Posts
Tuesday, April 03, 2012
Learning from North Korea | Malou Innocent and Doug Bandow | Cato Institute: Commentary
Learning from North Korea | Malou Innocent and Doug Bandow | Cato Institute: Commentary: 'History suggests, however, that sanctions will fail. They have a poor record of persuading authoritarian regimes to sacrifice interests they see as vital. If the regime believes it needs a nuclear program or weapons to survive, it will continue to allow its people to suffer.'
Outrageous Forced Contracts Could Become Legal If Obamacare Mandate Is Upheld | Jim Powell | Cato Institute: Commentary
Outrageous Forced Contracts Could Become Legal If Obamacare Mandate Is Upheld | Jim Powell | Cato Institute: Commentary: 'FDR issued Executive Order 9066 mandating that some 110,000 peaceful Japanese Americans be hustled away from the Pacific Coast and into places like the urine-soaked Santa Anita racetrack stables until these people could be moved to Spartan “War Relocation Camps.” Nothing like this happened to the 6 million Italian Americans, even after Mussolini declared war against the United States.'
'After the U.S. Civil War, many blacks didn’t want to work for former masters who had tormented them. But The Union army, occupying the South, pressured former slaves to sign annual contracts with plantation owners, and blacks were forbidden to leave plantations without the owners’ permission — the same policy as under slavery. Blacks found to be loitering, changing jobs or riding the rails were arrested as vagrants, then forced to perform unpaid labor. How could the Union, that had abolished slavery, do this to blacks?'
'a Florida law that provided, in part: “Every able-bodied male person over the age of twenty-one years, and under the age of forty-five years, residing in said county for thirty days or more…shall be required to work on the roads and bridges of the several counties for six days of not less than ten hours each in each year when summoned so to do.” No-shows, the law went on to say, “shall be fined or imprisoned in the county jail for not longer than thirty days.”'
'If a war really benefits the general population, then the general population should pay the full cost of it, including the cost of offering compensation that’s high enough to attract as many volunteers as might be needed.'
'After the U.S. Civil War, many blacks didn’t want to work for former masters who had tormented them. But The Union army, occupying the South, pressured former slaves to sign annual contracts with plantation owners, and blacks were forbidden to leave plantations without the owners’ permission — the same policy as under slavery. Blacks found to be loitering, changing jobs or riding the rails were arrested as vagrants, then forced to perform unpaid labor. How could the Union, that had abolished slavery, do this to blacks?'
'a Florida law that provided, in part: “Every able-bodied male person over the age of twenty-one years, and under the age of forty-five years, residing in said county for thirty days or more…shall be required to work on the roads and bridges of the several counties for six days of not less than ten hours each in each year when summoned so to do.” No-shows, the law went on to say, “shall be fined or imprisoned in the county jail for not longer than thirty days.”'
'If a war really benefits the general population, then the general population should pay the full cost of it, including the cost of offering compensation that’s high enough to attract as many volunteers as might be needed.'
NY, NJ: Just Hold Off | Michael D. Tanner | Cato Institute: Commentary
NY, NJ: Just Hold Off | Michael D. Tanner | Cato Institute: Commentary: 'one study suggests it will take a 5 percent tax on insurance premiums to pay to operate Oregon’s exchange.'
Since they want almost everything covered, premiums will be almost all of health care costs. So it is a 5% tax on health care just to run the exchanges!
'If the feds set up an exchange in New York or New Jersey, the feds will be responsible for the cost of running it. If a state establishes the exchange, that state will have to pay for it.'
'Nor does setting up an exchange preserve state control over the local insurance market. Under Section 1311(K) of the ObamaCare law, the federal government essentially has veto power over the design of state exchanges.'
Since they want almost everything covered, premiums will be almost all of health care costs. So it is a 5% tax on health care just to run the exchanges!
'If the feds set up an exchange in New York or New Jersey, the feds will be responsible for the cost of running it. If a state establishes the exchange, that state will have to pay for it.'
'Nor does setting up an exchange preserve state control over the local insurance market. Under Section 1311(K) of the ObamaCare law, the federal government essentially has veto power over the design of state exchanges.'
Why Apple, Samsung's phones sit atop piles of cash (FAQ) | Mobile - CNET News
Why Apple, Samsung's phones sit atop piles of cash (FAQ) | Mobile - CNET News: 'Apple and Samsung accounted for 95 percent of the industry's profits in the fourth quarter - with Apple generating 80 percent by itself - as the rest of the players struggle for the scraps. Canaccord Genuity analyst Mike Walkley said yesterday that their percentage could rise even higher in the first quarter.
Just five years ago, Nokia and Research in Motion - two companies now desperately looking for a comeback - were the ones gobbling up the industry's profits. The radical change in leadership illustrates the rapid shifts in the business, which is even more dependent than ever on consumer tastes and technical trends. Titans today are paupers the next.'
