statism

IRS cracks down on family land gifts not declared at tax time [2011]

"The Internal Revenue Service is looking at land-transfer records state-by-state for evidence of people neglecting to report within-family real-estate gifts. This year, large family land gifts were popular because of a new tax rule that established $5 million as the amount someone can give in a lifetime before having to pay a gift tax. However, any property worth more than $13,000, gifted to one person, is still supposed to be reported to the IRS. To be precise, Form 709 reports U.S. gifts and generation-skipping transfer taxes." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIRS cracks down on family land gifts not declared at tax time [2011]

“You’re Sick, Fatso. I’m Billing Your Insurance Company.”

"Physicians are not paid by health insurance companies to treat people with behavior 'problems.' They get paid only to treat diseases. So, understanding where their bread is buttered, and by whom, the American Medical Association has now identified obesity as a disease. The Los Angeles Times had spotted the economic nature of the re-definition. You know what an incurable disease is, don’t you? A permanent stream of income. The patient does not die, so he keeps coming back for 'treatment.' Treatment means billable procedures. Think of this as lowering the bar. People who are over a BMI of 30 are now called fat." Continue reading →

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Survey Finds that 41 Percent of Small Business Owners Have Frozen Hiring Because of Obamacare

"Forty-one percent of the businesses surveyed have frozen hiring because of the health-care law known as Obamacare. And almost one-fifth—19 percent— answered 'yes' when asked if they had 'reduced the number of employees you have in your business as a specific result of the Affordable Care Act.' The poll was taken by 603 owners whose businesses have under $20 million in annual sales. Another 38 percent of the small business owners said they 'have pulled back on their plans to grow their business' because of Obamacare. More than half—55 percent—said they expected Obamacare to result in higher health care costs." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSurvey Finds that 41 Percent of Small Business Owners Have Frozen Hiring Because of Obamacare

The top secret rules that allow NSA to use US data without a warrant

"Top secret documents submitted to the court that oversees surveillance by US intelligence agencies show the judges have signed off on broad orders which allow the NSA to make use of information 'inadvertently' collected from domestic US communications without a warrant. The previously revealed bulk collection of domestic call records takes place under rolling court orders issued on the basis of a legal interpretation of a different authority, section 215 of the Patriot Act. On Thursday, two US congressmen introduced a bill compelling the Obama administration to declassify the secret legal justifications for NSA surveillance." Continue reading →

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What Cop T-Shirts Tell Us About Police Culture

"The Village Voice reports that the quote was also printed on t-shirts worn by NYPD's infamous Street Crimes Unit, which was disbanded after shooting unarmed immigrant Amadou Diallo 41 times in 1999 as Diallo reached for his wallet. The Voice also reports that at least two NYPD police commissioners have used the phrase 'hunter of men' to describe police work -- Bernard Kerik and Howard Safir. There have been a number of other incidents over the years in which cops have donned t-shirts that reflect a mentality someone less lofty than 'protect and serve.'" Continue reading →

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Official: Water quality complaints could be ‘act of terrorism’

"A Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation deputy director warned residents that unfounded complaints about water quality could be considered an 'act of terrorism.' 'We take water quality very seriously. Very, very seriously,' said Sherwin Smith, deputy director of TDEC's Division of Water Resources, according to audio recorded by attendees. 'But you need to make sure that when you make water quality complaints you have a basis, because federally, if there's no water quality issues, that can be considered under Homeland Security an act of terrorism.' Smith went on in the recording to repeat the claim almost verbatim." Continue reading →

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Edward Snowden charged with espionage; arrest warrant issued

"Former NSA contractor Edward Snowden was charged with espionage, theft and conversion of government property by federal prosecutors. Snowden has been in hiding in Hong Kong since leaking details about the NSA’s surveillance activities over U.S. citizens’ phone and Internet usage. He told a Chinese newspaper on June 12 that the NSA’s activities also extended into Hong Kong and mainland China. Attorneys representing Wikileaks founder Julian Assange have reportedly reached out to Snowden’s lawyers to help him find asylum in Iceland. U.S. prosecutors also filed a 'provisional arrest warrant' asking Hong Kong police to arrest Snowden." Continue reading →

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Edward Snowden vs. the Sovietization of America

"The Washington know-it-alls have a solution to this dilemma: keep everything secret. So that even the law is itself a secret – or, at least, the government’s interpretation of it is kept under lock and key. Everything else about the mechanics of our emerging police state is also a secret: the internet companies forced to turn over their customers’ private accounts to government snoops are forbidden by law from saying anything about their interactions with Washington. They cannot tell a customer 'The government forced us to turn over your records.' If they choose to fight in court, they cannot publicize their fight. It is a mugging that happens in the dark." Continue reading →

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Marco Rubio’s Immigration Scam: “You Dumb Gringos”

"All the bill requires is that Homeland Security submit a 'strategy' for securing the border, then certify that steps to implement this are 'commencing.' The bill sets up a fund, amounting to $50 million (with more money to be added as needed), to represent illegals in every phase of the process – seeking provisional immigration status, filing appeals, blocking efforts at deportation, obtaining naturalization, and so on. And who might be the people funded by this $50 million? They will be – surprise – non-profit 'immigrant-serving' organizations 'whose staff has demonstrated qualifications, experience and expertise in providing quality services to immigrants.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMarco Rubio’s Immigration Scam: “You Dumb Gringos”

Lockdown USA: Congress plans 700-mile ‘surge’ on Mexico border

"If Congressional Republicans get their way, the 2,000-mile (3,200-km) border separating the US and Mexico will be equipped observation towers, surveillance drones and one guard every 1,000 feet (300 meters). The legislation would see the Obama administration create a path to citizenship for some 11 million undocumented immigrants. The security plan would station another 20,000 Border Patrol agents along the southern border, in addition to the 18,500 already there. The bill would also expand fencing and install a visa entry and exit system at seaports and international airports, among other costly features." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingLockdown USA: Congress plans 700-mile ‘surge’ on Mexico border