Taxation Without Constitution

New York governor seeks $30 billion in aid after Sandy

"New York Governor Andrew Cuomo asked the US federal government for $30 billion in aid to help his state recover from the devastation left by superstorm Sandy. The requested funds will help rebuild the economy, infrastructure, housing, public buildings and small businesses, Cuomo told reporters in stressing the “cataclysmic” nature of the storm that killed more than 110 people. Tens of thousands of homes and businesses remain without power, and thus unable to heat the buildings during sometimes frigid temperatures in the city and its suburbs." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNew York governor seeks $30 billion in aid after Sandy

The “Essential” Role of Tax Havens

"So-called tax havens are necessary to restrain the compulsive tendency of 'onshore' politicians to over-tax and over-spend. For all intents and purposes, the existence of tax havens makes tax competition more robust. And we need vigorous tax competition because politicians – without some sort of external constraint – will drive their nations into Greek-style fiscal chaos. The real outrage in this issue is that American taxpayers are subsidizing the international bureaucracy [the OECD] that is trying to kill tax competition. So if Republicans on Capitol Hill are looking for some much-needed budget cuts, that’s a good place to start." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe “Essential” Role of Tax Havens

Not a US person? Prove it!

"Please forgive me if this whole affair reminds me of another attempt to round up people of a certain ethnicity. The vast majority of Canadians won’t be able to prove that their parents and grandparents are not Americans nor that they are not holders of Green Cards. Perhaps, the absence of 'the property of the USA' tush tattoo would convince the CBA. But then the banks will have to become like the TSA." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNot a US person? Prove it!

Gen. Mark S. Martins on Gitmo Military Commissions: “The Will of Our People!”

"It may not be surprising or any sort of revelation — it’s pretty well known that temporary measures taken by the state have a way of staying permanent, after all — but to hear a government official basically come right out and admit that they’re creating a shadow legal system is still amazing to me." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGen. Mark S. Martins on Gitmo Military Commissions: “The Will of Our People!”

How Do You Turn a Leftist into a Warmonger?

"Here are excerpts from an article posted at The Street, written by a statist who says that 'tax havens' don’t have enough military force to resist high-tax nations. The title is particularly revealing. She must be the fiscal version of a neo-con, urging that high-tax nations should 'Invade the Cayman Islands!' Not Iran. Not Syria. Not Cuba. Not North Korea. You see, those nations are all guilty of causing misery and instability, but such behaviors apparently are far less important than the imagined dangers posed by a prosperous multi-racial society with a competitive tax regime." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingHow Do You Turn a Leftist into a Warmonger?

American Expat Taxpayers Would Rather Ditch Citizenship Than Face New IRS Rules

"The rule change followed legislation made in the wake of the financial crisis that was meant to help the U.S. government close the tax gap and combat tax evasion. But the FATCA rule change is shaping up to be an administrative and diplomatic nightmare for some foreign banks. For expats, it is complicating life overseas, curtailing opportunities in everything from jobs to getting bank accounts -- and, of course, potentially raising their tax burden. Now, with the promise of higher taxes coming next year, many expats are saying enough." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAmerican Expat Taxpayers Would Rather Ditch Citizenship Than Face New IRS Rules

Louisiana residents petition to secede

"According to the White House website, the petition was created by Michael E. (full last name not provided) of Slidell, La., the day after the election and has since been electronically signed by a few hundred people, most – but not all – of whom hail from the Pelican State. The petition has until Dec. 7 of this year to gather 25,000 signatures, at which time, the White House pledges, it will be placed on a queue for response from the administration. The White House created the 'We the People' petition site ostensibly as a way of giving all Americans 'a way to engage their government on the issues that matter to them.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingLouisiana residents petition to secede

Former Washington, Colorado cops explain: What’s really going to change now that marijuana is legal?

"Following wins for marijuana legalization in Washington and Colorado on Tuesday night, a former Seattle police chief and a former Denver police officer sat down with Raw Story to discuss what the laws will actually do and how they think things will change. The possibility remains that the Obama administration may file suit against Colorado and Washington to prevent them from implementing regulatory schemes or granting permits for retail sales. Meanwhile, the Obama administration’s U.S. Attorneys have been adamant about busting hundreds of medical marijuana outlets." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFormer Washington, Colorado cops explain: What’s really going to change now that marijuana is legal?

DEA Responds to Legal Weed in Colorado and Washington: “Enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act remains unchanged”

"Despite the passage of ballot initiatives in Washington and Colorado legalizing recreational marijuana, 'the Drug Enforcement Administration’s enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act remains unchanged,' a DEA spokesperson told Reason this morning. 'In enacting the Controlled Substances Act, Congress determined that marijuana is a Schedule I controlled substance. The Department of Justice is reviewing the ballot initiatives and we have no additional comment at this time.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDEA Responds to Legal Weed in Colorado and Washington: “Enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act remains unchanged”

Obama May Levy Carbon Tax to Cut U.S. Deficit, HSBC Says

"Barack Obama may consider introducing a tax on carbon emissions to help cut the U.S. budget deficit after winning a second term as president, according to HSBC Holdings Plc. A tax starting at $20 a metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent and rising at about 6 percent a year could raise $154 billion by 2021, Nick Robins, an analyst at the bank in London, said today in an e-mailed research note, citing Congressional Research Service estimates. In China, the world’s biggest emitter, greenhouse gases from fuel use rose more than 9 percent in 2011." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingObama May Levy Carbon Tax to Cut U.S. Deficit, HSBC Says