statism

France mulls ‘culture tax’ on smartphones

"The French government is considering creating a new tax on smartphones and tablets in a bid to raise millions to support the creation of digital cultural content inside France. The proposal, handed to President Francois Hollande Monday, outlines a 1 percent tax on the sale of Internet-compatible devices, targeting companies such as Google, Apple and Amazon. The tax would yield about 86 million euros per year. The revenue would help cultural industries create French content such as music, images and videos. The proposal is part of France's 'cultural exception,' a policy that protects French cinema and music industries, and other creative sectors, against competition." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFrance mulls ‘culture tax’ on smartphones

Taxes on 8,000 French households were greater than 100% of income last year

"More than 8,000 French households' tax bills topped 100 percent of their income last year, the business newspaper Les Echos reported on Saturday, citing Finance Ministry data. The newspaper said that the exceptionally high level of taxation was due to a one-off levy last year on 2011 incomes for households with assets of more than 1.3 million euros ($1.67 million). President Francois Hollande's Socialist government imposed the tax surcharge last year, shortly after taking office. The government has been forced to redraft a proposed bill to levy a temporary 75 percent tax on earnings over 1 million euros, which had been one of Hollande's campaign pledges." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTaxes on 8,000 French households were greater than 100% of income last year

Vicious Cycle: Thousands in Ohio too poor to pay fines, jailed with no trial

"The American Civil Liberties Union is warning the US public against being bogged down in too much debt. The group has revealed figures showing a rising number of people who fail to pay their debts and fines end up behind bars without a court verdict. The practice is being criticized as unconstitutional, but it's alive and kicking in the State of Ohio, as RT's Marina Portnaya explains." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingVicious Cycle: Thousands in Ohio too poor to pay fines, jailed with no trial

AP: Sources Aren’t Talking To Us Out Of Fear Of US Government Spying

"Speaking on CBS's Face the Nation, Pruitt, AP's president and chief executive officer, said the government's seizure of the phone records was 'unconstitutional' and was already clearly harming the press's ability to do its job. 'We are already seeing some impact. Already officials that would normally talk to us and people we talk to in the normal course of newsgathering are already saying to us that they are a little reluctant to talk to us. They fear that they will be monitored by the government. We are already seeing that. It's not hypothetical,' said Pruitt." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAP: Sources Aren’t Talking To Us Out Of Fear Of US Government Spying

Colorado Gun Control Law Is Unenforceable, Say 54 Of 62 Colorado Sheriffs

"A gun control law set to go into effect in July specifies that anytime that a gun owner allows anyone to have control of his gun for over 72 hours, that person to receive the gun must go through a background check. Of Colorado’s 62 sheriffs, 54 are publicly protesting the law. It is unenforceable, they say. The law has other unenforceable features, such as banning rifle magazines that could possibly be expanded to hold more than 15 rounds. Anyone who owns such a magazine cannot sell it or lend it. The sheriffs are part of a lawsuit in federal court. The lawsuit says the law is unconstitutional. The state committee that heard testimony allowed only one sheriff to testify." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingColorado Gun Control Law Is Unenforceable, Say 54 Of 62 Colorado Sheriffs

A Real Life Thelma and Louise: the US and the EU

"To be sure, there have been many warning signs along the road to indicate that to exit the car might have been a good idea, but, for whatever reasons, they did not. Now, it is becoming increasingly apparent to a larger number of people that the joy ride is soon to end, and end rather badly. As such, it would be understandable if we were to see the passengers in the back of the car request that they be let out. As Europe has some 740,000,000 inhabitants and the US has a further 310,000,000, even if only one percent chose to make an exit at some time in the next few years, this would mean an exodus which would be unprecedented in world history." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingA Real Life Thelma and Louise: the US and the EU

It’s Not Pretty: The EuroZone Economies

"The EuroZone is in the down phase of the business cycle and government regulations make it difficult for startups in most EZ countries to launch, regulations in most EZ countries also make it risky for established firms to hire. Further, unemployment packages make it attractive for most to stay unemployed once they are laid off. Thus you have economies that look like this. Unlike the European Central Bank, which has been doing only very modest money printing, the Fed has been flooding the markets, which has caused, yet another manipulated boom in the housing sector and stock market, that will, soon enough, experience another bust." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIt’s Not Pretty: The EuroZone Economies

Ron Paul: The IRS’s Job Is To Violate Our Liberties

"'What do you expect when you target the President?' This is what an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agent allegedly said to the head of a conservative organization that was being audited after calling for the impeachment of then-President Clinton. Recent revelations that IRS agents gave 'special scrutiny' to organizations opposed to the current administration's policies suggest that many in the IRS still believe harassing the president's opponents is part of their job. As troubling as these recent reports are, it would be a grave mistake to think that IRS harassment of opponents of the incumbent president is a modern, or a partisan, phenomenon." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRon Paul: The IRS’s Job Is To Violate Our Liberties

Synthetic Marijuana Turns People Into Zombies, Says Govt. Anti-Drug Propaganda

"The District of Columbia’s Department of Health seems to have a taken a page directly from Reefer Madness for its new advertising campaign, suggesting a synthetic form of marijuana known as 'K2' or 'Spice' will turn people who use it into 'zombies.' The ads recently made their debut on the DC Metro, and are wacky enough to look like a parody. Teenagers – presumably under the influence and grotesquely made up to look like 'Walking Dead' extras – pose in various stages of decay with captions like 'No One Wants to Take a Zombie to the Prom.' Seriously?" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSynthetic Marijuana Turns People Into Zombies, Says Govt. Anti-Drug Propaganda

Reefer Madness… by Executive Order

"In Meridian, Idaho, Mayor Tammy de Weerd has taken it upon herself to use tax dollars to spread Reefer Madness to her constituents. By Executive Order, Tammy established the Mayor’s Anti-Drug Coalition (MADC), which received $625,000 from a Drug-Free Community Grant through the federal government. Now a Meridian resident notes that the town has been distributing these anti-marijuana leaflets inserted in the water bill! The flyer is full of discredited nonsense, exaggeration, and misdirection. Remember, this is a city government, most likely using federal grant money, to send false information about a political issue in official communications to their citizens." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingReefer Madness… by Executive Order