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Obama as Bad as Bush-Cheney | Nat Hentoff | Cato Institute: Commentary: "It was Feingold who, in October 2001, was the only member of the Senate to vote against the original Patriot Act as, on the floor, he accurately predicted our greatly weakened privacy, due process and other rights since then."
That shows that he has principal. He didn't "vote against it after voting for it." As Franklin said, liberty should not be traded for safety.
"'No federal agency,' said Congressman Edwards, 'the CIA, the IRS, or the FBI, can be at the same time policeman, prosecutor, judge and jury. That is what constitutionally guaranteed due process is all about. It may sometimes be disorderly and unsatisfactory to some, but it is the essence of freedom.'
The Constitution, Edwards continued, does not permit 'federal interference' with Americans' speech or associations, and other such citizen constitutional rights, 'except through the criminal justice system, armed with its ancient safeguards.' Like mandated judicial supervision -- absent from current Obama administration FBI surveillance guidelines."
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Be a Good Victim | David Rittgers | Cato Institute: Commentary
Be a Good Victim | David Rittgers | Cato Institute: Commentary: "At the moment of the killings, two on-duty Marin County sheriff's deputies were within 100 yards of the shooter. One was close enough to see the muzzle blast of the shotgun. The police officers, however, did not move against the culprit. One, stuck in traffic, called in a description of the killer's vehicle as he fled. The other positioned her car to prevent traffic from entering the crime scene.
These two law-enforcement officers did what police officers tell the public to do: Don't intervene. Get a description of the offender. Call the police. Be a good witness.
Much debate ensued about whether the officers' behavior was appropriate, but the real tragedy is that the victims of this rampage did not have the legal opportunity to arm themselves. To them, the message was clear: Be a good victim."
These two law-enforcement officers did what police officers tell the public to do: Don't intervene. Get a description of the offender. Call the police. Be a good witness.
Much debate ensued about whether the officers' behavior was appropriate, but the real tragedy is that the victims of this rampage did not have the legal opportunity to arm themselves. To them, the message was clear: Be a good victim."
Hu versus Sarkozy | Steve H. Hanke | Cato Institute: Commentary
Hu versus Sarkozy | Steve H. Hanke | Cato Institute: Commentary: "According to most accounts, the stock market crash of October 1929 was the spark that sent the economy spiraling downward.
How could this be? After all, by November 1929, the stock market had started to recover, and by mid-April 1930, it had reached its pre-crash level. Contrary to the received wisdom, massive government failure — not the stock market crash — pushed the United States into the Great Depression."
"GDP growth and levels of GDP per capita are closely, and positively, associated with metrics that measure the vitality of free markets and the ease of doing business (see the accompanying table). And that's not all. Economic growth is, quite literally, a matter of life and death. As the accompanying chart indicates, prosperity (measured by standard metrics) affects life expectancy (health) in a positive way."
How could this be? After all, by November 1929, the stock market had started to recover, and by mid-April 1930, it had reached its pre-crash level. Contrary to the received wisdom, massive government failure — not the stock market crash — pushed the United States into the Great Depression."
"GDP growth and levels of GDP per capita are closely, and positively, associated with metrics that measure the vitality of free markets and the ease of doing business (see the accompanying table). And that's not all. Economic growth is, quite literally, a matter of life and death. As the accompanying chart indicates, prosperity (measured by standard metrics) affects life expectancy (health) in a positive way."
Exclusive: Inside Account of U.S. Eavesdropping on Americans - ABC News
Exclusive: Inside Account of U.S. Eavesdropping on Americans - ABC News: "'By casting the net so wide and continuing to collect on Americans and aid organizations, it's almost like they're making the haystack bigger and it's harder to find that piece of information that might actually be useful to somebody,' she said. 'You're actually hurting our ability to effectively protect our national security.'"
