statism

EU retreats from olive oil ban after wave of ridicule

"Barely a week after it was announced for 'hygiene' and 'consumer protection' purposes, the EU commissioner in charge, Dacian Ciolos, rushed to the same press room to announce he was withdrawing the measure. The proposal would have banned jugs and dipping bowls of olive oil in restaurants from next year and was meant to prevent restaurant-goers from being served any old inferior oil. It had been pushed by big olive-oil producing countries. Critics immediately said it would push small artisan producers of olive oil out of business and was ignoring the fact that fraud mostly takes place before the oil is bottled and not at the restaurant table." Continue reading →

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French crackdown on tax cheats ‘to accelerate’

"He added there would be no amnesty for those with hidden bank accounts in Switzerland, the wealthy Alpine nation long accused of protecting the privacy of its clients over obligations to tax authorities in other nations. The finance minister's remarks came in the wake of a deal signed on Thursday in Paris between the countries that means inheritances will be taxed where the recipient, rather than the deceased, is living. The minister stressed he had no desire to harass the Swiss, over bank secrecy, but said he wished the country might become 'more European' and less isolated in its outlook." Continue reading →

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Spy-spotter: joke about scary visit came true

"A German man who called on Facebook friends concerned about American secret service operations to join him in a walk around a US army spy centre near his home, found secret service men at his door checking his political leanings. He said a state security agent arrived with a local police officer, and asked him a load of questions about his political activities and his opinions, and whether he had any connection to activists willing to use violence. They suggested his Facebook entry could be interpreted in different ways. In the end around 80 people showed up on Saturday to take a walk, have a talk and look at the US base." Continue reading →

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Indian jewellers join government’s gold bar and coin ban

"In a bid to support the Indian government’s efforts, jewellery retailers have decided to join in and curb investment into the precious metal. Several prominent retailers like Gitanjali Gems, TBZ and Tanishq, are to voluntarily stop sales. All India Gems and Jewellery Trade Federation, which has more than 40,000 members, has said that over 85% of its members have agreed to the ban. The rest are slated to join over the weekend. 'The jewellery community has come together in supporting the country in times of crisis. We are happy to help with this voluntary action,' said Haresh Soni, chairman of the Federation." Continue reading →

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The Truth About SwedenCare

"As a Swede currently living in the United States, with actual experience of Swedencare, I must reply to the delusions propagated by professor Robert H. Frank in his June 15 article titled 'What Sweden Can Teach Us About Obamacare.' It is surprising to read something so out of line with basic economic theory from an economics professor. But theory aside, it would have sufficed for professor Frank to have taken a field trip down to the nearest public emergency room to have his illusions irreparably shattered. The reality is that Swedish healthcare is the perfect illustration of the tragedy of central planning. It is expensive and — even worse — it kills innocent people." Continue reading →

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The Overworked and the Idle

"Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) unions who recently went on strike, paralyzing public transit for 6.5 million inhabitants of the San Francisco Bay Area, were apparently caught off guard by the public animosity to their demands for 23% raises on top of their 50%-above-market base salaries and unavailable-at-any-private-job benefits. Memo to BART union members: the overworked earn on average slightly over half ($47,000) of what you earn for 'driving' an automated train and staffing station offices ($80,000), and those who earn more than you in the private sector often work 50% more than your 37 hours a week in highly stressful jobs." Continue reading →

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‘Synthetic pot’ cases hard to prosecute, but family businesses lose everything anyway

"In March, police raided Dennis and Christie England's shop on the fringes of historic downtown Norman and effectively shut the business down, accusing the pair of selling dangerous synthetic marijuana to the public. Police seemed confident even though XLR-11 — the chemical compound present in the hundreds of grams of synthetic marijuana seized at the Englands' shop in March — wasn't even on Oklahoma's ban substance list. Yet after a June 24 preliminary hearing before a judge in Cleveland County District Court, the case against the couple — who has since lost everything — was dismissed." Continue reading →

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Georgia prepares to execute mentally disabled prisoner under secrecy law

"The second legal challenge, put before Georgia state courts last Friday, concerns the new Lethal Injection Secrecy Law passed recently by the Georgia assembly that allows the department of corrections to obtain supplies of the sedative pentobarbital in secret. The legislation bypasses normal freedom of information rules by declaring the identity of drug suppliers a 'state secret' in an attempt to circumvent a growing boycott of medical drugs used in executions. The Georgia department of corrections is understood to be seeking pentobarbital to kill Hill through a compounding pharmacy, though it is using the new secrecy law to keep details of the supplier obscured." Continue reading →

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Federal Reserve studying effect of Paypal and Bitcoin on banking

"The U.S. is studying the potential risk from online payment mechanisms like PayPal and Bitcoin, a top US Federal Reserve official told an international conference on Monday. Some bankers have expressed worries that newer players in the online marketplace could have negative implications for the financial system. 'We have been talking… with banking organisations over the last year or two, trying more carefully to understand what the concerns are with these new payment mechanisms,' Federal Reserve Vice Chair Janet Yellen said. Some officials fear the virtual currency can be used by criminals or terrorists, or could be vulnerable to hackers." Continue reading →

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Feeding Stray Cats In Philly Town Could Leave You Responsible For Their Health

"A proposed law in a town along the Main Line could punish people who feed stray cats. The new law would dictate if you feed it, you own it. And if you own it, you’re responsible for its vaccinations, says the proposal here in Radnor Township. In introducing the changes to current law here earlier this week, president of Radnor Township’s Board of Commissioners, Elaine Schaeffer says it’s not a feeding ban, instead it’s designed to protect against rabies. 'It requires those who choose to feed feral cats with a very minimum modicum standard of care.' Violation of the ordinance could carry a $300 to $1,000 fine." Continue reading →

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