Monday, April 14

Mike Powers is the guest editor today. 

 

Dear Mr. Mamet...

"With all due respect, sir, if you are truly interested in promoting the ideas of free markets—which I hope you are, considering that we do not have free markets in this country at present and not many high profile scribes such as yourself to defend the free market ideal—you’ll need something a bit sturdier on which to hang your free market hat than 'a solution the community can live with'.”  Column by Robert Kaercher. 

 

The Income Tax: Root of All Evil

"The income tax, by transferring the property of earners to the State, has disintegrated the moral fiber of Americans to such a degree that they do not even recognize the fact."  By Frank Chodorov.

 

Hoover’s Attack on Laissez-Faire

“If government wishes to alleviate, rather than aggravate, a depression, its only valid course is laissez-faire – to leave the economy alone.”  By Murray N. Rothbard .

 

The Israel Lobby

“The US has a terrorism problem in good part because it is so closely allied with Israel , not the other way around.”  Classic essay based on the book by John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt.

 

Should the US End Aid to Israel?

“By providing massive funding to Israel , no matter what it does, American aid is empowering Israeli supremacists who believe in a never-ending campaign of ethnic cleansing; while disempowering Israelis who recognize that policies of morality, justice, and rationality are the only road to peace.”  By Allison Weir.

 

Iraq: State of Corruption

Steve Kroft reports on widespread corruption in Iraq ’s government.

 

Mugabe Prepares for War

Zimbabwe ’s leader defies the world to send in a new wave of thugs.

 

Bush Approved Meetings on Interrogation Techniques

“Bush also said in an interview with ABC News that he approved of the meetings, which were held as the CIA began to prepare for a secret interrogation program that included waterboarding, or simulated drowning, and other coercive techniques.”  Remember, this is not torture!

 

Israel Accused of Psychological Torture

“In one case, the group said, Israeli agents convinced a suspect his wife had also been arrested and tortured, driving him to attempt suicide. In another, they detained a couple for an extended period, tortured them physically, and withheld information about their two young children to try to break them.”  Aren’t you glad that your tax dollars are supporting this behavior?

 

World Bank Head Urges Action on Food Costs

“(Zoellick) called on governments to rapidly carry out commitments to provide the U.N. World Food Program with $500 million in emergency aid.”  Ironically, governments are largely responsible for high food prices due to market distortions in the form of subsides, tariffs, and trade barriers.

 

Taxpayers Fund Bill Clinton’s Spending

“His $420,000 phone bill and $3.2 million office rent tab both nearly surpassed the totals rung up for those purposes by Bush, Carter and the late former presidents Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan combined.”  Politicians are attracted to spending other people’s money like winged insects to animal excrement.

 

1,300 Iraqis Fired for Refusing to Fight

“Iraqi police, army members dismissed after deserting in the face of Basra militias last month.”

 

Higher Cigarette Taxes Could Promote Smuggling

“The big cigarette tax increases that many states are instituting to balance their out-of-whack budgets are raising fears that the trend will make black-market smokes more profitable and lead to more cigarette smuggling.”  Confiscatory tax policies allow governments to manufacture ‘crimes’ where there are none. 

 

Immigration Technicality Snares Refugee

“Lino Nakwa, a Transylvanian student, could be deported to Sudan because of the month he spent as a kidnap victim in a rebel camp.”

 

NYC Cop Tied to More Bank Robberies

“Torres, already charged in an armed bank heist that netted $113,000 in Pennsylvania , was linked by investigators to two other bank robberies last year in Manhattan .”  To protect and serve.

 

Toronto Police Chief Calls for Forced DNA Samples

From anyone charged with a crime, with or without permission from the accused.

 

A Renegade Against Greenpeace

Patrick Moore, a cofounder of Greenpeace, is an unlikely critic of the environmental movement.

 

79% Say Tax Cheating Is Wrong

I’m definitely in the minority on this one.

 

Doubt Cast on Global Warming-Hurricane Link

"The new work suggests that, even in a dramatically warming world, hurricane frequency and intensity may not substantially rise during the next two centuries."

 

Going Green Makes Neighbor See Red

California homeowners duke it out in court over trees that block solar panels.  As Kermit the Frog once said, it’s not easy being green!

 

Rodadura

A photo blog.