FACT CHECK: Health Insurers' Profits Not So Fat - FOXNews.com
FACT CHECK: Health Insurers' Profits Not So Fat - FOXNews.com: "In the health care debate, Democrats and their allies have gone after insurance companies as rapacious profiteers making 'immoral' and 'obscene' returns while 'the bodies pile up.'
But in pillorying insurers over profits, the critics are on shaky ground. Ledgers tell a different reality.
Health insurance profit margins typically run about 6 percent, give or take a point or two. That's anemic compared with other forms of insurance and a broad array of industries, even some beleaguered ones."
It looks like politicians are trying to redirect our focus.
But in pillorying insurers over profits, the critics are on shaky ground. Ledgers tell a different reality.
Health insurance profit margins typically run about 6 percent, give or take a point or two. That's anemic compared with other forms of insurance and a broad array of industries, even some beleaguered ones."
It looks like politicians are trying to redirect our focus.
Stoke China's Fears | Ted Galen Carpenter | Cato Institute: Commentary
Stoke China's Fears | Ted Galen Carpenter | Cato Institute: Commentary: "By reiterating Washington's commitment to extended deterrence — especially the nuclear component — U.S. officials send a message to Chinese leaders that they don't need to worry about Japan (or South Korea) developing an independent deterrent."
"Even as Japanese and South Korean leaders insist that North Korea poses a serious threat, they persist with anemic defense budgets. Although it shares a border with perhaps the most ruthless and unpredictable country in the world, South Korea spends less than 2.5 percent of its gross domestic product on the military. Seoul continues to rely on the United States for critical elements of its defense, especially air and naval power.
Security free riding is also alive and well in Japan. Indeed, South Korea's military effort seems robust compared to Japan's. Despite North Korea's repeated saber-rattling, Tokyo spends a paltry 0.9 percent of its GDP on defense, and that situation may get even worse under the new left-leaning government."
"Even as Japanese and South Korean leaders insist that North Korea poses a serious threat, they persist with anemic defense budgets. Although it shares a border with perhaps the most ruthless and unpredictable country in the world, South Korea spends less than 2.5 percent of its gross domestic product on the military. Seoul continues to rely on the United States for critical elements of its defense, especially air and naval power.
Security free riding is also alive and well in Japan. Indeed, South Korea's military effort seems robust compared to Japan's. Despite North Korea's repeated saber-rattling, Tokyo spends a paltry 0.9 percent of its GDP on defense, and that situation may get even worse under the new left-leaning government."
Political Mailing Lists: A Message from Senator Kohl on Crime Prevention Month
Political Mailing Lists: A Message from Senator Kohl on Crime Prevention Month: "Striking the right balance includes hard work at preventing truancy and gang activity, cracking down on drug trafficking, providing safe and constructive after-school programs for at-risk kids"
Removing the minimum wage (and other restrictions on employment) would help with those issues.
Removing the minimum wage (and other restrictions on employment) would help with those issues.
Reasons why the English language is so hard to learn - UsingEnglish.com ESL Forum
Reasons why the English language is so hard to learn - UsingEnglish.com ESL Forum: "Reasons why the English language is so hard to learn:
1) The bandage was wound around the wound.
2) The farm was used to produce produce.
3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
4) We must polish the Polish furniture.
5) He could lead if he would get the lead out.
6) The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
7) Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.
8) A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.
9) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
10) I did not object to the object.
11) The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.
13) They were too close to the door to close it.
14) The buck does funny things when the does are present.
15) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.
16) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.
17) The wind was too strong to wind the sail.
18) After a number of injections my jaw got number.
19) Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.
20) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
21) How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?"
1) The bandage was wound around the wound.
2) The farm was used to produce produce.
3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
4) We must polish the Polish furniture.
5) He could lead if he would get the lead out.
6) The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
7) Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.
8) A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.
9) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
10) I did not object to the object.
11) The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.
13) They were too close to the door to close it.
14) The buck does funny things when the does are present.
15) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.
16) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.
17) The wind was too strong to wind the sail.
18) After a number of injections my jaw got number.
19) Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.
20) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
21) How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?"
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