statism

Illinois’ credit rating downgraded; state drops to worst in the nation

"A warning came Saturday morning from state treasurer Dan Rutherford (R) IL State Treasurer. The Standard and Poor’s downgrade from A to A-minus puts Illinois last on the list– and means a higher cost to borrow money. On Wednesday, the state will issue $500 million in new bonds to pay for roads and other transportation projects. Rutherford says the credit downgrade will cost taxpayers an additional $95 million in interest, when compared to a perfect triple-A bond rating enjoyed by other 11 states including neighboring Indiana, Iowa and Missouri." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIllinois’ credit rating downgraded; state drops to worst in the nation

Italian tax dodgers uncovered by the Redditometro

"The Italian authorities have been accused of resorting to police state-style tactics with the introduction of a new weapon to hunt down the nation's many tax dodgers. The new procedure makes it possible to scrutinise any family's spending pattern, and compare this with what it says it earns. But some commentators have been outraged by this month's launch of what is called the Redditometro - the Income Meter. It has been described as unacceptably intrusive, the sort of thing that East Germany's secret police might have dreamt up." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingItalian tax dodgers uncovered by the Redditometro

France Proposes an Internet Tax

"France, seeking fresh ways to raise funds and frustrated that American technology companies that dominate its digital economy are largely beyond the reach of French fiscal authorities, has proposed a new levy: an Internet tax on the collection of personal data. The idea surfaced Friday in a report commissioned by President François Hollande, which described various measures his government was taking to address what the French see as tax avoidance by Internet companies like Google, Amazon and Facebook." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFrance Proposes an Internet Tax

U.S. GDP Shrinks. WSJ Says ‘No Reason to Panic.’

"According to the feds, the US GDP shrank 0.1% (annualized) in Q4. These are preliminary figures, of course, and recent revisions have been mostly down. This also comes on the heels of recent news from the UK where the economy shrank, and where, according to The Telegraph, the economy is headed for a 'triple dip.' Most alarmingly, all of this contraction comes as central banks continue to print money like there's no tomorrow, underlying the true weakness in the economy." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. GDP Shrinks. WSJ Says ‘No Reason to Panic.’

Zimbabwean Finance Minister Says the Country Has Just $217 In The Bank

"After paying public workers' salaries last week, the balance in cash-strapped Zimbabwe's government public account stood at just $217, Finance Minister Tendai Biti said Tuesday. Zimbabwe's economy went into free-fall at the turn of the millennium, after President Robert Mugabe began seizing white-owned farms. The move demolished investor confidence in the country, paralysed production, prompted international sanctions and scared off tourists. Zimbabwe's government has warned it does not have enough money to fund a constitutional referendum and elections expected this year." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingZimbabwean Finance Minister Says the Country Has Just $217 In The Bank

Honduras ‘no longer functioning’ after plunging over fiscal cliff

"Street surveillance cameras in one of the world's most dangerous cities were turned off last week because Honduras' government hasn't paid millions of dollars it owes. The operator that runs them is now threatening to suspend police radio service as well. Teachers have been demonstrating almost every day because they haven't been paid in six months, while doctors complain about the shortage of essential medicines, gauze, needles and latex gloves. Honduras is also grappling with $5 billion in foreign debt, a figure equivalent to last year's entire government budget." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingHonduras ‘no longer functioning’ after plunging over fiscal cliff

Glenn Greenwald: Pentagon’s new massive expansion of ‘cyber-security’ unit is about everything except defense

"This Cyber Command Unit operates under the command of Gen. Keith Alexander, who also happens to be the head of the National Security Agency, the highly secretive government network that spies on the communications of foreign nationals - and American citizens. The Pentagon's rhetorical justification for this expansion is deeply misleading. Beyond that, these activities pose a wide array of serious threats to internet freedom, privacy, and international law that, as usual, will be conducted with full-scale secrecy and with little to no oversight and accountability, with a small army of private-sector corporations who will benefit most from this expansion." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGlenn Greenwald: Pentagon’s new massive expansion of ‘cyber-security’ unit is about everything except defense

The Internet Has Been Conquered: Get Busy With the Next Steps

"For years, people like me have been telling everyone who will listen that they need to start using encryption and to stop cooperating with the strangling of the Internet. Sadly, not many people cared. They were far more interested in free services and shiny new iGadgets. Ah well… at least I did my part. My point today is this: It’s over. The state has won. The Internet will be fully controlled in just a few years. Actually, it’s worse than that. Within that same amount of time, the Internet will not only be a Worldwide Surveillance Web, but it will be a Worldwide Manipulation Web." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe Internet Has Been Conquered: Get Busy With the Next Steps

A Swedish Police Taskforce Raided a Bunch of Teenagers Playing Call of Duty

"The ten-man team raided the apartment to find a group of teenagers in the midst of murder and destruction, yes, but also enjoying just another friendly night in playing Call of Duty. After being forced outside by what must have essentially been a SWAT team, the boys were able to explain that the gunshots were entirely virtual and the cries for help merely came when the character of one of the boys (let's call him Sven) was shot several times and left lying on the floor. Sven's alter ego had, presumably, been put out of its misery by the time the police arrived. Eventually, the police admitted the mistake and left without filing any charges." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingA Swedish Police Taskforce Raided a Bunch of Teenagers Playing Call of Duty

Oklahoma Woman Seeks Medical Treatment, Is Jailed Instead, Dies

"Hospital staff reported that Russell wouldn't cooperate and was in too much pain to even lie down, so they asked a Paul's Valley police officer to assist. And that's when Russell's medical emergency morphed into a drug bust. The police officer found two prescription pills on her for which she did not have a prescription, so she was arrested and jailed on drug possession charges. She was found unresponsive in her cell less than two hours later. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation has cleared the jail staff of any criminal wrongdoing." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingOklahoma Woman Seeks Medical Treatment, Is Jailed Instead, Dies