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Minnesota inmates can now receive email (but not send) | Fox News: "Any emails sent to the state's 9,300 adult inmates will be printed by correctional officers and placed in their mailboxes. Minnesota Department of Corrections deputy commissioner, Terry Carlson, tells KSTP-TV emails will reduce the risk of contraband arriving with a mailed letter.
The emails have a price. Each will cost the sender 30 cents, with 20 cents going to the state to cover expenses."
Is it free to receive letters? Does it really cost that much?
Tuesday, July 03, 2012
Over a barrel, city of Niagara Falls seeks life in new grads | Fox News
Over a barrel, city of Niagara Falls seeks life in new grads | Fox News: "Just 20 people will be selected for the first round of buyers and renters, whom the city would pay up to $3,500 in annual student loan payments for two years."
"Local officials have said the program could help ensure that the shrinking city doesn’t dip below a population count of 50,000 for the 2020 Census, when it would lose key funding through the state and federal governments. In 2010, the city had a population of 50,193, down from 55,593 in 2000."
$7,000 per person?!?! And they may not even be around for the next census!
"Local officials have said the program could help ensure that the shrinking city doesn’t dip below a population count of 50,000 for the 2020 Census, when it would lose key funding through the state and federal governments. In 2010, the city had a population of 50,193, down from 55,593 in 2000."
$7,000 per person?!?! And they may not even be around for the next census!
Monday, July 02, 2012
5 Ways to Solve Health Care | Michael D. Tanner | Cato Institute: Commentary
5 Ways to Solve Health Care | Michael D. Tanner | Cato Institute: Commentary: "Nothing would do more to fix our health-care system than moving away from a system dominated by employer-provided health insurance and instead making health insurance personal and portable, controlled by the individual rather than government or an employer. There is, after all, no logical reason for an individual to receive health insurance through their job. We don't receive most other types of insurance — auto, homeowners, life — in that way.
Employer-based health insurance is an anomaly that grew out of unique historical circumstances during World War II. Despite the widespread entry of women into the labor force during the war, the shift of men from private employment to the military created a labor shortage. At the same time, wage controls prevented employers from competing for available workers by raising salaries. In an effort to circumvent the regulations and compete for available workers, employers began to offer non-wage benefits, including health insurance.
In 1953, the IRS ruled that employer-provided health insurance was not part of wage compensation for tax purposes."
Employer-based health insurance is an anomaly that grew out of unique historical circumstances during World War II. Despite the widespread entry of women into the labor force during the war, the shift of men from private employment to the military created a labor shortage. At the same time, wage controls prevented employers from competing for available workers by raising salaries. In an effort to circumvent the regulations and compete for available workers, employers began to offer non-wage benefits, including health insurance.
In 1953, the IRS ruled that employer-provided health insurance was not part of wage compensation for tax purposes."
Thursday, June 28, 2012
In Constitutional Republics, Presidents Don't Have 'Kill Lists' | Doug Bandow | Cato Institute: Commentary
In Constitutional Republics, Presidents Don't Have 'Kill Lists' | Doug Bandow | Cato Institute: Commentary: "Limits on government are necessary to preserve a liberal democratic order and protect individual liberty. The potential for abuse is greatest where state power is most extreme. There is no more extreme power than the power to kill."
"the authorization of force passed in response more than a decade ago targeted people who since have been mostly killed or captured — those who "planned, authorized, committed, or aided" the 9/11 attacks. To legitimize presidential action today, Congress should vote for a declaration of war directed against present threats to America."
"if the U.S. is fighting a war, it should be conducted by the military under the president as commander-in-chief. The CIA should develop intelligence for use by the Pentagon in targeting its weapons, in this case drones. But the military should do the shooting."
"According to The Times, the administration "in effect counts all military-age males in a strike zone as combatants, according to several administration officials, unless there is explicit intelligence posthumously proving them innocent. Counterterrorism officials insist this approach is one of simple logic: People in an area of known terrorist activity, or found with a top al-Qaida operative, are probably up to no good." So living next to or talking with a possible terrorist now is a death sentence?"
"Allowing the president and his aides to compile kill lists in secret with no charges filed, no outside review of evidence, and no oversight of decisions should concern every American. Unreviewable and unaccountable power is inconsistent with a constitutional republic."
"the authorization of force passed in response more than a decade ago targeted people who since have been mostly killed or captured — those who "planned, authorized, committed, or aided" the 9/11 attacks. To legitimize presidential action today, Congress should vote for a declaration of war directed against present threats to America."
"if the U.S. is fighting a war, it should be conducted by the military under the president as commander-in-chief. The CIA should develop intelligence for use by the Pentagon in targeting its weapons, in this case drones. But the military should do the shooting."
"According to The Times, the administration "in effect counts all military-age males in a strike zone as combatants, according to several administration officials, unless there is explicit intelligence posthumously proving them innocent. Counterterrorism officials insist this approach is one of simple logic: People in an area of known terrorist activity, or found with a top al-Qaida operative, are probably up to no good." So living next to or talking with a possible terrorist now is a death sentence?"
