ‘mutant soldier’ future

"Researchers at California Polytechnic State University warn that the U.S. military is working to create and implement technologies that will give soldiers 'mutant powers' without fully thinking through the consequences. The report warns that 'military human enhancements' could pose a decided risk to enlisted personnel. The means used to produce the enhancements, including drugs, special nutrition, electroshock, gene therapy and robotic implants, are all only dimly understood. The consequences of utilizing these techniques with anything but exquisite care could be devastating." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGroup warns military: Prepare now for risks of ‘mutant soldier’ future

Lord Obama on Shared Sacrifice

"So what's the definition of shared sacrifice, and what's the definition of 'forward?' 54 Christmas trees, a 300 lb. gingerbread presidential palace, and a dandy $4 million Hawaiian vacation. Robert Keith Gray, a former Eisenhower staffer, revealed that last year the U.S. presidency cost American taxpayers $1.4 billion. Over the same period, the entire royal family cost British taxpayers about $57 million. There’s nothing 'royal' about the current level of 'presidential perks': The Obama family costs taxpayers more than every European royal house put together." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingLord Obama on Shared Sacrifice

Fiscal Cliff Deal: $1 in Spending Cuts for Every $41 in Tax Increases

"Matthew Boyle at Breitbart now reports that the according to the Congressional Budget Office, the last-minute fiscal cliff deal reached by congressional leaders and President Barack Obama cuts only $15 billion in spending while increasing tax revenues by $620 billion—a 41:1 ratio of tax increases to spending cuts." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFiscal Cliff Deal: $1 in Spending Cuts for Every $41 in Tax Increases

Iowa implementing face recognition program to track sex offenders

"The Iowa Department of Public Safety has secured $110,000 in federal funds that will be used to implement a state-wide face recognition program that will start with tracking convicted sex criminals. Iowa isn’t the first location to look towards biometrics, but it will be a big step in the grand scheme of implementing intensive face recognition programs elsewhere if it indeed gets off the ground. The state isn’t likely to see much opposition when it comes to cracking down on criminals that prey on innocent children." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIowa implementing face recognition program to track sex offenders

Mo Farah held by US customs on suspicion of being a terrorist as he returned to family home for Christmas

"Farah, who won a 5,000m and 10,000m double at London 2012, was detained for questioning after the US border force saw he was born in Somalia. The 29 year-old came over to Britain with his English-born father as a child and is one of the most famous athletes in the world, but this did not stop judicious officials from grilling him at the border. Farah moved to Portland last year to work with his coach Alberto Salazar at Nike's HQ in the Pacific Northwest and was travelling back to spend Christmas with his wife and children. And even presenting his two gold medals to the officials did not help his cause." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMo Farah held by US customs on suspicion of being a terrorist as he returned to family home for Christmas

MI woman released after 11 days in jail for cursing

"The Michigan woman released from jail on Friday after being incarcerated for 11 days for cursing inside a county court told WOOD-TV her legal troubles aren’t over. 'It wasn’t necessary, it wasn’t even necessary to put me through all this,' LaRue Ford said upon exiting Berrien County Jail. 'I know this is just the beginning.' Ford said she was cursing to herself in frustration over the process of clearing up an old traffic ticket; on her second trip to the county clerk’s office to pay the $50 fine on Dec. 18, District Court Judge Dennis Wiley ordered she be arrested and she be put in jail on a $5,000 bond." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMI woman released after 11 days in jail for cursing

Congress, federal workers to get raise

"Members of Congress will be getting a small pay increase next year. Under an executive order issued by President Obama on Thursday, members of Congress will join federal workers in seeing their pay rise by 0.5 percent after March 27. Congressmen and senators make $174,000 a year and will see an extra $900 in their annual pay packages before taxes next year." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCongress, federal workers to get raise

French 75% income tax struck down by constitutional council

"France's constitutional council has struck down a top income tax rate of 75% introduced by Socialist President Francois Hollande. Raising taxes for those earning more than 1m euros (£817,400) has been a flagship policy for Mr Hollande. The policy angered France's business community and prompted some wealthy citizens to say they would emigrate. Mr Hollande's government said it would rework the tax, due to take effect in 2013, to meet the council's complaints." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFrench 75% income tax struck down by constitutional council