Economists want to stop teachers' degree bonuses - FoxNews.com

Economists want to stop teachers' degree bonuses - FoxNews.com: "Every year, American schools pay more than $8.6 billion in bonuses to teachers with master's degrees, even though the idea that a higher degree makes a teacher more effective has been mostly debunked.

Despite more than a decade of research showing the money has little impact on student achievement, state lawmakers and other officials have been reluctant to tackle this popular way for teachers to earn more money."

Cybersecurity bill gives DHS power to punish tech firms | Politics and Law - CNET News

Cybersecurity bill gives DHS power to punish tech firms | Politics and Law - CNET News: "Section 224 of HSCPIPA hands DHS explicit legal 'authorities for securing private sector' computers. A cybersecurity chief to be appointed by Napolitano would be given the power to 'establish and enforce' cybersecurity requirements."

Will computers with anti-government info be considered "unsecure"?

"Those requirements include presenting 'cybersecurity plans' to the agency, which has the power to 'approve or disapprove' each of them."

Will those plans need to include sensitive info that DHS might accidentally leak and increase security risks?

Bernanke hits back at critics of bond-buying plan - FoxNews.com

Bernanke hits back at critics of bond-buying plan - FoxNews.com: "Without more stimulus, high unemployment could persist for years, he said."

We've heard that before and the forecast wasn't accurate.

Mom Panicked After Social Worker Picked Up Wrong Kids From Alaska School - FoxNews.com

Mom Panicked After Social Worker Picked Up Wrong Kids From Alaska School - FoxNews.com: "Kimberly Booth told The Anchorage Daily News that when she went to pick up her daughters Wednesday at Muldoon Elementary the staff told her a children's service worker had taken them. But when she called the Office of Children's Services she was told it didn't have the kids and didn't know what the school was talking about.

It turns out a social worker did pick up the girls, ages 6 and 8, because of a name mix up. The children were away from school about 45 minutes before the worker realized the mistake, brought them back to school and apologized."

Driver In Fatal Conn. Crash Sues Victim's Parents for Letting Son Bike Without Helmet - FoxNews.com

Driver In Fatal Conn. Crash Sues Victim's Parents for Letting Son Bike Without Helmet - FoxNews.com: "Matthew Kenney's parents, Stephen and Joanne, sued 48-year-old driver David Weaving shortly after he was sentenced last year to 10 years in prison, accusing him in Waterbury Superior Court of negligence and seeking more than $15,000 in damages.

Weaving, who has a history of drunken driving convictions, responded months later with a handwritten countersuit accusing the Kenneys of 'contributory negligence.' He's also seeking more than $15,000 in damages, saying he's endured 'great mental and emotional pain and suffering,' wrongful conviction and imprisonment, and the loss of his 'capacity to carry on in life's activities.'

'It drags the pain on,' said Joanne Kenney, a stay-at-home mom with two other children, ages 2 and 13. 'It's a constant reminder. Enough is enough. Can you just leave us alone and serve your time?'"

Johnson adhering to watchdog pledge | thenorthwestern.com | Oshkosh Northwestern

Johnson adhering to watchdog pledge | thenorthwestern.com | Oshkosh Northwestern: "Johnson is co-sponsoring a proposal DeMint intends to put on the table next week that would bar Senate Republicans from seeking earmarks for two years. The proposal puts old-guard Republicans and McConnell on the spot.

House Republicans already have an earmark ban and are expected to extend it when they caucus next week."

Banks Are Lending More (to the Government) | Alan Reynolds | Cato Institute: Commentary

Banks Are Lending More (to the Government) | Alan Reynolds | Cato Institute: Commentary: "Talk of 'quantitative' easing makes it sound as if there will be a larger quantity of credit available to somebody somewhere. But the Fed is offering more credit only to Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the U.S. Treasury."

"The next time you hear politicians or government officials complaining that banks are not lending enough to consumers or small businesses, just remind them that banks are much too busy lending tens of billions — to the U.S. government."

Private Social Security Accounts: Still a Good Idea | William Shipman and Peter Ferrara | Cato Institute: Commentary

Private Social Security Accounts: Still a Good Idea | William Shipman and Peter Ferrara | Cato Institute: Commentary: "They were unfortunate to retire just one year after the worst 10-year stock market performance since 1926. Yet their account, having earned a 6.75% return annually from 1965 to 2009, would still pay them about 75% more than Social Security would have."

"It is a mathematical fact that the least expensive way to provide for an almost certain future liability is to save and invest in capital markets prior to the onset of the liability. That's why state and local pension funds, corporate pension plans, federal employee retirement plans and Chile's successful Social Security personal accounts (since copied by other countries) do so. It is sound practice.

And it's why Mr. Obama is wrong to assert that personal Social Security accounts are 'ill-conceived,' and why each of us should have the liberty to opt into one."

Blockading with Trade Restrictions | Jim Powell | Cato Institute: Commentary

Blockading with Trade Restrictions | Jim Powell | Cato Institute: Commentary: "He realized that if tariffs were really good, then civilization would have begun where people were cut off from the outside world by mountains, oceans, deserts and other natural barriers. But, he explained, 'it is where trade could best be carried on that we find wealth first accumulating and civilization beginning. It is on accessible harbors, navigable rivers and highways that we find cities arising and the arts and sciences developing.'

George wrote Protection or Free Trade because he hated monopolies. They could be maintained only if there were government-enforced restrictions that prevented people from dealing with alternative suppliers. He concluded that the most effective antitrust policy was free trade — consumers and businesses able to shop the world for the best values.

He explained why trade restrictions mainly harm nations that impose them: 'Every tariff that raises prices for the encouragement of one industry must operate to discourage all other industries into which the products of that industry enter. A tariff that raises the price of lumber necessarily discourages the industries which make use of lumber, from those connected with the building of houses and ships to those engaged in the making of matches and wooden toothpicks; a tariff that raises the price of salt discourages the dairyman and the fisherman; a tariff that raises the price of sugar discourages the fruit-preserver, the maker of syrups, and so on.'

George observed that nations try to prevent adversaries from trading, and a blockade is considered an act of war."

"George's most famous lines: 'Protective tariffs are as much applications of force as are blockading squadrons, and their object is the same — to prevent trade. The difference between the two is that blockading squadrons are a means whereby nations attempt to prevent their enemies from trading. Protective tariffs are a means whereby nations attempt to prevent their own people from trading. What protection teaches us is to do to ourselves in time of peace what enemies seek to do to us in time of war.'"

After November 2 | Michael D. Tanner | Cato Institute: Commentary

After November 2 | Michael D. Tanner | Cato Institute: Commentary: "Therefore, if this election is going to be the start of a long-term trend and not a one-time blip, the new Republican-dominated Congress is going to have to deliver. In particular, Republicans are going to have to follow through on their promises to reduce government spending and the deficit."