statism

NDAA Indefinite Detention Reinstated by Appeals Court

"The U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the government Wednesday in vacating a permanent injunction sought by several prominent journalists and activists barring the enforcement of a provision of the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). In a 60-page decision, the court ruled against such an injunction additionally arguing that the case’s plaintiffs, which include Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Chris Hedges, Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg and renowned linguist Noam Chomsky, among four others (collectively nicknamed 'The Magnificent Seven'), do not have standing." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNDAA Indefinite Detention Reinstated by Appeals Court

Were Snowden’s Actions Justified? Ellsberg, Mukasey Debate

"When Edward Snowden exposed the existence of some of the National Security Agency's intelligence gathering operations, did he help or harm America? Jeffrey Brown gets debate from Daniel Ellsberg, co-author of the famous internal Defense Department study 'The Pentagon Papers,' and former Attorney General Michael Mukasey." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWere Snowden’s Actions Justified? Ellsberg, Mukasey Debate

Government Attempts to Dismiss Lawsuit Over Wrongful Arrest, Psych Ward Detention of Facebook Marine

"'It’s bad enough that the government is targeting military veterans for expressing their discontent over America’s rapid transition to a police state, but for any government official to suggest that they shouldn’t be held accountable for violating a citizen’s rights on the grounds that they were unaware of the Constitution’s prohibitions makes a mockery of our so-called system of representative government,' said John W. Whitehead, president of The Rutherford Institute and author of A Government of Wolves: The Emerging American Police State." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGovernment Attempts to Dismiss Lawsuit Over Wrongful Arrest, Psych Ward Detention of Facebook Marine

Britain is exporting arms to human rights violators: report

"Britain has issued export licences worth £12 billion ($18 billion, 14 billion euros) for the sale of military equipment to states deemed possible rights violators including Syria, Iran and China, lawmakers said Wednesday. The countries for which licences have been issued include Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Belarus and Zimbawe, the Committees on Arms Export Controls of parliament’s lower House of Commons said. The countries with the largest numbers of licences include China with 1,163 licences worth £1.4 billion, Saudi Arabia with 417 licences worth £1.8 billion, and Israel and the Palestinian Territories with 381 licences worth £7.8 billion." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBritain is exporting arms to human rights violators: report

Utah lawmaker calls for an end to compulsory education

"Osmond argues that requiring children to attend school has caused some parents to 'completely disengage themselves from their obligation to oversee and ensure the successful education of their children.' 'I believe the time has come for us to re-evaluate what we expect of parents and the public education system.' Osmond recommends 'restoring the parental right to decide if and when a child will go to public school' to uphold the 'principles of personal freedom and unalienable rights.' Part of the solution, he believes, is to 'stop dictating the number of hours a child must be present in a classroom.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingUtah lawmaker calls for an end to compulsory education

Riot in India as ‘poisonous’ school lunch kills 21 children

"Twenty-one children have died after eating a free lunch feared to contain poisonous chemicals at a school in eastern India, officials said Wednesday, sparking angry protests as mobs ran riot. Another 30 children remained ill in hospital after consuming the meal of lentils, vegetables and rice. Free lunches are offered to poorer students in state-run schools as part of government welfare measures in many of India’s 29 states. Educators see the midday meal scheme as a way to increase school attendance. But children often suffer from food poisoning due to poor hygiene in kitchens and occasionally sub-standard food." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRiot in India as ‘poisonous’ school lunch kills 21 children

School board members among 109 New Jerseyans faking income for free school meal program

"New Jersey state Comptroller Matthew Boxer announced on Wednesday that 109 public employees, spouses and family members will be prosecuted on fraud charges after a state investigation found they lied about their incomes to qualify for a free school lunch program. Boxer did not identify the employees, but mentioned that 40 of them worked for school districts, including six board members. The 109 cheaters hid a combined $13 million in underreported income to claim their children qualified for participation in the National School Lunch Program, which offers free or discounted breakfasts and lunches for children from lower-income families." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSchool board members among 109 New Jerseyans faking income for free school meal program

Caregiver Bloomberg Now Wants New Yorkers To Use The Stairs

"Bloomberg recently signed an Executive Order (which probably created an exhilarating rush) that: '...requires that agencies assess opportunities to promote the use of stairways, and that agencies train design and construction personnel in the use of the City’s Active Design Guidelines.' [...] 'Additionally, the Bloomberg Administration plans two items of legislation to promote access to stairways in all new construction and buildings undergoing major renovations in New York City. The first bill requires that building owners give occupants access to at least one, clearly identified stairway in the building; and post signs that prompt stair use near elevators.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCaregiver Bloomberg Now Wants New Yorkers To Use The Stairs

Aide to man with Down syndrome killed by police in theater had warned police, report says

"Moments before off-duty Frederick County sheriff’s deputies tried to force a young man with Down syndrome out of a movie theater — a move that eventually led to his death —Robert Ethan Saylor’s 18-year-old aide warned them that he would 'freak out' if they touched him. 'Next thing I know, there are I think three or four cops holding Ethan, trying to put him in handcuffs,' the aide told authorities, according to documents from the Frederick County Sheriff’s Department obtained Monday by the Associated Press. 'I heard Ethan screaming, saying ‘ouch,’ ‘don’t touch me,’ ‘get off’ and crying. Next thing I hear is nothing.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAide to man with Down syndrome killed by police in theater had warned police, report says

Grasping for Dignity in the Era of the American Police State

"In a judicial and bureaucratic environment in which human dignity has been given short shrift and largely discounted, the courts have increasingly erred on the side of giving government officials vast discretion in carrying out strip searches for a broad range of violations, no matter how minor the offense and no matter how degrading, demeaning or offensive to one’s human dignity the search is. Making matters worse, government agencies are increasingly exploiting cutting-edge technologies that allow probing and examination of the intimate aspects of persons that is for all intents and purposes equivalent to the excessive intrusion inflicted by a strip search." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGrasping for Dignity in the Era of the American Police State