statism

Wisconsin asks hunters to watch for marijuana fields

"Marijuana growing operations in Wisconsin, watch out: the U.S. Forest Service has instructed hunters to look out for fields in the state’s Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. In August, one fisherman in the state came upon a 8,000-plant growing operation worth $8 million. One Justice Department director explained that growers, rather than creating one large field of marijuana plants, now plant a larger number of smaller fields to thwart aerial detection. Police interviews with those who have been apprehended on growing operations revealed that most were undocumented immigrants." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWisconsin asks hunters to watch for marijuana fields

Mexico’s Zetas drug cartel strikes gold in the coal business

"Mexican druglords have found an earthy new source of wealth: dirty old coal. They are mining it themselves in a coal-rich area along the US border or buying it from small mine operators, then reselling it to a state-owned company at fabulous margins that can see them make a profit 30 times greater than their initial investment. Reforma newspaper says the Zetas produce or buy 10,000 tonnes of coal a week. Selling it at their inflated prices, that means yearly revenue of $22 million to $25 million." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMexico’s Zetas drug cartel strikes gold in the coal business

The Twinkie, a Suicide

"The snack giant endured $52 million in workers' comp claims in 2011, according to its bankruptcy filing this January. Hostess's 372 collective-bargaining agreements required the company to maintain 80 different health and benefit plans, 40 pension plans and mandated a $31 million increase in wages and health care and other benefits for 2012. Union work rules usually required cake and bread products to be delivered to a single retail location using two separate trucks. Drivers weren't allowed to load their own vehicles, and the workers who loaded bread weren't allowed to load cake. 'Pull up' employees moved products from back rooms to shelves." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe Twinkie, a Suicide

Detlev Schlichter: Some personal thoughts on surviving the monetary meltdown

"That government bonds are a safe investment can, of course, not be left a matter of simple opinion but has to be enshrined in the laws of the land, and the state’s rapidly expanding finance constabulary is already working on it. Via legislation and regulation, the state is busily building itself a captive investor base for its own debt. I fear that to a large degree this is even welcome by the asset management industry. In an unstable and increasingly uncertain world, being told what to buy lifts a great responsibility off one’s shoulders." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDetlev Schlichter: Some personal thoughts on surviving the monetary meltdown

US Bank Run Imminent? FDIC Expanded Deposit Insurance Ends Dec 31st

"With the media fixated on the fiscal cliff, no one seems to be noticing the fact that the FDIC’s expanded 100% coverage for insured deposits ends January 1st, 2013. As of January 2013 the FDIC stops offering 100% coverage for all insured deposits. That amounts to $1.6 trillion in deposits, 85-90% deposited with the TBTF mega banks. Once the insurance ramps back to $250,000 the FDIC risk amelioration offered to large depositors will cause them to flee from the insecurity of the much reduced FDIC coverage." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingUS Bank Run Imminent? FDIC Expanded Deposit Insurance Ends Dec 31st

Geithner’s Final Trick: Bye Bye Dodd-Frank, Volcker Rule

"Late Friday, just before the sleepy Thanksgiving week when most Americans turn their sights to turkey, Geithner finally got around to dressing [down] his own turkey: Dodd-Frank. DF is the financial regulatory monster which will create havoc over the entire financial industry, with new rules and regulations. But not for FOG (Friends of Geithner). With a quiet pen stroke, Geithner exempted $410.8 trillion, or 64%, of the entire OTC derivatives market from impending clamp-downs, which mostly benefits FOG." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGeithner’s Final Trick: Bye Bye Dodd-Frank, Volcker Rule

Bureaucrats Paid $250,000 Feed Outcry Over College Costs

"Purdue has a $313,000-a-year acting provost and six vice and associate vice provosts, including a $198,000 chief diversity officer. It employs 16 deans and 11 vice presidents, among them a $253,000 marketing officer and a $433,000 business school chief. Spending on administration has been rising faster than funds for instruction and research at 198 leading U.S. research universities, crowding out instruction at a time of skyrocketing tuition and $1 trillion in outstanding student loans. Purdue and other public universities, which rely on state taxpayers, have become a flashpoint for anger about bureaucratic spending." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBureaucrats Paid $250,000 Feed Outcry Over College Costs

Global terrorist organizations begin to respond to last week’s marijuana votes

"The President of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), Raymond Yans, has voiced grave concern about the outcome of recent referenda in the United States of America that would allow the non-medical use of cannabis by adults in the states of Colorado and Washington, and in some cities in the states of Michigan and Vermont. Mr. Yans stated that 'these developments are in violation of the international drug control treaties, and pose a great threat to public health and the well-being of society far beyond those states'." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGlobal terrorist organizations begin to respond to last week’s marijuana votes

Postal Service losses tripled to $16 billion from previous year

"The US Postal Service tripled its losses in 2012, bleeding $15.9 billion as the state-owned enterprise faces tough competition and what it calls onerous and unfair retirement funding requirements. The US mail said its losses rocketed in the year to September 30 from a $5.1 billion loss last year, with more than $11 billion sucked off to pre-fund health benefits for service retirees long into the future. Overall mail volume continued to shrink, by 5.1 percent, and operating revenues fell nearly one percent, to $65.2 billion." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPostal Service losses tripled to $16 billion from previous year

Canada: Privacy Commissioner Blasts License Plate Readers

"Commissioner Elizabeth Denham opened her inquiry after receiving a number of requests from concerned members of the public. She focused on determining whether use of cameras to track and store license plate data from all passing vehicles, even when their occupants were not suspected of any crime, was permissible under Canada's Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA)." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCanada: Privacy Commissioner Blasts License Plate Readers