What Could Possibly Go Wrong

Our Legacy Systems: Dysfunctional, Unreformable

"Real reform would mean powerful constituencies would have to take real reductions in staffing, power, benefits and in their share of the national income. Rather than reveal this double-bind--reform is impossible but the Status Quo is unsustainable--the legacy system deploys its gargantuan resources to laying down a smoke-screen of bogus reforms and ginned-up statistics. America's legacy systems are like stars about to go super-nova. They have increased in size to the point where their stupendous mass guarantees that once their energy source (as measured in fossil fuels and money) falls below a certain threshold, the institution will collapse inward on itself." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingOur Legacy Systems: Dysfunctional, Unreformable

U.S. Removed Mubarak Over Refusal To Allow Permanent Military, Spy Installations?

"Why did the US support both Mubarak and the opposition (April 6 Movement, Kifaya, etc.)? It is not as uncommon as it might seem. Aging and ailing Mubarak's rule was coming to an end anyway, Egypt's population was young and frustrated, and though the US did not necessarily wish to spoil its relationship with the Egyptian dictator it did seek maximum influence on the coming succession struggles. Additionally, as Mubarak explains in an interview this month, he was proving an irritation to the US over his refusal to allow permanent US military installations in Egypt and his refusal to allow the US to 'help' with establishing a communications network in Egypt." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. Removed Mubarak Over Refusal To Allow Permanent Military, Spy Installations?

Federal food stamp recruiters operate on monthly quota system

"She curled her hair and painted her nails fluorescent pink. 'A happy, it’s-all-good look,' she said, checking her reflection in the rearview mirror. Then she drove along the Florida coast to sign people up for food stamps. It is Nerios’s job to enroll at least 150 seniors for food stamps each month. The job also has a second and more controversial purpose for cash-strapped Florida, where increasing food-stamp enrollment has become a means of economic growth, bringing almost $6 billion each year into the state. The money helps to sustain communities, grocery stores and food producers. It also adds to rising federal entitlement spending and the U.S. debt." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFederal food stamp recruiters operate on monthly quota system

Ron Paul: If You Like The Surveillance State, You’ll Love E-Verify

"The mandatory E-Verify system requires Americans to carry a 'tamper-proof' social security card. Before they can legally begin a job, American citizens will have to show the card to their prospective employer, who will then have to verify their identity and eligibility to hold a job in the US by running the information through the newly-created federal E-Verify database. The database will contain photographs taken from passport files and state driver’s licenses. The law gives federal bureaucrats broad discretion in adding other 'biometric' identifiers to the database and broad authority to determine what features the 'tamper proof' card should contain." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRon Paul: If You Like The Surveillance State, You’ll Love E-Verify

Electronic Updatable License Plates Could Flash “STOLEN” Or “UNINSURED”

"A small company in South Carolina is attempting to introduce electronic license plate's for the state's cars and trucks. The plates are fairly simple: an electrophoretic display that can display certain bold words when necessary, like 'STOLEN' or 'UNINSURED.' The benefits of an electronic license plate are interesting. If a driver is doing something wrong, something other drivers should know about, the DMV can beam a sort of scarlet letter message to the license plate over an included wireless connection, like your smartphone has. But there are a few issues; for one, who knows how secure this system is?" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingElectronic Updatable License Plates Could Flash “STOLEN” Or “UNINSURED”

Kerry renews $1.3 billion aid package for Egypt

"Secretary of State John Kerry last month approved $1.3 billion in annual US military aid to Egypt, despite concerns over democratic progress by the country’s new government. On May 10, Kerry quietly approved the transfer of the annual aid, notifying the US Congress of his decision. Morsi’s opponents accuse him of governing in the interests of the Muslim Brotherhood, the party on whose ticket he ran in the presidential election. Psaki defended Kerry’s approval of aid for the fiscal year 2013 saying it was in US national security interests and helped such things as 'maintaining access to the Suez Canal and the interdiction of weapons smuggling.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingKerry renews $1.3 billion aid package for Egypt

Social Security: Muffling the Warning Bells

"It had to 'cover benefit payments, forcing the agency to tap its $2.7 trillion trust fund sooner than some had expected.' But how did it tap this Trust Fund? By selling assets. What assets? IOUs from the Treasury. Where did the Treasury get the money to pay the S.S.A.? From the general fund. Where did the general fund get this money? By borrowing it. Where will the Treasury get the money to pay this interest? From the general fund. Where will the general fund get it? Borrowing. When the agency says 'shortages of tax revenue,' it refers to FICA tax revenue. But there is also a shortage of tax revenues in the general fund. That is why there is an annual deficit." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSocial Security: Muffling the Warning Bells

$80 Billion Bond Funds Sell-Off in June

"Mortgage rates have soared. The days of the 3.5% 30-year mortgage are over. The bond market has been rigged by the FED. Everyone knows this. A handful of economists decide what rates should be. Investors went along with this. But Bernanke’s remarks persuaded them that the rigging will be reduced. So, they started selling their fixed-rate securities. This is what happens when the decisions of a handful of salaried economists to inflate the currency are substituted for the decisions of investors. The economists giveth, and then their #1 spokesman threatens to taketh away. Investors then scramble for the exits." Continue reading →

Continue Reading$80 Billion Bond Funds Sell-Off in June

U.S. government will finally retire most research chimpanzees but retain 50

"The US government said Wednesday it will send most of its 360 research chimpanzees into retirement but will keep a small colony of about 50 for possible future studies on vaccines and behavior. The National Institutes of Health announced after more than two years of examination it was accepting most of the recommendations of independent experts to phase out the bulk of biomedical research using the primates. One recommendation the NIH did not accept was that chimpanzees should be provided at least 1,000 square feet (93 square meters) per animal." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. government will finally retire most research chimpanzees but retain 50

Dept. of Agriculture approves horse slaughterhouse in New Mexico

"A New Mexico meat plant received federal approval on Friday to slaughter horses for meat, a move that drew immediate opposition from animal rights group and will likely be opposed by the White House. The Humane Society of the United States and Front Range Equine Rescue threatened on Friday to sue the USDA, saying horses are raised as pets and as working animals. Because they are not intended as food animals, horses are given medications banned from other livestock, the groups said, questioning if the meat would be safe. The USDA says it can test for residues of 130 pesticide and veterinary drugs. It also has safeguards to keep horse meat out of the food supply." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDept. of Agriculture approves horse slaughterhouse in New Mexico