Welfare-Warfare State

Boomtown: Washington D.C. Passes Silicon Valley For Highest Median Income In U.S.

"Wealth in Washington, DC has surged to the highest median income in the United States, surpassing even tech mecca Silicon Valley, California. With a median household income of $119,134, the Census Bureau reports that Loudoun County, Virginia now occupies the number one spot for the highest median U.S. income. The number two position belongs to Fairfax County, Virginia at $105,797. Arlington, Virginia comes in third at $100,735. In fact, seven of the ten counties with the highest household incomes are in the Washington region." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBoomtown: Washington D.C. Passes Silicon Valley For Highest Median Income In U.S.

Olga from Greece Has a Lithuanian Soulmate Mooching in the United Kingdom

"Natalija Belova, 33, told The Sun how she spurns full-time work — yet can afford foreign holidays and buys designer clothes. The Lithuanian said: 'British benefits give me and my daughter a good life.' She has milked soft-touch Britain for £50,000 in benefits and yesterday said: 'I simply take what is given to me.' And what is given to her? Quite a lot. The graduate, who became a single mum after she arrived here, rakes in more than £1,000 a month in handouts — £14,508 a year — to fund her love of designer clothes, jaunts to the Spanish sun and nightclubbing. Natalija vowed: 'I am not going to work like a dog on minimum wage.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingOlga from Greece Has a Lithuanian Soulmate Mooching in the United Kingdom

French military seeks ‘total reconquest of Mali’

"French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Sunday the end goal of France’s military action in Mali was to retake control of the whole country from Islamist militants who have seized the north. 'The goal is the total reconquest of Mali. We will not leave any pockets' of resistance, Le Drian said on France 5 television. Le Drian also said Malian forces had not yet been able to retake the town of Diabaly, seized nearly a week ago by Islamists and then heavily bombed by French planes." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFrench military seeks ‘total reconquest of Mali’

VA spending more on erectile dysfunction drugs for vets

"The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has almost tripled spending on erectile dysfunction drugs in the past six years as war-related psychological disorders contribute to sexual difficulties. The surge in drug spending reflects the number of troops returning from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, said Jason Hansman, senior program manager for health and mental health programs at the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, a New York-based nonprofit group. Both conditions can limit sexual functioning, he said." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingVA spending more on erectile dysfunction drugs for vets

Japan should let elderly ‘hurry up and die’: finance minister Taro Aso

"Japan’s finance minister Taro Aso said Monday the elderly should be allowed to 'hurry up and die' instead of costing the government money for end-of-life medical care. Ageing is a sensitive issue in Japan, one of the world’s oldest countries, with almost a quarter of its 128 million people over 60. That figure is expected to rise to 40 percent within the next half-century. At the same time a shrinking number of workers is placing further strain on an already groaning social security system, with not enough money going into the pot to support those who depend on it." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingJapan should let elderly ‘hurry up and die’: finance minister Taro Aso

Fitch ratings agency highlights threat of aging population time-bomb

"Many advanced economies will be threatened by another, long-term fiscal shock unless they tackle the problem of ageing populations, the ratings agency Fitch warned on Monday. In particular Cyprus, Ireland and Japan, could well see the cost of ageing populations jump over the next decade, the agency said, warning that this would affect the sovereign debt ratings of such countries at some point. 'Luxembourg, Belgium, Malta and Slovenia face the most severe impact over the very long term,' Fitch noted." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFitch ratings agency highlights threat of aging population time-bomb

France adopts words of war by vowing to ‘destroy terrorists’

"With its talk of 'destroying' enemies and confronting 'jihadi terrorists', France has adopted a language of war for its intervention in Mali that few expected from Socialist President Francois Hollande. As French warplanes carry out airstrikes and French troops clash with Islamist rebels in the West African country, Hollande and his ministers seem to have taken a page from former US president George W. Bush’s playbook on war-time communications. French media reported that ministers have been banned from using the words 'Islamist fighters' in statements on the conflict and must always refer to rebels as 'terrorists'." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFrance adopts words of war by vowing to ‘destroy terrorists’

The Basket Case Sometimes Known as Japan

"Japan may be the poster child for reckless and irresponsible tax and spending policy. Even though the public sector already is far too big and even though the government has incurred more debt than any other developed economy, the new Prime Minister thinks another Keynesian stimulus package is the recipe for economic revival. I’m not joking. Even though the economy has been stagnant for 20 years – a period that has seen several so-called stimulus schemes, the government wants to throw good money after bad." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe Basket Case Sometimes Known as Japan