statism

Welfare States: Federal Grants Now a Third of State Revenue

"The Pew Center on the States has a great new illustration of how dependent states have become on federal dollars since the recession. States now count on the federal government for $1 out of every $3 in revenue, according the 2010 Census, which offers the most recent finalized data. That’s your stimulus money at work. And $1 out of every $3 is just the national average: In Arizona, 46.9 percent of state revenue came from federal grants; in Louisiana, 48 percent; and in Mississippi, a whopping 49.6 percent." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWelfare States: Federal Grants Now a Third of State Revenue

Obama Wins A Second Term: Now What?

"The game will go on until the time is up for our nation. Austerity measures will dramatically increase, benefits and promises will be lost by the poor and remaining middle class citizens who really need them and taxes will rise, as will the risk of gold and wealth confiscation. Obama will be blamed, just as Romney would have been blamed had he been elected president, for this is how our regulatory/debt democracy works today in the 21st century. A failed system of central bank control leading a failed economy, a failing currency and a controlled system totally divorced from control or limitation by the citizens of America." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingObama Wins A Second Term: Now What?

Pakistani flagmakers may see boost in sales after Obama victory spurs more effigies

"Demonstrations against Washington’s programme of missile strikes against suspected Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants are common in Pakistan, and no protest is complete without a Stars and Stripes being sent up in flames. Nadeem Shah, the owner of a flag business in Rawalpindi, the twin city of the capital Islamabad, said he expected more drone strikes — and more protests. In Rawalpindi, US flags start at around 120 rupees ($1.25) but in Nadeem Shah’s shop 1,500 rupees will get you a three-square-metre number in cloth." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPakistani flagmakers may see boost in sales after Obama victory spurs more effigies

Business fined $4,000 over missing trashcan lid

"Jones is one of the owners of Buckingham Slate, a Virginia business a little over an hour's drive west of Richmond. The company is distinguished by the quality of the highly valued Arvonia slate it produces. And by the fact that its roots trace back almost to the Civil War. And by the fact that federal regulators smacked it with a $4,000 fine. Over a trash can." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBusiness fined $4,000 over missing trashcan lid

Instagrammed ballots may bring stiff penalties

"Before you snap a shot of your vote, you might want to check your state laws. As the Citizen Media Law Project points out as part of their guide to documenting the 2012 election, showing your marked ballot to other people is actually illegal in many states. Laws against displaying your ballot are motivated by concerns about vote buying, since voters being bribed might need to be prove they voted a certain way. While laws vary from state to state, the penalties for showing your ballot can be stiff. Maine repealed its ban on voters showing their own ballots in 2011." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingInstagrammed ballots may bring stiff penalties

Three More Cities Vote to Ban Red Light Cameras

"Voters in League City, Texas spoke loudest against the use of red light cameras. At the end of the evening, 77 percent of the electorate sent a message to the city council that they wanted the automated ticketing machines removed. The message was reinforced with photo enforcement foes pulling off a clean sweep against incumbent city council members. Heidi Thiess defeated the number-one camera supporter, Councilman Mick Phalen, and Geri Bentley ousted Councilman Phyllis Sanborn who had voted to approve the camera contract. Todd Kinsey opposes cameras and won an open council seat." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThree More Cities Vote to Ban Red Light Cameras

Ohio judge rejects lawsuit against voting machine software

"An U.S. District Court judge has rejected a suit alleging that Ohio voting machines were using dangerously vulnerable software that would allow votes to be blocked or altered. Judge Gregory Frost ruled that election activist and Green Party Congressional candidate Bob Fitrakis provided 'zero' evidence for his claims, offering instead only conjecture as to how and why the machines could fail. The judge sided with the state, which argued that discarding the ES&S system and finding and implementing a new system would cause confusion and delays within an already potentially overloaded voting infrastructure." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingOhio judge rejects lawsuit against voting machine software

2012 Election Spending Will Reach $6 Billion, Center for Responsive Politics Predicts

"The 2012 election will not only be the most expensive election in U.S. history, the cost will tower over the next most expensive election by more than $700 million. Earlier this year, the Center for Responsive Politics estimated that the 2012 election would cost $5.8 billion -- an estimate that already made it the most expensive in history -- but with less than a week to go before the election, CRP is revising the estimate upwards. According to CRP’s new analysis of Federal Election Commission data, this election will likely cost $6 billion." Continue reading →

Continue Reading2012 Election Spending Will Reach $6 Billion, Center for Responsive Politics Predicts

Hacking Through the Ole Gordian Knot

"Our Rulers couldn't get serfs to their jobs at all last week, and yesterday, they expected workers to stand in line for two hours just to get on a bus, never mind the actual commute. But suddenly, miraculously, these wunderkinds are 'providing free [sic for 'paid for by others'] 'voter shuttles' ... for people in the Rockaways, Staten Island, and Coney Island whose regular polling places were damaged in last week's storm. The MTA says the shuttle buses will run every 15 to 20 minutes ... in addition to regular bus service and carry voters to alternate voting sites.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingHacking Through the Ole Gordian Knot