Restrain the Abusive Administative State | Cato Institute

Restrain the Abusive Administative State | Cato Institute: " the broader the government’s authority, the greater its need for revenue, the wider its enforcement power, the more expansive the bureaucracy’s discretion, the increasingly important the battle for political control, and the more bitter the partisan fight, the more likely government officials will abuse their positions, violate rules, laws, and Constitution, and sacrifice people’s liberties.

The blame falls squarely on Congress, not the IRS."

"the denizens of Capitol Hill also have created a tax code marked by outrageous complexity, special interest electioneering, and systematic social engineering. Legislators have intentionally created avenues for tax avoidance to win votes, and then complained about widespread tax avoidance to win votes. Taxpayers are foolish if they do not take advantage of tax “loopholes,” but agency employees feel tasked to deny any claim that is not clear, even certain."

"Government has a difficult enough challenge combating crime, adjudicating disputes, restricting pollutants, and assisting the poor. Politicians have trouble enough controlling their own behavior and acting in a civilized fashion. They are the last people who should attempt to improve the behavior and mold the souls of others."

Why the IRS Cannot Be Reformed | Cato Institute

Why the IRS Cannot Be Reformed | Cato Institute: "Every few years, at least from the time of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, there is a scandal involving abuse of power at the Internal Revenue Service."

"the nature of the income tax, which, by definition, is subjective in its interpretation of the definition of “income” and thus subject to abuse."

"Economic income is defined differently than taxable income. As a result, most companies are required by law to keep a separate set of books to comply both with Securities and Exchange Commission regulations and IRS regulations — and often other sets of books to comply with the regulations of foreign countries."

"The IRS is inconsistent, even with individuals, in definitions of income. In some cases, adjustments are made for inflation, but not in other cases."

"The tax code is so complex that no individual can understand it, including those who work for the IRS."

America on Welfare | Cato Institute

America on Welfare | Cato Institute: "There were more than two score housing programs, more than a score of nutrition programs, almost as many employment/training and health programs, and lesser numbers of cash assistance, community development, and disability programs. More expansive definitions count even more programs — 185 total, according to Peter Ferrara."

"Today government at all levels spends around $1 trillion a year on means tested anti-poverty programs."

That is over $20,000 per person in poverty! $80,000 for a family of 4. "With that kind of spending, no one should still be poor."

NSA Whistleblower Ed Snowden: From My Desk I Could Wiretap Anyone: You, A Federal Judge Or The President Of The US | Techdirt

NSA Whistleblower Ed Snowden: From My Desk I Could Wiretap Anyone: You, A Federal Judge Or The President Of The US | Techdirt: "I, sitting at my desk, certainly had the authorities to wiretap anyone, from you, or your accountant, to a federal judge, to even the President if I had a personal email."

Booz Allen Hamilton, federal contractor - CSMonitor.com

Booz Allen Hamilton, federal contractor - CSMonitor.com: "How on earth can you keep secrets if just one American company has enough people with top secret access to fill a mid-sized American town?

On top of that has been the trend over the past dozen years or so to make intelligence information more shareable. The old days of heavy compartmentalization are long over, all in the hopes of identifying patterns in intelligence collected by disparate agencies. That's one reason that Bradley Manning, a young soldier in Iraq, had access to almost the entirety of the State Department's database of classified cables, and was able to pull off his massive data dump to WikiLeaks."

"The Guardian has a good piece out today explaining the very good reasons why US intelligence increasingly relies on contractors - mostly because they're better at creating, and adapting to, new technology.

But with more and more people - and young people at that - getting access to top secret data, the surprise isn't the recent NSA leaks. It's that they're not more common."

A Time for a New Style of Leadership - Campaign for Liberty

A Time for a New Style of Leadership - Campaign for Liberty: "as we progress further into the Internet age the Speaker of the House cannot dictate the agenda and control his or her caucus as easily as Speakers in the past. This is because representatives can circumvent the Speaker and take their arguments and concerns directly to the people with very little effort, something that was not possible 20 or even 10 years ago."

Intelligence chief blasts NSA leaks, declassifies some details about phone program limits | Fox News

Intelligence chief blasts NSA leaks, declassifies some details about phone program limits | Fox News: "Director of National Intelligence James Clapper called the disclosure of an Internet surveillance program "reprehensible" and said it risks Americans' security. He said a leak that revealed a program to collect phone records would affect how America's enemies behave and make it harder to understand their intentions."

The program itself is "reprehensible" and "risks Americans' security"

Ohio prosecutor fired after posing as an accused killer's girlfriend on Facebook | Fox News

Ohio prosecutor fired after posing as an accused killer's girlfriend on Facebook | Fox News: "By creating false evidence, lying to witnesses as well as another prosecutor, Aaron Brockler has damaged the prosecution’s chances in a murder case"

Off-duty FBI agent almost shoots Detroit cop during simulated purse snatching | Fox News

Off-duty FBI agent almost shoots Detroit cop during simulated purse snatching | Fox News: "The officer takes the purse, runs around the gas station. As he's running, an off-duty FBI agent is pumping gas. He witnesses the whole thing. He gives chase. He pulls his weapon, and as he turns the corner around the gas station, he's stopped by another officer, who identifies herself as a police officer and don't shoot, don't shoot, this is a scenario"

Why would someone shoot over a purse?!?

Pope: Wasting food is a moral crime against the poor - CSMonitor.com

Pope: Wasting food is a moral crime against the poor - CSMonitor.com: "Throwing away food is like stealing from the table of those who are poor and hungry,"

If people don't waste food, it doesn't mean that they will give the extra money to the poor. :-/