Winning Hearts & Minds

Supreme Court rules foreign citizens can’t sue in U.S. for rights violations

"The Supreme Court unanimously upheld a federal appeals court’s decision on Wednesday barring foreign citizens from suing corporations in American courts for human rights violations committed abroad. The Los Angeles Times reported that the 9-0 decision limits the scope of the Alien Tort Statute (ATS) of 1789 in rejecting a lawsuit brought against Royal Dutch Petroleum by a group of Nigerian citizens accusing the company of helping their country’s government in a series of human rights violations — including, murder, rape and torture — during the 1990s." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSupreme Court rules foreign citizens can’t sue in U.S. for rights violations

Federal Government Rating Hits New Low Among Americans

"For the first time since Barack Obama became president, more Democrats say they have an unfavorable view of the federal government in Washington than a favorable view (51% unfavorable vs. 41% favorable). Favorable opinions of the federal government among Republicans, already quite low in 2012 (20% favorable), have fallen even further, to 13% currently. Notably, politically divided state governments get positive ratings from members of both parties. In the 13 states with divided governments – those in which the governor and a majority of state legislators are from different parties – majorities of both Republicans and Democrats express favorable opinions." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFederal Government Rating Hits New Low Among Americans

Congressional Research Service says not much Feds can do about legalized marijuana

"So where does this leave the feds? They can use their limited resources to arrest and seize whomever they can get their hands on. They can tie marijuana to other federal laws — gun possession, public housing occupancy, employment drug testing, etc. None of these options will achieve the overturning of state laws. And their pettiness will turn individuals further against the federal government. Or… the federal government could listen to the states, and to the people. Just a thought." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCongressional Research Service says not much Feds can do about legalized marijuana

Keene Activist Threatened With Eighty-One Years In Prison For Weed

"The thing that Rich is counting on to stop the hammer from falling—and reward him for standing up for his why-can’t-I-sell-some-fucking-pot-to-my-friends principles—isn’t a traditional legal argument. It’s pretty much assumed that Rich did technically break the (unjust) law by selling weed. What he’s banking on is that the jury will 'nullify' his case—in other words, they’ll come to the conclusion that the statutes he violated shouldn’t exist in the first place and there’s no reason to send him to jail. That’s not such a far-fetched idea." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingKeene Activist Threatened With Eighty-One Years In Prison For Weed

Greece to sack 15,000 state workers in next two years to unlock bail-out cash

"Greece is in deep recession, GDP has contracted by 22pc since 2008 and unemployment has spiralled to 27pc as the Greek government has implemented deeply unpopular EU-IMF austerity measures or 'fiscal adjustment' in return for loans. 'Our society has reached its limits. But finally we are meeting our targets and the programme is being improved,' said Antonis Samaras, the Prime Minister, in a nationally televised address. 'Soon, Greece will not depend on the memorandums. Greece will have growth, it will be competitive and outward-looking. In other words, we will have a strong Greece.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGreece to sack 15,000 state workers in next two years to unlock bail-out cash

For Pakistanis It’s A Boston Marathon Bombing Nearly Everyday

"What a terrible and senseless tragedy. I can’t let myself think about it for too long without welling up inside. While my timing in saying what I’m about to say may seem harsh to some, now is the only time to make this point. For the people of Pakistan the Boston Marathon bombing happens nearly every day. Sometimes it’s a lesser bomb and fewer people are killed or injured. Sometimes it’s a much larger bomb like one example that left nearly seventy children dead at one time (that’s about three times the loss of children that happened in Sandy Hook). Can you imagine?" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFor Pakistanis It’s A Boston Marathon Bombing Nearly Everyday

ACLU Appeals Ruling Allowing Feds to Stay Mum on Drone Targeted Killings

"The American Civil Liberties Union today appealed a judge’s ruling allowing the President Barack Obama administration to keep mum on its legal basis for its drone targeted killing program, including information connected to the killing of Americans via drones. The appeal concerns an 'Alice in Wonderland' decision by U.S. District Court Judge Colleen McMahon of New York, who in January ruled that she was trapped in a 'paradoxical situation' of allowing the administration to claim it was legal to kill enemies outside traditional combat zones while keeping the legal rationale secret." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingACLU Appeals Ruling Allowing Feds to Stay Mum on Drone Targeted Killings

Feds firm on gun denials for pot users

"The federal form all firearms purchasers are required to fill out includes this question: 'Are you an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana ... ?' An untruthful response to this question is a crime, said a spokesman for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. When it comes to marijuana law, the states and federal government have been in an awkward stalemate, with states such as Colorado taking an increasingly casual attitude toward marijuana and the federal government refusing to declassify it from a Schedule 1 narcotic – the same class as heroin and methamphetamine." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFeds firm on gun denials for pot users

Portugal’s elder statesman calls for ‘Argentine-style’ default

"Portugal's leading elder statesman has called on the country to copy Argentina and default on its debt to avert economic collapse, a move that would lead to near certain ejection from the euro. Mario Soares, who steered the country to democracy after the Salazar dictatorship, said all political forces should unite to 'bring down the government' and repudiate the austerity policies of the EU-IMF Troika. 'Portugal will never be able to pay its debts, however much it impoverishes itself. If you can’t pay, the only solution is not to pay. When Argentina was in crisis it didn’t pay. Did anything happen? No, nothing happened,' he told Antena 1." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPortugal’s elder statesman calls for ‘Argentine-style’ default

Helmut Kohl: ‘I acted like a dictator to bring in the euro’

"The Kohl administration actually donated funds to French politicians to influence French domestic opinion. And now it turns out that Kohl himself confesses he 'acted like a dictator' to ensure that Germany adopted the euro. Kohl explains that he acted like a dictator because he believes a centralized Europe with a single currency is the greatest hope for a peaceful Europe. Of course, there are plenty of questions about Europe's last two wars. If it is true, as history books now allege, that Adolf Hitler and National Socialism received a good deal of funding from American and British industrialists, then it would seem the historical recipe is incorrect." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingHelmut Kohl: ‘I acted like a dictator to bring in the euro’