statism

San Francisco public transportation system shut down by striking union workers

"The strike by 2,400 BART workers came after acrimonious negotiations centered on wage and benefit issues broke down late Sunday, just hours before current labor agreements expired. Both sides blamed the other for abandoning the talks. BART serves about 400,000 riders daily, many of whom rely on the system to travel from Oakland, Berkeley and other communities on the east side of San Francisco Bay into the city of San Francisco. The strike will shut down the system once all trains are parked early Monday morning and is expected to bring widespread travel disruptions and traffic gridlock." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSan Francisco public transportation system shut down by striking union workers

Gun-maker airlifts 20,000 extended magazines into Colorado ahead of ban

"Gun-maker Magpul airlifted thousands of extended assault rifle magazines into a Colorado gun show on Saturday, giving away 1,500 and putting the rest up for sale just 24 hours before a new law takes effect that makes the magazines illegal across the state. The event, 'A Farewell to Arms,' attracted over 3,000 gun enthusiasts who received free extended magazines with their purchases, according to CBS Denver. An additional 18,500 magazines were designated to be sold at discount, with the proceeds going to benefit a pro-gun group calling itself 'Free Colorado.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGun-maker airlifts 20,000 extended magazines into Colorado ahead of ban

Obama Introduces $300 Billion Crony Capitalism Electricity Program for Africa

"Africa needs electricity. What else is new? Africans need many things. So do people all over the world. Obama has 'pledged' $7 billion toward we-know-not-what that is supposed to build Africa's electricity. The White House says it will cost $300 billion by 2030. Liberals are liberals. They promote endless government programs and endless government, and often, as in this case, it's subsidizing particular businesses that will benefit. This is crony capitalism, which is not free market capitalism. And, as has often been the bi-partisan case, they promote funds that trickle down through corrupt governments [...] and are largely wasted and mis-directed." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingObama Introduces $300 Billion Crony Capitalism Electricity Program for Africa

Obama Introduces $300 Billion Crony Capitalism Electricity Program for Africa

"Africa needs electricity. What else is new? Africans need many things. So do people all over the world. Obama has 'pledged' $7 billion toward we-know-not-what that is supposed to build Africa's electricity. The White House says it will cost $300 billion by 2030. Liberals are liberals. They promote endless government programs and endless government, and often, as in this case, it's subsidizing particular businesses that will benefit. This is crony capitalism, which is not free market capitalism. And, as has often been the bi-partisan case, they promote funds that trickle down through corrupt governments [...] and are largely wasted and mis-directed." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingObama Introduces $300 Billion Crony Capitalism Electricity Program for Africa

Saudi prince sues Forbes after it says he’s only worth $20 billion

"Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal has sued Forbes magazine for libel in a British court, alleging its valuation of his wealth at $20 billion was short of the mark by $9.6 billion. The prince, a grandson of Saudi Arabia’s founder and nephew of King Abdullah, had attacked the US magazine’s ranking of world billionaires as flawed and biased against Middle Eastern businesses. Through his Kingdom Holding Company, Prince Alwaleed owns large stakes in Citigroup, News Corp and Apple Inc, among other companies. He is also owner or part-owner of luxury hotels including the Plaza in New York, the Savoy in London and the George V in Paris." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSaudi prince sues Forbes after it says he’s only worth $20 billion

Saudi prince sues Forbes after it says he’s only worth $20 billion

"Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal has sued Forbes magazine for libel in a British court, alleging its valuation of his wealth at $20 billion was short of the mark by $9.6 billion. The prince, a grandson of Saudi Arabia’s founder and nephew of King Abdullah, had attacked the US magazine’s ranking of world billionaires as flawed and biased against Middle Eastern businesses. Through his Kingdom Holding Company, Prince Alwaleed owns large stakes in Citigroup, News Corp and Apple Inc, among other companies. He is also owner or part-owner of luxury hotels including the Plaza in New York, the Savoy in London and the George V in Paris." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSaudi prince sues Forbes after it says he’s only worth $20 billion

Robbers posing as police steal $261,000 from Saudi government official

"Robbers posing as policemen made off with 200,000 euros ($261,000) belonging to a senior official from the Saudi youth and sports ministry just after he landed in Paris, police said Monday. The audacious robbery was staged on the busy A1 highway near Le Bourget airport. The robbers were armed and used two cars equipped with flashing lights and the word 'Police' on them. They stopped the car the Saudi official was travelling in and demanded an inspection of the boot. They then made off with a suitcase containing 162,000 euros, $30,000 and 10,000 pounds. It was not immediately clear why the official was travelling with so much cash." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRobbers posing as police steal $261,000 from Saudi government official

Robbers posing as police steal $261,000 from Saudi government official

"Robbers posing as policemen made off with 200,000 euros ($261,000) belonging to a senior official from the Saudi youth and sports ministry just after he landed in Paris, police said Monday. The audacious robbery was staged on the busy A1 highway near Le Bourget airport. The robbers were armed and used two cars equipped with flashing lights and the word 'Police' on them. They stopped the car the Saudi official was travelling in and demanded an inspection of the boot. They then made off with a suitcase containing 162,000 euros, $30,000 and 10,000 pounds. It was not immediately clear why the official was travelling with so much cash." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRobbers posing as police steal $261,000 from Saudi government official

Our Legacy Systems: Dysfunctional, Unreformable

"Real reform would mean powerful constituencies would have to take real reductions in staffing, power, benefits and in their share of the national income. Rather than reveal this double-bind--reform is impossible but the Status Quo is unsustainable--the legacy system deploys its gargantuan resources to laying down a smoke-screen of bogus reforms and ginned-up statistics. America's legacy systems are like stars about to go super-nova. They have increased in size to the point where their stupendous mass guarantees that once their energy source (as measured in fossil fuels and money) falls below a certain threshold, the institution will collapse inward on itself." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingOur Legacy Systems: Dysfunctional, Unreformable

Our Legacy Systems: Dysfunctional, Unreformable

"Real reform would mean powerful constituencies would have to take real reductions in staffing, power, benefits and in their share of the national income. Rather than reveal this double-bind--reform is impossible but the Status Quo is unsustainable--the legacy system deploys its gargantuan resources to laying down a smoke-screen of bogus reforms and ginned-up statistics. America's legacy systems are like stars about to go super-nova. They have increased in size to the point where their stupendous mass guarantees that once their energy source (as measured in fossil fuels and money) falls below a certain threshold, the institution will collapse inward on itself." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingOur Legacy Systems: Dysfunctional, Unreformable