statism

As Europe Plots Closer Ties, Britain Mulls Split

"German Chancellor Angela Merkel called last week for turning the European Commission, which currently drafts legislation and regulates competition, into 'something like a European government.' The phrase alone rattles the teeth of many British politicians, who have warned for decades of the specter of a European superstate. Last month, Cameron faced a huge rebellion within his own party as 81 of the 303 Conservative lawmakers defied his orders and voted to hold an urgent referendum on EU membership in 2015." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAs Europe Plots Closer Ties, Britain Mulls Split

TX teen ostracized for protesting school GPS chip

"A Texas teenager’s attorney told RT on Friday that her refusal to wear an ID badges with a GPS tag has led to her being ostracized from all school activities. 'She’s not being treated equally,' said John Whitehead, who is representing Andrea Hernandez in an upcoming trial next week. 'If she doesn’t have the chip, she can’t access the library, cafeteria, she was told she couldn’t vote for the homecoming king and queen.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTX teen ostracized for protesting school GPS chip

Florida woman arrested for riding an endangered manatee

"A Florida woman photographed two months ago riding an endangered manatee in violation of state law was arrested on Saturday on misdemeanor charges, authorities said. The Pinellas County Sheriff's office said deputies arrested Ana Gloria Garcia Gutierrez, 53, without incident at her job at a Sears store in St. Petersburg on a warrant for violating the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act. She admitted the offense claiming 'she is new to the area and did not realize it was against the law to touch or harass manatees,'the office said in a news release." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFlorida woman arrested for riding an endangered manatee

Teenagers arrested for killing neighbor’s turkey with bow and arrow

"19-year-old Joshua Anderson and 18-year-old Jacob Provo were charged with armed burglary, armed trespassing, cruelty to animals and theft of livestock for breaking into Brian and Christa Caponi’s 6-acre property in Gulf Breeze, Florida and using a bow and arrow to kill Tom, a 30-pound turkey the Caponis had owned for about a year. The two young men were allegedly on their way to butcher the animal in preparation for Thanksgiving dinner when they were arrested. They are currently being held on $57,000 bail." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTeenagers arrested for killing neighbor’s turkey with bow and arrow

Foster children taken away from UK couple for political party membership

"The couple from Yorkshire said they had been fostering children for seven years but have been told by social workers that they were not suitable because of UKIP’s calls for curbs on immigration to Britain. UKIP leader Nigel Farage, a member of the European Parliament, said the situation was 'appalling' and 'disgraceful'. He accused the council of bigotry, insisting that decisions on foster care should be 'colour-blind'. The decision came after two officials visited to question them about their membership of UKIP, Britain’s fourth-biggest party which campaigns for an end to Britain’s membership of the European Union." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFoster children taken away from UK couple for political party membership

Google takes action to support open Internet

"The conference, organized by the UN’s International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) has reignited a fierce debate over who should control the Web. Google has remained unequivocal in its stance that the closed-door meeting a power grab aimed at ending public control of the Internet and strangling free speech. Google, which has consistently taken a self-regulatory approach to the Internet, called the Dubai conference the'wrong place' to make decisions on the future of the Internet." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGoogle takes action to support open Internet

What’s cooking in WHO powwow?

"A monumental session during the World Health Organization’s (WHO) convention on tobacco control turned into an alarming attack on transparency, accountability and press freedom. The decision to meet behind closed doors occurred when a discussion began about efforts to decrease tobacco use by increasing the price of tobacco products. Specifically, the convention attendees were discussing the framework for an international tobacco tax. This stance raises some serious questions about an organization that for years has operated largely behind the scenes and without the benefit of much public scrutiny." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWhat’s cooking in WHO powwow?

Egypt protesters tear-gassed as world concern mounts

"Anti-riot police fired tear gas on Saturday to disperse protesters camped out in Cairo’s Tahrir Square as Western governments voiced growing concern over Islamist President Mohamed Morsi’s assumption of sweeping powers. The president already held both and executive and legislative powers and Thursday’s decree puts him beyond judicial oversight until a new constitution has been ratified in a referendum." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEgypt protesters tear-gassed as world concern mounts

A Shoe Tariff With a Big Footprint

"As cost-conscious Americans clip every coupon, they might well wonder about government policies that take needed money from consumers. Smoot-Hawley set high tariffs on hundreds of products. In the decades since 1930, many of these rates have been reduced to more reasonable levels, or eliminated altogether. However, footwear tariffs have remained largely untouched. The thriving U.S. shoe-manufacturing sector of the 1930s is long gone, but what remains are protective tariff rates of 37.5%, 48% and some as high as 67.5%." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingA Shoe Tariff With a Big Footprint

Alaskan town home to airport with no planes and harbor with no road

"Remember Alaska's infamous bridge to nowhere? Well, another town in 'Seward's Icebox' has upped the ante after building an unused $75.5 million airport and a $29 million harbor with no roads connecting to the town. The Aleutians community of Akutan is home to just over 1,000 seasonal workers and 75 full-time residents, though only about five boats. The Army Corps of Engineers, using $29 million in federal stimulus money, built the harbor." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAlaskan town home to airport with no planes and harbor with no road