This is a great example of why the government shouldn't pick winners and losers -- Even a great pick can quickly become a bad pick.
Just five years ago, Nokia and Research in Motion - two companies now desperately looking for a comeback - were the ones gobbling up the industry's profits. The radical change in leadership illustrates the rapid shifts in the business, which is even more dependent than ever on consumer tastes and technical trends. Titans today are paupers the next.'
This is a great example of why the government shouldn't pick winners and losers -- Even a great pick can quickly become a bad pick.
Rapid GDP Growth--Best Antidote for Poverty | Swaminathan S. Anklesaria Aiyar | Cato Institute: Commentary
Rapid GDP Growth--Best Antidote for Poverty | Swaminathan S. Anklesaria Aiyar | Cato Institute: Commentary: "record GDP growth in India has produced record poverty reduction, just as it did in China."
Monday, April 02, 2012
The census' broken privacy promise | Security - CNET News
The census' broken privacy promise | Security - CNET News: "Seventy-two years ago, the federal government made a promise to the American public: "No one has access to your census record except you."
So said a radio ad intended to promote participation in the 1940 census by assuaging privacy concerns. President Franklin Roosevelt even proclaimed, "No person can be harmed in any way by furnishing the information required. There need be no fear that any disclosure will be made regarding any individual or his affairs."
Yet today, the government is posting online all 3.8 million pages of the 1940 census rolls for all to access -- at no charge and with no need to register before viewing them."
"Since the number of enumerated individuals still alive when the census rolls are to be published each coming decade will grow with increasing longevity, the 72-year delay before should be lengthened to 100 years -- both for future censuses and the 1950 to 2010 censuses that have not yet been released."
"If a private company reneged on its privacy policy, you can bet the Federal Trade Commission would immediately launch an investigation. But the only ones who can act when a government breaks its own rules are citizens."
So said a radio ad intended to promote participation in the 1940 census by assuaging privacy concerns. President Franklin Roosevelt even proclaimed, "No person can be harmed in any way by furnishing the information required. There need be no fear that any disclosure will be made regarding any individual or his affairs."
Yet today, the government is posting online all 3.8 million pages of the 1940 census rolls for all to access -- at no charge and with no need to register before viewing them."
"Since the number of enumerated individuals still alive when the census rolls are to be published each coming decade will grow with increasing longevity, the 72-year delay before should be lengthened to 100 years -- both for future censuses and the 1950 to 2010 censuses that have not yet been released."
"If a private company reneged on its privacy policy, you can bet the Federal Trade Commission would immediately launch an investigation. But the only ones who can act when a government breaks its own rules are citizens."
Trayvon Martin's Father Says They Are Looking For A Peaceful Resolution In The Case Of His Son's Death | Fox News
Trayvon Martin's Father Says They Are Looking For A Peaceful Resolution In The Case Of His Son's Death | Fox News: "The father of a black Florida teen killed in February by a neighborhood watch captain says his son's death shouldn't be a race issue, and that his family is looking for a peaceful resolution in the case."
"Tracy Martin was responding to comments made by the Black Panthers, who have claimed there was a bounty on the head of the shooter, George Zimmerman."
"Tracy Martin was responding to comments made by the Black Panthers, who have claimed there was a bounty on the head of the shooter, George Zimmerman."
Friday, March 30, 2012
911 Caller Arrested In Deadly Police Shooting | Fox News
911 Caller Arrested In Deadly Police Shooting | Fox News: ""To a certain degree he (Carrillo) is liable for what he caused the police to do what they did," Pollini said. "There should be a thorough investigation."
Caree Harper, an attorney representing McDade's family, said arresting Carrillo may be an attempt by police to shift blame away from the officers. Harper added that Carrillo should be prosecuted for filing a false police report.
"However, he didn't pull the trigger and the officers can use discretion," she said. "They can't blame the caller because they shot an unarmed black man.""
Caree Harper, an attorney representing McDade's family, said arresting Carrillo may be an attempt by police to shift blame away from the officers. Harper added that Carrillo should be prosecuted for filing a false police report.
"However, he didn't pull the trigger and the officers can use discretion," she said. "They can't blame the caller because they shot an unarmed black man.""
Foxconn workers not all pleased with fewer hours | The Digital Home - CNET News
Foxconn workers not all pleased with fewer hours | The Digital Home - CNET News: " a host of workers for Foxconn, which makes gadgets for technology giants ranging from Apple to Hewlett-Packard, said they're concerned the sweeping changes--including cutting hours--will cause them to earn less income."
We shouldn't assume that others have the same preferences as we do...
We shouldn't assume that others have the same preferences as we do...
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Yes, We Can Wait | Michael D. Tanner | Cato Institute: Commentary
Yes, We Can Wait | Michael D. Tanner | Cato Institute: Commentary: 'The genius of the American system is that we are a government of laws and not of men. That often makes for a messy and slow process. But it is far better than the alternative. That’s true even when a president believes “we can’t wait.”'
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