statism

California Court Of Appeal Expands Warrantless Motorist Blood Draws

"California's second highest court on Thursday made it easier for police to forcibly draw blood from motorists suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI). In coming to this conclusion, the Court of Appeal overturned the decision in seven Alameda County cases brought before the Superior Court's Appellate Division where drivers had their blood taken at a jail facility. The Court of Appeal stepped in to set a precedent restoring the state's ability to perform warrantless blood draws in a wider variety of circumstances." Continue reading →

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Julian Assange Praised the Paul Family, But He’s Only Half Right

"Assange is certainly right about Ron. The former Texas representative has always been a vocal opponent of his government's liberty-killing actions, including the Patriot Act, the War on Drugs, drone strikes, foreign military bases, and many more. He even praised whistleblowers like Assange, saying they 'expose the fallacies of why we go to war.' But Rand doesn't seem to have the sympathy his father has for whistleblowers. He recently said that Bradley Manning deserved to be tried because of the potential harm his leaks could cause for U.S. agents abroad (note that he used the word 'potential')." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingJulian Assange Praised the Paul Family, But He’s Only Half Right

UK: Greenwald’s partner had ‘highly sensitive stolen information that would help terrorism’

"The government has embarked on an aggressive offensive to justify the detention of David Miranda by suggesting that the partner of the Guardian journalist Glenn Greenwald possessed 'highly sensitive stolen information that would help terrorism'. Amid calls from across the political spectrum for a fuller explanation, the Home Office made clear that his nine-hour detention was fully justified on the grounds that he was carrying leaked documents. The statement by the Home Office, including a challenge to critics to think about condoning the leaking of sensitive documents, marks a significant change in tone by the government." Continue reading →

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Read more about the article Rand Paul on Bradley Manning: “I just can’t support that”

Rand Paul on Bradley Manning: “I just can’t support that”

"Manning faces a maximum jail sentence of 136 years with multiple convictions of Espionage Act violations, but was declared 'not guilty' for aiding the enemy. Sen. Paul reasoned that there need to be some laws that protect certain secrets and that Manning put many lives at risk by releasing millions of pages 'willy-nilly'. His main concern is that whistle-blowers break laws in order to reveal state secrets. Paul made an effort to bring a distinction between the NSA whistle-blower Edward Snowden and Bradley Manning who were both charged with leaking diplomatic documents, but asserted that there needs to be justice when whistle-blowers break the law." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRand Paul on Bradley Manning: “I just can’t support that”

Jeffrey Tucker: An Empire in Panic

"Snowden had only behaved as a patriot should, but he then found himself on the run from the law, trying to find safe haven somewhere in the world where the U.S. did not have control. The safe haven he found was the old Cold War enemy of Russia — a deeply embarrassing reality for those of us who cheered the U.S. victory in the Cold War. But that was just the beginning. The national security state is out there right now trying to settle all family business, Godfather style, taking down anyone and everyone who might have assisted him in his deeds. It’s all part of the great drama called 'the empire strikes back.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingJeffrey Tucker: An Empire in Panic

A Summer of Troubles Saps India’s Sense of Confidence

"The Indian government recently loosened restrictions on direct foreign investment, expecting a number of major retailers like Walmart and other companies to come rushing in. The companies have instead stayed away, worried not only by the government’s constant policy changes but also by the widespread and endemic corruption in Indian society. Wednesday night, the government announced measures to restrict the amounts that individuals and local companies could invest overseas without seeking approval. It was an astonishing move in a country where a growing number of companies have global operations and ambitions." Continue reading →

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India to launch Save Gold Campaign to convince consumers to deposit gold

"India's bullion industry is set to revive its gold deposit scheme in a bid to mobilise gold coins and bars lying idle. The Save Gold Campaign (Swarna Bachao Abhiyan) is hoped will mop up some of the gold currently lying fallow with individuals, banks, high networth individuals, charitable trusts and even temple trusts, that is estimated to be as much as 25,000 tonnes. The consumer would take sealed gold and authenticity certificate to the bank, which would issue a deposit certificate for a valid period, ranging from one and a half to three years. After the said period, the depositor would get the gold back with interest as promised by the bank." Continue reading →

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Guardian Editor: Intelligence Agents Destroyed Hard Drives After Snowden Story

"In a particularly revealing moment, Rusbridger said he was contacted by an agent of the GCHQ, who said 'You've had your fun. Now we want the stuff back,' referring to the classified material provided to the paper by Snowden. Rusbridger said he asked the official if the British government intended to shut down the paper. The official said that in the absence of the handover or destruction of classified material, that was indeed the intention. And so one of the more bizarre moments in the Guardian's long history occurred – with two GCHQ security experts overseeing the destruction of hard drives in the Guardian's basement." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGuardian Editor: Intelligence Agents Destroyed Hard Drives After Snowden Story

Farming Experts Predict Food Safety Laws Will Destroy Local Foods Trend

"The most wonderful aspect of going local with your diet, is the opportunity to meet pioneers of organic, sustainable agriculture. There is tremendous work being done by farmers like Mike Tabor. Yet, a gross lack of understanding by public interest groups on what really constitutes food safety has led to increasing federal control over our food supply. Now, the FDA is dictating farming practices, packaging and sterilization steps that threaten to choke out small producers. Here is what two farmers have to say about these food safety laws and this ominous regulatory trend." Continue reading →

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King of My Castle? Yeah, Right

"The City by the Bay is going through one of its worst housing shortages in memory. With typical high demand intensified by a regional boom in tech jobs, apartment open houses are mob scenes of desperate applicants clutching their credit reports. The citywide median rental price for a one-bedroom is $2,764 a month, but jumps to $3,500 in trendy areas. One reason for the shortage? Me. I’ve recently joined the ranks of San Francisco landlords who have decided that it’s better to keep an apartment empty than to lease it to tenants. Together, we have left vacant about 10,600 rental units. That’s about five percent of the city’s total." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingKing of My Castle? Yeah, Right