This Is Happening in America? | Nat Hentoff | Cato Institute: Commentary

This Is Happening in America? | Nat Hentoff | Cato Institute: Commentary: "Attorney General Eric Holder, our chief law officer, along with Director of National Intelligence James Clapper Jr., agreed to "new guidelines allowing the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC)... to hold on to information about Americans in no way known to be connected to terrorism — about you and me, that is — for up to five years." Its previous limit was 180 days.

So, you or I would be a "person of interest" to the FBI and other intelligence agencies for five years."

Separation of Art And State | David Boaz | Cato Institute: Commentary

Separation of Art And State | David Boaz | Cato Institute: Commentary: "Government involves the organization of coercion. In a free society coercion should be reserved only for such essential functions of government as protecting rights and punishing criminals. People should not be forced to contribute money to artistic endeavors that they may not approve, nor should artists be forced to trim their sails to meet government standards.

Government funding of anything involves government control."


"the NEA’s budget is about 0.2 percent of the total amount spent on the nonprofit arts in the United States. The rapidly growing crowdfunding platform Kickstarter expects to direct more funding to the arts in its third year of operation than the NEA does."

Because Angels Don't Govern Us | Michael D. Tanner | Cato Institute: Commentary

Because Angels Don't Govern Us | Michael D. Tanner | Cato Institute: Commentary: "the damage that government can do is far greater than the damage that can be done by business or individuals, because ultimately the state holds a monopoly on the use of force. If I make a mistake, it affects my life and perhaps the lives of my family and a few others. If a business makes a mistake, it can affect thousands more. But if government makes a mistake, it can affect everyone. That is what makes the growing reach of government so dangerous.

That means that, necessary though some restraint on the freedom of individuals and businesses may be, it is even more important to have internal and external controls on the power of government."

Geithner's Willful Negligence | Richard W. Rahn | Cato Institute: Commentary

Geithner's Willful Negligence | Richard W. Rahn | Cato Institute: Commentary: "While the IRS minimizes potential security issues, nonresident aliens are unlikely to feel reassured by promises that their information won’t fall into the wrong hands. These pledges could be met with apprehension when countries with questionable human rights records remain on the recipient list. This rule gives nonresident aliens every incentive to pick up and move their deposits elsewhere."

"There is more than $10 trillion in foreign-portfolio (stocks and bonds) investment in the U.S. This is not counting direct investment by foreign corporations and others. Much of this $10 trillion-plus is managed by foreign financial institutions. Now many of them are saying they are going to leave the U.S. market because of these regulations, which means the potential loss of several million U.S. jobs."

Let Student Loan Interest Rates Rise | Neal McCluskey | Cato Institute: Commentary

Let Student Loan Interest Rates Rise | Neal McCluskey | Cato Institute: Commentary: "right now a third of bachelor's holders of all ages are in jobs which don't require their credentials."

"Give everyone $100 to pay for higher education and colleges will raise their prices by $100, negating the value of the aid"

Group raises more than $70G for Texas honor student jailed for truancy | Fox News

Group raises more than $70G for Texas honor student jailed for truancy | Fox News: "Judge Moriarty told KHOU 11 News that he intended to make an example of Tran by placing her in jail.

"If you let one run loose, what are you going to do with the rest of them? Let them go, too?" Moriarty told the station."

They might work hard to provide for their family -- oh the horrors!