"Allowing the president and his aides to compile kill lists in secret with no charges filed, no outside review of evidence, and no oversight of decisions should concern every American. Unreviewable and unaccountable power is inconsistent with a constitutional republic."
Private Law in the Emerald Isle - Finbar Feehan-Fitzgerald - Mises Daily
Private Law in the Emerald Isle - Finbar Feehan-Fitzgerald - Mises Daily: "the brehons(arbitrators) had to be extremely careful, for if they were found guilty of giving a false legal opinion, they forfeited their fee, and the inaccurate brehon was also liable for damages."
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
The Case for Ending Aid to Israel | Doug Bandow | Cato Institute: Commentary
The Case for Ending Aid to Israel | Doug Bandow | Cato Institute: Commentary: "Money from America has conditions, most notably the requirement that Israel purchase U.S. weapons, which raises Israeli acquisition costs. Gazit estimated that America’s “gift” may cost around $600 million. That’s a fifth of the nominal “foreign aid.” That money, at least, is primarily a subsidy to U.S. arms makers.
Washington also links aid between Israel and Egypt. The latter typically receives two-thirds of whatever Israel collects. The transformation across the Nile could upend the arrangement, especially if Cairo abandons peace with Israel, but so far the relationship continues.
Jordan, too, receives bountiful American subsidies—about $700 million last year."
"Thus, the more money given by America to Egypt and Jordan, the more Israel must spend on its military."
"Not only does American assistance not provide Israel with an economic advantage, it requires Israel to expend additional amounts from its own internal security reserves."
The article gives details on how it also hurts their defense contractors.
"The guaranteed payment irrespective of Israel’s defense needs “leaves the system with no incentive to become more efficient,” warns Gazit. Former prime minister Ehud Olmert argued that Israel could cut its military outlays with no harm to its security but that American money reduces the pressure to do so."
"Perhaps even worse is how U.S. “assistance” further inflates Israel’s already bloated government."
Washington also links aid between Israel and Egypt. The latter typically receives two-thirds of whatever Israel collects. The transformation across the Nile could upend the arrangement, especially if Cairo abandons peace with Israel, but so far the relationship continues.
Jordan, too, receives bountiful American subsidies—about $700 million last year."
"Thus, the more money given by America to Egypt and Jordan, the more Israel must spend on its military."
"Not only does American assistance not provide Israel with an economic advantage, it requires Israel to expend additional amounts from its own internal security reserves."
The article gives details on how it also hurts their defense contractors.
"The guaranteed payment irrespective of Israel’s defense needs “leaves the system with no incentive to become more efficient,” warns Gazit. Former prime minister Ehud Olmert argued that Israel could cut its military outlays with no harm to its security but that American money reduces the pressure to do so."
"Perhaps even worse is how U.S. “assistance” further inflates Israel’s already bloated government."
Audit the Fed Clears House Panel | Ron Paul 2012 Presidential Campaign CommitteeRon Paul 2012 Presidential Campaign Committee
Audit the Fed Clears House Panel | Ron Paul 2012 Presidential Campaign CommitteeRon Paul 2012 Presidential Campaign Committee: "Issa maintained it was ironic that Congress took an intense interest in the $2 billion and counting in losses suffered recently by JPMorgan Chase when it “pales in comparison” to the Fed’s multi-trillion dollar portfolio."
Why Obama Strikes out in Court | Ilya Shapiro | Cato Institute: Commentary
Why Obama Strikes out in Court | Ilya Shapiro | Cato Institute: Commentary: "This term alone, the high court has ruled unanimously against the government on religious liberty, criminal procedure and property rights. When the administration can't get even a single one of the liberal justices to agree with it in these unrelated areas of the law, that's a sign there's something wrong with its constitutional vision."
House rejects bid to slash rural airline subsidies | Fox News
House rejects bid to slash rural airline subsidies | Fox News: ""This is about the easiest choice the House could possibly make, to put an end to the so-called Essential Air Service that lavishly subsidizes some of the least essential air services in the country," McClintock said. "Rural life has both great advantages and disadvantages, and it is not the job of hardworking taxpayers who choose to live elsewhere to level out the differences.""
"the wide reach of the program contributes to the sweeping support it gets, both from Democrats but also from conservative Republicans who suspend their anti-big-government rhetoric when their districts are affected."
"the wide reach of the program contributes to the sweeping support it gets, both from Democrats but also from conservative Republicans who suspend their anti-big-government rhetoric when their districts are affected."
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Romney: Man of Pastel | Michael D. Tanner | Cato Institute: Commentary
Romney: Man of Pastel | Michael D. Tanner | Cato Institute: Commentary: Romney said “If you take a trillion dollars for instance, out of the first year of the federal budget, that would shrink GDP over 5 percent. That is by definition throwing us into recession or depression. So I’m not going to do that, of course.”
As the Washington Post’s Ezra Klein noted, “You couldn’t have gotten a clearer definition of Keynesian budgeting from Obama.”
As the Washington Post’s Ezra Klein noted, “You couldn’t have gotten a clearer definition of Keynesian budgeting from Obama.”
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