statism

Government Gives Samsung and Motorola Monopoly Patent Grants; then Probes them for “Patent Abuse”

"The state is schizophrenic. It grants monopolies aimed at limiting competition (patents and copyright), and then penalizes companies for using ('abusing') them, in contravention of state antitrust law–so that there is a 'tension' between these state laws. Then courts have to 'balance' these against each other. Each state law gives the state an excuse to ratchet up its power. Here’s an idea: get rid of both antitrust and patent law. (Likewise, there is also a 'tension' between copyright censorship, and the right to free speech.)" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGovernment Gives Samsung and Motorola Monopoly Patent Grants; then Probes them for “Patent Abuse”

Louisiana: Traffic Camera Company Sues Client Over Cash

"Redflex is irate that its photo ticketing contract was swept up in a parish government corruption scandal two years ago. A new set of government leaders intent on cleaning up the parish decided on January 27, 2010 to suspend the red light camera program. Officials were most concerned about documents that showed Redflex paid a 3.2 percent cut of the firm's profit on each ticket to lobbyist Bryan Wagner, a former New Orleans city councilman, who in turn shared the funds with the wife of District Judge Robert Murphy. Wagner was set to earn an estimated $90,000 a year from this deal." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingLouisiana: Traffic Camera Company Sues Client Over Cash

Police Arrest 60-Year-Old Woman Speaking At City Council Meeting

"A Riverside woman is facing misdemeanor charges following her arrest for speaking too long at a Riverside City Council meeting, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reported. The incident unfolded after Wright exceeded her allotted three minutes to speak at the lectern while commenting on a sludge hauling contract. Wright, 60, was initially handcuffed by two officers while she was on her knees. Wright can be heard yelling in pain as officers tried to bring her to her feet. 'Can you see my wrists? You’re pulling and jerking on my wrists!' she said. 'I cannot get up without putting my hands down!' Wright was later led out of the building." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPolice Arrest 60-Year-Old Woman Speaking At City Council Meeting

Honduras court bans private cities project

"The Honduran Supreme Court has ruled unconstitutional a project to build privately-run cities, with their own police and tax system. The 'model cities' project was backed by President Porfirio Lobo, who said it would attract foreign investment and create jobs. By 13 votes to one, Supreme Court judges decided that the proposal violated the principle of sovereignty. An American company was expected to invest US$15m in the initial phase of construction of the first city, on the Caribbean coast. The inspiration for his 'model cities' were Singapore, Macao and Hong Kong, President Lobo said." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingHonduras court bans private cities project

Bernard von NotHaus: ‘Rosa Parks’ of the Dollar

"He was convicted more than a year and a half ago of 'counterfeiting,' because he issued silver coins, which he called 'Liberty dollars,' and sold them at a price much lower than they would command in United States currency [today]. The case throws into sharp relief an astonishing irony — that a man who issued money that has sharply appreciated in value is facing the rest of his life in prison while the officials who issue the official Federal Reserve Notes, the value of which has in four years plunged in half, to less than a 1,750th of an ounce of gold, are walking around free." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBernard von NotHaus: ‘Rosa Parks’ of the Dollar

College tuition increases more than triple the rate of inflation

"California — which saw the worst tuition increase last year — has a five-year tuition increase of 102 percent for two-year public colleges and a 72 percent five-year increase at four-year colleges. The College Board made a calculated decision to throw out California’s tuition rates in their average because it would have skewed the average increase too high. A separate report found that 81 percent of African American students carries some kind of student debt along with 67 percent of Latino students. Only about 64 percent of white students, meanwhile have student debt." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCollege tuition increases more than triple the rate of inflation

Catalan politicians ask for EU help against Spanish army

"Four Catalan MEPs have asked the European Commission to tell Spain it cannot use military force to stop Catalonia from splitting away. The letter says: 'We are writing to you to convey our deep concern over a series of threats of the use of military force against the Catalan population ... In these circumstances, the EU should intervene preventatively to guarantee that the resolution of the Catalan conflict be resolved in a peaceful, democratic manner.' Spanish MEP Alejo Vidal-Quadras had said: 'They [the government] should be briefing a general of the Civil Guard ... the government should think of intervening in the rebellious region if they persist.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCatalan politicians ask for EU help against Spanish army

Fraud: Medicare vs. Walmart

"In 2010, Medicare disbursed $524 billion. The number of people receiving funds in 2012 was 49.4 million. For comparison, take a very large business that has high revenues. Number three is Walmart with $447 billion. Walmart has 100 million customers a week. How large is fraud against Medicare? It runs about $60 billion a year. How large is fraud committed against the Walmart company? A large fraud against Walmart reported recently was a $13 million credit card and gift card fraud. A recent large fraud case against Medicare was $430 million. Earlier this year, there was another large case of $452 million against Medicare." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFraud: Medicare vs. Walmart

Spanish unemployment tops 25 percent

"Spain announced Friday that its unemployment rate broke the 25-percent barrier for the first time as austerity cuts squeezed the recession-struck economy. Tens of thousands of jobs were destroyed in the third quarter, even as Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s government raised taxes, cut spending and pondered whether to snatch a eurozone rescue line. Among workers aged 16-24 the jobless rate towered at 52.34 percent in the third quarter, only slightly down from 53.27 percent in the previous quarter, the institute said. After more than a year of recession, the soaring jobless figures and biting cuts have prompted growing street protests." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSpanish unemployment tops 25 percent