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Thursday, December 30, 2010
For Big-Spending Hawks, the U.S. Military's Work Is Never Done | Doug Bandow | Cato Institute: Commentary
For Big-Spending Hawks, the U.S. Military's Work Is Never Done | Doug Bandow | Cato Institute: Commentary: "The Constitution authorizes the national government to act in the 'common defense' — of America, not the rest of the world. None of the founders imagined that the U.S. would become Globocop, busy protecting populous and prosperous allies (international social welfare) and attempting to rebuild failed societies (foreign social engineering)."
Massachusetts Cop Was Killed by Career Criminal Out on Parole Despite Three Life Sentences - FoxNews.com
Massachusetts Cop Was Killed by Career Criminal Out on Parole Despite Three Life Sentences - FoxNews.com: "Cinelli had a lengthy rap sheet filled with armed robberies, assaults and other offenses, had been serving three life sentences since 1976, and had chronic disciplinary problems while in prison including two escapes during which he committed crimes, the Globe reported.
Still, he won the board over by saying the deaths in the family, including his mother's, and drug counseling changed him, the paper reported."
Still, he won the board over by saying the deaths in the family, including his mother's, and drug counseling changed him, the paper reported."
Korean schools welcome more robot teachers | Crave - CNET
Korean schools welcome more robot teachers | Crave - CNET: "state education budgets have been strained by importing thousands of foreign teachers, who are increasingly unwilling to live in remote areas and on islands. I don't think a telepresence robot can really replace a human teacher, but then again I nearly nodded off a few times in class during my teaching stint in Korea. A robot would never do that."
Man Arrested at Miami Airport After Bullet Parts Found in Bag - FoxNews.com
Man Arrested at Miami Airport After Bullet Parts Found in Bag - FoxNews.com: "A 37-year-old man is facing a federal charge after bullet primers [of several hundred] ignited in his bag as it was being unloaded at Miami International Airport from a flight that had just arrived."
They didn't find them on the way in?
They didn't find them on the way in?
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Politicians' Time Is Not Much More Important Than Ours | Gene Healy | Cato Institute: Commentary
Politicians' Time Is Not Much More Important Than Ours | Gene Healy | Cato Institute: Commentary: "Asked last week whether she would submit to a Transportation Security Administration pat-down, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton snorted: 'Not if I could avoid it, ha, ha, ha! ... Who would?'
As a Cabinet secretary, she can avoid it, as can top congressional leaders. Membership has its privileges."
"In 2006, the Secret Service insisted that the Virginia Department of Transportation shut down all HOV lanes on Interstate 395 for six hours so President Bush could get to a fundraiser"
As a Cabinet secretary, she can avoid it, as can top congressional leaders. Membership has its privileges."
"In 2006, the Secret Service insisted that the Virginia Department of Transportation shut down all HOV lanes on Interstate 395 for six hours so President Bush could get to a fundraiser"
Politicians' Time Is Not Much More Important Than Ours | Gene Healy | Cato Institute: Commentary
Politicians' Time Is Not Much More Important Than Ours | Gene Healy | Cato Institute: Commentary: "Asked last week whether she would submit to a Transportation Security Administration pat-down, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton snorted: 'Not if I could avoid it, ha, ha, ha! ... Who would?'
As a Cabinet secretary, she can avoid it, as can top congressional leaders. Membership has its privileges."
"In 2006, the Secret Service insisted that the Virginia Department of Transportation shut down all HOV lanes on Interstate 395 for six hours so President Bush could get to a fundraiser"
As a Cabinet secretary, she can avoid it, as can top congressional leaders. Membership has its privileges."
"In 2006, the Secret Service insisted that the Virginia Department of Transportation shut down all HOV lanes on Interstate 395 for six hours so President Bush could get to a fundraiser"
New tax law packed with obscure business tax cuts - FoxNews.com
New tax law packed with obscure business tax cuts - FoxNews.com: "The massive new tax bill signed into law by President Barack Obama is filled with all kinds of holiday stocking stuffers for businesses: tax breaks for producing TV shows, grants for putting up windmills, rum subsidies for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
There is even a tax break for people who buy race horses."
"Most of the business tax breaks — about 50 in all — are part of a package that expires each year, creating uncertainty for tax planners but lots of business for lobbyists."
"There is a generous tax break for banks and insurance companies that invest overseas, a tax credit for railroad track maintenance, more generous write-offs for upgrading motorsport race tracks, and increased deductions for businesses that donate books and computers to public schools and libraries."
There is even a tax break for people who buy race horses."
"Most of the business tax breaks — about 50 in all — are part of a package that expires each year, creating uncertainty for tax planners but lots of business for lobbyists."
"There is a generous tax break for banks and insurance companies that invest overseas, a tax credit for railroad track maintenance, more generous write-offs for upgrading motorsport race tracks, and increased deductions for businesses that donate books and computers to public schools and libraries."
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Negative rights vs. Positive rights | Cranach: The Blog of Veith
Negative rights vs. Positive rights | Cranach: The Blog of Veith: "The problem is that elevating benefits to the level of rights confers an unlimited grant of power to the government. In the legislative process, laudable sentiments too often emerge as programs with unconstrained costs — or, in the case of the personal mandate in Obamacare, policies that rely on coercion. . . .
From government’s point of view, positive rights are marching orders. Heaven and earth must be moved to deliver the promises. The state grows rapidly and ultimately it outruns the capacity of the tax base to pay for it all, endangering the financial security of everyone.
Thirty years ago, Portugal’s government cost its taxpayers about 20 percent of GDP. Then a new constitution was written, chock full of positive rights — the right to housing, education, health, social security. The size of government doubled. Portugal’s borrowing costs, like that of Greece and Ireland, have ballooned."
From government’s point of view, positive rights are marching orders. Heaven and earth must be moved to deliver the promises. The state grows rapidly and ultimately it outruns the capacity of the tax base to pay for it all, endangering the financial security of everyone.
Thirty years ago, Portugal’s government cost its taxpayers about 20 percent of GDP. Then a new constitution was written, chock full of positive rights — the right to housing, education, health, social security. The size of government doubled. Portugal’s borrowing costs, like that of Greece and Ireland, have ballooned."
Obama cites Steve Jobs' wealth, product success | Nanotech - The Circuits Blog - CNET News
Obama cites Steve Jobs' wealth, product success | Nanotech - The Circuits Blog - CNET News: Obama said "We expect that person to be rich, and that's a good thing. We want that incentive. That's part of the free market,"
That doesn't seem to match with his comment that “I do think at a certain point you’ve made enough money”
That doesn't seem to match with his comment that “I do think at a certain point you’ve made enough money”
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Feds Should Flunk out of Education | Neal McCluskey | Cato Institute: Commentary
Feds Should Flunk out of Education | Neal McCluskey | Cato Institute: Commentary: "On a per-pupil basis, the Digest reports an inflation-adjusted rise from $435 in 1970 to $1,015 in 2006"
"The problem is that politicians say lots of things, and, unlike when you pay more for a car to get better safety or mileage, when politicians spend money it's often not to get better education. No, it's to curry favor with teacher unions, administrator associations or other special interests whose members get paid with increased federal funding and will raise hell for politicians who don't push it. So spending goes up, up, up, but achievement stays down, down, down."
"The problem is that politicians say lots of things, and, unlike when you pay more for a car to get better safety or mileage, when politicians spend money it's often not to get better education. No, it's to curry favor with teacher unions, administrator associations or other special interests whose members get paid with increased federal funding and will raise hell for politicians who don't push it. So spending goes up, up, up, but achievement stays down, down, down."
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