Sudden Outbreak of Common Sense

No More Communism! North Korea Capitulates: Farming.

"The last hold-out is no longer holding out. North Korea now allows collective farms to lease land to peasants. The peasants pay 30% of the crop to the collective. We can be sure of this: output will rise. This is what Deng did in 1978. He freed up agriculture. The boom began within a year. The peasants will buy into this if they believe they will really get to keep 70%. They are suspicious. But if the collectives abide by the rules, Communism is finished. The experiment has failed. Celebrate. Light up a Cuban cigar. (No. Sorry. That’s illegal in the land of the free and the home of the NSA.) May the lights come back on in the North." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNo More Communism! North Korea Capitulates: Farming.

Police need warrants to track cell-phone data, N.J. Supreme Court rules

"The state Supreme Court ruled today that law enforcement agencies must get warrants if they want to track crime suspects by tracing the signals from their cell phones. 'Cell phones are not meant to serve as tracking devices to locate their owners wherever they may be,' Chief Justice Stuart Rabner wrote in the 7-0 decision. The state’s high court is the first in the country to impose such a ruling, and former state justices and legal experts said the decision could ripple throughout the states and in federal courts wrestling with the same questions on the collection and use of electronic data." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPolice need warrants to track cell-phone data, N.J. Supreme Court rules

Amendments To Block Unauthorized U.S. Military Involvement In Syria And Egypt Introduced

"Representative Massie offered two amendments to the House Defense Appropriations Act (H.R. 2397) requiring congressional authorization to use taxpayer funds for military or paramilitary purposes in Syria and Egypt. 'Since our national security interests in Syria and Egypt are unclear, we risk giving money and military assistance to our enemies,' said Rep. Massie. 'The Constitution prohibits the President from unilaterally spending American taxpayer dollars on military operations without congressional approval. The American people deserve an open debate and an up-or-down vote by their elected officials on these important issues.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAmendments To Block Unauthorized U.S. Military Involvement In Syria And Egypt Introduced

China’s richest man says ‘common prosperity’, not ‘wealth gap’ is priority

"Zong only went into business in his 40s, selling fizzy drinks to children and reportedly being so short of cash that he slept under a bridge in Beijing because he could not afford a hotel. But the company he launched, Wahaha, whose name means 'Laughing Child' in Chinese, went on to become China’s third largest soft drinks company, according to Euromonitor International. Zong’s fortune, as estimated by China-based luxury magazine publisher the Hurun Report, makes him the richest person in China and one of the wealthiest in Asia. Zong warned: 'If we had egalitarianism… we wouldn’t have enough to eat.' He called for lower taxes to stimulate investment." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingChina’s richest man says ‘common prosperity’, not ‘wealth gap’ is priority

‘Frustrated’ Monsanto withdraws all EU approval requests for new GMO crops

"The move reflects the frustration felt by many biotech companies towards the EU's approval system for GMOs. Decisions routinely face years of delays, and only three varieties have ever been given the green light for cultivation. While Monsanto's MON810 maize has been approved for cultivation throughout the EU, several countries including France, Germany and most recently Italy have imposed national bans, driven by strong public opposition to the technology. Last year, German biotech producer BASF halted the development of genetically modified crops in Europe and moved all of its European GMO research operations to the United States." Continue reading →

Continue Reading‘Frustrated’ Monsanto withdraws all EU approval requests for new GMO crops

California Sheriff Strips Forest Service Of State-Law Enforcement Power

"The El Dorado County Sheriff says he’s not happy with the U.S. Forest Service, so he’s stripping them of their authority by keeping them from enforcing state law within the county. Sheriff John D’Agostini is taking the unusual step of pulling the police powers from the federal agency because he says he has received 'numerous, numerous complaints.' In a letter obtained by CBS13, the sheriff informs the federal agency that its officers will no longer be able to enforce California state law anywhere in his county." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCalifornia Sheriff Strips Forest Service Of State-Law Enforcement Power

Lawmaker wants to make it legal to record conversations with the feds

"Citing recent scandals across the federal government, a Republican lawmaker is pushing a new bill that would make it legal for Americans to record most conversations they have with employees of federal agencies. Under current law, people are only able to lawfully record certain in-person conversations with IRS officials. But under Jenkins proposal, that law would be expanded to allow people to record both in-person and phone conversations with most agencies in the executive branch. It would also require these government officials to tell people they have the right to record these conversations." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingLawmaker wants to make it legal to record conversations with the feds

San Antonio Public School Officials End RFID Tracking Program

"After a drawn-out battle waged in court and within the community, school officials with the Northside Independent School District have announced their decision to stop using a student tracking program that relied on RFID tracking badges containing tiny chips that produce a radio signal, enabling school officials to track students’ location on school property. Students who refused to take part in the ID program were not able to access essential services like the cafeteria and library, nor would they be able to purchase tickets to extracurricular activities. According to Hernandez, teachers were even requiring students to wear the IDs to use the bathroom." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSan Antonio Public School Officials End RFID Tracking Program

Utah lawmaker calls for an end to compulsory education

"Osmond argues that requiring children to attend school has caused some parents to 'completely disengage themselves from their obligation to oversee and ensure the successful education of their children.' 'I believe the time has come for us to re-evaluate what we expect of parents and the public education system.' Osmond recommends 'restoring the parental right to decide if and when a child will go to public school' to uphold the 'principles of personal freedom and unalienable rights.' Part of the solution, he believes, is to 'stop dictating the number of hours a child must be present in a classroom.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingUtah lawmaker calls for an end to compulsory education

Unitarian Church, Gun Groups Join EFF to Sue NSA Over Illegal Surveillance

"'People who hold controversial views – whether it's about gun ownership policies, drug legalization, or immigration – often must express views as a group in order to act and advocate effectively,' said Cohn. 'But fear of individual exposure when participating in political debates over high-stakes issues can dissuade people from taking part. That's why the Supreme Court ruled in 1958 that membership lists of groups have strong First Amendment protection. Telephone records, especially complete records collected over many years, are even more invasive than membership lists, since they show casual or repeated inquiries as well as full membership.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingUnitarian Church, Gun Groups Join EFF to Sue NSA Over Illegal Surveillance