statism

Saudi government smashes ‘sinful’ statues of horses

"Ultra-conservative Saudi Arabia has smashed sculptures of horses erected on a roundabout in the southwest after the kingdom’s top cleric denounced them as sinful, local media reported on Wednesday. The decision came after Grand Mufti Abdulaziz al-Shaikh sent a letter to the governor of Jazan demanding that 'the sculptures be removed because they are a great sin and are prohibited under sharia (Islamic law),' said another news webitse, sabq.org. Statues of people and animals are prohibited under Islam as they represent a form of idolatry. However, the religion does allow artworks depicting plants and landscapes." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSaudi government smashes ‘sinful’ statues of horses

Egypt declares month-long state of emergency over violence

"Egypt declared a month-long state of emergency Wednesday as violence raged across the country following a crackdown on supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi. The nationwide state of emergency will begin at 4:00 pm (1400 GMT), the presidency said in a statement read out on state television." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEgypt declares month-long state of emergency over violence

Pro-Mursi protester shot dead as Egypt standoff intensifies

"One Muslim Brotherhood member was shot dead and at least 11 people wounded in Egypt on Tuesday, security sources said, with the Islamist group accusing plain clothes police of firing on their march. Authorities have held back from clearing two Brotherhood protest camps in Cairo, but the shootings and other street clashes showed Egypt remained dangerously divided. Some officials wish to avoid a bloody showdown that would damage the government's efforts to present itself as legitimate, while hardliners in the army and security forces fear they are losing face to the Brotherhood and want to move in." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPro-Mursi protester shot dead as Egypt standoff intensifies

L.A. County Sheriff Awards Carry Permits to Friends, Donors

"Public records show Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, who is known for being stingy with concealed-weapons permits in an anti-gun jurisdiction, may be giving out permits disproportionately to his friends and political supporters and donors. L.A. Weekly obtained public records for all of the 341 active concealed-weapons permits in addition to the 123 applications for permits that were denied over the last 18 months. The records show that of all the people who were denied a permit, only one had contributed to Baca. Baca's friends and campaign donors disproportionately make up the list of those who have active permits." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingL.A. County Sheriff Awards Carry Permits to Friends, Donors

Repealing the Anti-gun ObamaCare Law

"Seventy-three percent of the American public don’t want to be straddled with the onerous requirements imposed by this law. To be sure, gun owners have opposed ObamaCare since its inception, given that a national health database could be used by federal bureaucrats to disarm millions of law-abiding Americans. The use of medical data has already been used to disarm gun owners in New York -- and has led to more than 150,000 military veterans losing their gun rights for ailments such as PTSD. Well now, Congress has a wonderful opportunity to do away with this law." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRepealing the Anti-gun ObamaCare Law

Rand Paul: The President Doesn’t Get To Write Legislation, It’s Illegal And Unconstitutional

"Paul said, 'I think we all want more people to have insurance. What my fear is is that he's going to make insurance so expensive that the people who currently have insurance may lose their insurance.' The senator sounded off on reports that another provision of ObamaCare would be delayed, blasting the president for changes laws without Congress' approval. 'The president doesn't get to write legislation, and it's illegal and unconstitutional for him to try and change legislation by himself,' he said." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRand Paul: The President Doesn’t Get To Write Legislation, It’s Illegal And Unconstitutional

Obamacare: “Let’s Just Make Sure It’s Not A Third World Experience”

"We begin today by checking our premises: In order to imagine something working forever, it must begin to work in the first place. When asked last Friday about what the future holds for the Affordable Care Act, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said, 'What we’ve done with Obamacare is a step in the right direction, but we’re far from having something that’s going to work forever.' The law takes full effect Jan. 1, 2014, and the online exchanges launch on Oct. 1, 2013. But lofty expectations are being played down as logistical problems become worse and worse." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingObamacare: “Let’s Just Make Sure It’s Not A Third World Experience”

‘Affordable’ Care: $1 Pay Hike Costs Middle-Class Family $9,355 Hike in Premiums

"When the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (AKA Obamacare) is fully enforced on individuals and families next year, a middle-aged, middle-class couple with three children could be hit with a $9,355 hike in their annual health-insurance premiums if their annual household income happens to increase by just $1. According to the IRS, which responded to a CNSNews.com inquiry on the issue, a household earning an annual income that is just $1 more than 400 percent of the FPL is ineligible for an Obamacare subsidy, period. A family of four, in which both parents were 56 years old, would hit the 400-percent of FPL threshold at $94,200." Continue reading →

Continue Reading‘Affordable’ Care: $1 Pay Hike Costs Middle-Class Family $9,355 Hike in Premiums

Illinois illegally seizes bees resistant to Roundup; kills remaining queens [2012]

"The Illinois Ag Dept. illegally seized privately owned bees from renowned naturalist, Terrence Ingram, without providing him with a search warrant and before the court hearing on the matter. Behind the obvious violations of his Constitutional rights is Monsanto. Ingram was researching Roundup’s effects on bees, which he’s raised for 58 years. 'They ruined 15 years of my research,' he told Prairie Advocate, by stealing most of his stock. Of note, Illinois beekeepers are going underground after Ingram’s experience and refuse to register their hives, in case the state tries to steal their private property on phony claims." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIllinois illegally seizes bees resistant to Roundup; kills remaining queens [2012]

Let’s stop wrecking lives over a bag of weed

"For 29 years, I have defended clients facing marijuana charges in the District. At every initial appearance, without fail, the judge admonishes the defendant either to stay in school or to hold down a job. But most employers in this town will not hire entry-level workers who do not have a police clearance. What crime is increasingly tripping up those looking for work? Possession of marijuana. In 1995, police in the District arrested about 1,850 people for having pot. By 2011, the number had skyrocketed to more than 6,000. There are twice as many marijuana arrests in the District as there are students graduating from D.C. high schools each year." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingLet’s stop wrecking lives over a bag of weed