statism

Czech communists to return in office for first time since 1989

"Many people associate the Communists to 41 years of repression. But by being out of power for so long, the party has escaped the taint of sleaze that has tarnished the governments that took over from it. Sobotka added that if his party formed a government, its economic policy would be more leftist than the previous centre-right coalition government, with plans to raise taxes for the biggest corporations and for high earners. Jiří Stránský, a dissident writer imprisoned under Communist rule, said he believed today's Communists were dangerous populists. 'I am saddened that after nearly 24 years the country has ended this way, when we started out so amazingly,' he said." Continue reading →

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Obamacare Regulations Are 8 Times Longer Than Gutenberg Bible

"The 109 final Obamacare rules that have been published in the Federal Register so far take up 10,516 pages in the register. These pages carry an average of about 1,000 words each. So, the final Obamacare regulations published so far amount to approximately 10,516,000 words. The Department of Health and Human Services filed the majority of the regulations. But other federal agencies that have filed final Obamacare regulations include the Department of Labor, the Internal Revenue Service, the Office of Personnel Management, the Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Defense, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Social Security Administration, and Veterans Affairs." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingObamacare Regulations Are 8 Times Longer Than Gutenberg Bible

Obamachow: Is National Food Insurance The Next Big Idea?

"John Goodman of Southern Methodist University, a leading voice for free market medicine, has asked us to imagine what our groceries stores would look like if they were run like the medical system. In this piece, we will take his observations and add some of our own. As you enter the store, note that there will be no prices posted. In addition, the price you pay will vary according to who you are and how you will pay. You’ll have to come in during office hours because the store will close on weekends and holidays. What you want probably won’t be on the shelf. You will be told to come back later. If you do find what you want, you will have to wait to pay, perhaps a long time, [..]" Continue reading →

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Rite Aid joins promotion effort for Obamacare

"Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius made the announcement Monday alongside Rite Aid CEO John Standley in New Jersey, where the feds will operate the health insurance exchange after Gov. Chris Christie rejected creating a state-run one. CVS Caremark in July announced plans to inform uninsured customers about the law. CVS pharmacies will host trained 'navigators,' who are funded by the health law to educate people about their coverage options. Walgreens also announced plans over the summer to team up with the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association to educate customers in its stores." Continue reading →

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Abolish All Government Economic Data Collection

"Government data collection gives an impression that the state is the overseer of the economy, and it provides an opening for central planners to meddle with the marketplace. Opportunities abound for the Paul Krugman's of the world to put together 'models,' and to prescribe 'policies' based on them. The marketplace needs to be freed from these meddlers. If companies or entrepreneurs desire economic data, let them pay for it (with their own money) in the market. Let private companies gather up the data, and have their reputation hang on its accuracy. Government worries not about its reputation. It lies constantly." Continue reading →

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California Governor Calls for Legislation that will Increase Unemployment

"Gov. Jerry Brown says he supports a bill in the Legislature that would boost the California minimum wage next year and in 2016 by a total of $2 an hour, reports LaTi. The bill would raise the current $8-an-hour minimum wage to $9 on July 1, 2014, and to $10 on Jan. 1, 2016. The Governor, displaying a total lack of understanding of basic economics, said: 'The minimum wage has not kept pace with rising costs. This legislation is overdue and will help families that are struggling in this harsh economy.' What it will do is cause an increase in unemployment. Prices can't be regulated, wage prices or otherwise. It is basic supply and demand economics." Continue reading →

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BEARCAT Bread And Circuses, Or Why I Ripped Up My Ticket

"We had eaten up the lie of hope that 'working within the system' is actually possible. I am ripping up my lifetime ticket to the circus that came with my birth certificate and social security number. Never again will I stoop to enter a government building. Never again will I grant credence to the idea that a government worker has rightful authority over me. Never again will I take precious hours out of my short life to grant legitimacy to this farcical freak show, when I could be spending that time trading with crypto-currency in the agora—the free market—in which we do not contract with or pay tribute to ring-leaders. It's anarchy or bust, baby. It always has been." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBEARCAT Bread And Circuses, Or Why I Ripped Up My Ticket

(Surveillance) Times have Changed

"It was only a year ago when the UK Home Office repeatedly made statements about how their capability to collect intelligence was degrading, and how new laws such as the Communications Data Bill were necessary to protect citizens. In hindsight, given the revelations about the UK domestic mass surveillance programs, these once desperate cries for more crime- and terrorism-fighting tools now look like nothing more than attempts to illegitimately spy more on all citizens. Quotes from those debates look rather different now." Continue reading →

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Documents Shed Light on Border Laptop Searches

"Today we are releasing new government documents that provide rare insight into how the government uses its powers at the border to search and seize Americans’ electronic devices. The government’s own records indicate that 4,957 passengers had their electronic devices searched between October 1, 2012 and August 31, 2013, and an additional 4,898 individuals were subject to electronic device searches the previous year. We have no way of knowing how many of those searches may have been carried out not to search for contraband—which is the reason ICE has been granted such broad search powers—but to exploit border search powers to evade the Constitution." Continue reading →

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