Technocracy

Sweden’s War on Cash Runs Into a Wall–and a Heroic Bank

"The anti-cash movement has been vigorously promoted by major Swedish commercial banks as well as the Riksbank, the Swedish central bank. For three of the four major Swedish banks combined, 530 of their 780 office no longer accept or pay out cash. Fortunately, it seems that the Swedish people are not falling for the anti-cash propaganda spewed by bankers. It is reported that last year the value of cash transactions in Sweden were 99 billion krona, only a marginal decrease from ten years ago. Even more heartening is the fact that Handelsbanken, the largest bank in Sweden, is committed to serving consumers who demand cash." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSweden’s War on Cash Runs Into a Wall–and a Heroic Bank

California: Benefit of Longer Yellow Light Proves Lasting

"Municipalities that use red light cameras for the most part are highly reluctant to increase the amount of yellow warning time at an intersection, citing the theory that motorists 'adapt' to the longer yellow, encouraging even more red light running. New data from Fremont, California suggests the reduction in red light running violations from longer yellows is lasting. After nearly two years with the enhanced timing, violations remained down by 71 percent. While a 0.7 second difference in the duration of the yellow warning at an intersection might appear insignificant, the extra margin of safety is critical." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCalifornia: Benefit of Longer Yellow Light Proves Lasting

Maryland: Speed Camera Company Admits 5.2 Percent Error Rates

"Over the past two decades, advocates have argued the main advantage of a speed camera is that the machines never lies. Most states codify this belief with a legal presumption that the automated citation is accurate and it is up to the defendant to prove otherwise. In Baltimore, Maryland last week a leading speed camera vendor made the unprecedented admission that the technology frequently lies, but obvious examples of false readings slipped through the process due to 'human error'." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMaryland: Speed Camera Company Admits 5.2 Percent Error Rates

Couple files civil lawsuit against former cop who stole their medication

"Former Vernal police Officer Ben M. Murray allegedly looked up information about them, including medical history and other private data, in the state’s prescription drug database. He was able to learn when they filled prescriptions, for what drugs and in what quantities. Murray, wearing his police uniform and driving his police vehicle, then visited their home at least 30 times between January and July 2011 to conduct what he called a 'pill check.' Murray discussed their medical conditions and other personal business and required them to produce their medications so he could count the pills. During that process, he would distract them and pocket pills." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCouple files civil lawsuit against former cop who stole their medication

Legal Gun Owners in New York Outed Like Sex Offenders

"A corporate media owned website in New York has posted the names and addresses of pistol permit holders in three counties in the state. Data for all permit categories, unrestricted carry, premises, business, employment, target and hunting, is included, but permit information is not available on an individual basis. The Journal News submitted Freedom of Information requests for the names and addresses of all pistol permit holders in Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties. It used Google Maps to pinpoint specific locations and included the names and addresses of permit holders, without specifying a reason for invading the privacy of handgun owners." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingLegal Gun Owners in New York Outed Like Sex Offenders

Will Grigg: Merely Being Arrested Can Ruin Your Life

"A recent investigation by the Gainesville Sun found that local police agencies make hundreds of entirely unnecessary arrests every year. The victims are arrested without charge, but the arrest is instantly noted in databases that are used for background checks for employment and housing. Even if the victim’s criminal record is expunged, the digital trail cannot be erased. Many of those arrests are summary punishment for 'contempt of cop.' Others are made for cynical reasons related to career advancement within the state’s punitive priesthood." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWill Grigg: Merely Being Arrested Can Ruin Your Life

An American Stasi

"America is building its American Stasi openly. Some parts of its operations will be open, and critical parts will be secret. Many Americans will support it. No matter whether the American Stasi is open or secret, each isolated American will face a powerful foe, even more powerful than the Stasi, in a one-sided contest whose outcome is predetermined. The captured Stasi files on East Germans are 65 miles long, excluding 16,000 sacks of shredded documents that are being reconstructed. The American Stasi's files will be, for all practical purposes, infinite, because of the advances in technology and information storage." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAn American Stasi

Michigan immigrants sue for access to driver’s licenses

"The ACLU filed a lawsuit on Wednesday demanding the state of Michigan grant access to driver’s licenses for young undocumented immigrants enrolled in the new federal deferred-deportation program. One of the students, Resilda Karafili, told The Raw Story getting a license will be critical for her as she seeks a job upon finishing her undergraduate studies at the University of Michigan. 'It’s not reasonable to think that people can get a job without being able to drive,' said Karafili, who emigrated to the U.S. with her family when she was 10 years old. 'It looks unprofessional from the start. Employers don’t want to hire people who don’t have reliable transportation.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMichigan immigrants sue for access to driver’s licenses

Chained CPI: Diet COLA for Social Security

"Before we discuss the nuances of the different measures of the CPI, it is important to keep in mind that millions of Americans rely on Social Security benefits for income protection. In fact, 65% of all beneficiaries rely on Social Security to provide 50% or more of their incomes, while 36% rely on benefits for 90% or more of their incomes. For non-married beneficiaries, including widows, the reliance is higher with 74% relying on benefits for 50% or more of their incomes and 46% relying for 90% or more of their incomes." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingChained CPI: Diet COLA for Social Security

Leszek Balcerowicz: The Anti-Bernanke

"As an economic crisis manager, Leszek Balcerowicz has few peers. When communism fell in Europe, he pioneered 'shock therapy' to slay hyperinflation and build a free market. In the late 1990s, he jammed a debt ceiling into his country's constitution, handcuffing future free spenders. When he was central-bank governor from 2001 to 2007, his hard-money policies avoided a credit boom and likely bust. Poland was the only country in the European Union to avoid recession in 2009 and has been the fastest-growing EU economy since." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingLeszek Balcerowicz: The Anti-Bernanke