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May
08, 2006
Libertarian
Commentary on the News, 30 April to 6 May, 2006
Without
further ado, on to the news! We'll start out with some bizarre items concerning
what passes for education in public circles.
New
Movie Called 'Soft Core Eco-Terrorism' for Kids
CNSNews.com
A new movie, opening this Friday, features environmentally conscious
middle-schoolers sabotaging a construction site, gagging a land developer
and taking him hostage to hinder a development project for the sake of
some owls...
Yes, I
know this isn't officially educational, but I fully expect this movie
to quickly make it to DVD and thereafter to form a part of various science
classes. It fits in perfectly with the trends. What I don't expect to
see is many editorials condemning it for promoting crime.
UK:
Headteachers hit out at new "babysitting" role
Independent [UK]
"Schools will become 'a national babysitting service' as a result
of government plans to force them to open from 8 am to 6 pm, the leader
of Britain's biggest headteachers' organization said yesterday. Mick Brookes,
general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said it
meant a 50-hour school week for some children -- with headteachers seeing
more of them than their parents." (05/02/06)
Sounds
familiar, as more and more American schools offer breakfast programs and
"after-school" programs, turning them into de-facto crèches
that send children home only to sleep and change clothes.
CA:
Committee OKs bill to add gays, lesbians to textbooks
San Francisco Chronicle
"After a sometimes emotional debate centering on discrimination
and sexual orientation, a Senate committee approved a bill Wednesday that
would require that the contributions of gays and lesbians be included
in textbooks. Supporters argued that all students should be made aware
of the role that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people have made,
but state curriculum has no such requirement. Opponents countered that
discussion of sexual orientation should occur at home and not be mandated
in schools. Not requiring that gays be included in instructional materials
creates the 'enforced invisibility that so many minority groups have gone
through in terms of their contributions to California history,' Sen. Sheila
Kuehl, D-Santa Monica, told the Senate Education Committee in support
of her bill. The committee approved the bill, SB1437, on a party line
8-3 vote. It now moves to the Senate floor." (05/04/06)
"Add?"
Will ALL contributions to the benighted history of this planet be included?
For instance, will it be pointed out that Nero was a cross-dresser and
probably bi-sexual, AND that he burned down Rome and killed hundreds of
thousands, as well as all the other evil he did? That his predecessor
committed incest and made his horse a senator (admittedly an improvement
over some we have in office today, who are just the back half of a equine)?
Or that one of the English kings who killed hundreds of thousands of Scots
in bloody invasions was homosexual? Or the numbers of children abused
and killed by such people through history, with statistics? Oh, yes, let
us tell the whole truth of how such people have "contributed"
to history.
Mama's
Note: Just another reason why your children do NOT belong in government
schools of any kind. Take a look at this
article by Mike Gaddy for a little more to chew on here.
CO:
University drug thugs seek snitches
Rocky Mountain News
"University of Colorado police have posted pictures of 150 people
on a website smoking pot on the '420' day celebration last week and are
offering a $50 reward for anyone who can identify them. Police spokesman
Lt. Tim McGraw said they received more than 50 calls within the first
hours of posting the pictures online Thursday afternoon. He said police
were in the process of confirming the tips today. 'I mean the phones were
ringing off the hook,' he said. The pictures were taken by people in the
crowd at Farrand Field on April 20, a day of revelry for marijuana smokers."
(04/28/06)
Gee, what
a neat idea? Amazing what you can learn from the educators in our institutes
of higher learning, these days. Maybe a hacker could add some pictures
of the campus cops and officials to the site, as well?
The
Home Front
Leaving aside the bizarre aspects of government-ruined, theft-funded schools
and their allies, let us look at some of the latest items from our wonderful
Home Front in the Global War on non-Governmental Terrorism, the War on
Some Drugs, and similar jihads (or crusades, if you prefer). No doubt,
some of these comments will irritate you - be prepared!
FL:
Professor sentenced in terror case
Seattle Times
"A judge sentenced former professor Sami Al-Arian on Monday to
an additional year and a half in prison before he will be deported in
his terrorism conspiracy case, calling him 'an active leader' in a Palestinian
terrorist group. Al-Arian, 48, was sentenced to four years and nine months,
but he will get credit for the three years and three months he already
has served. ... Al-Arian signed a plea agreement April 14 in which he
admitted providing support to members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad
(PIJ), a State Department-designated terrorist group responsible for hundreds
of deaths in Israel and the Palestinian territories. The former University
of South Florida computer-engineering professor took the plea deal after
a jury was hung on nine of the 17 charges against him after a six-month
trial last year, while acquitting him on eight charges. His family said
he took the deal to get out of jail and end their suffering." (05/02/06)
Although
many people are claiming this man was basically held hostage until he
plea-bargained, it seems that he did indeed support the Islamicist group,
and while he may not have pulled any triggers or built any bombs, he certainly
paid money to support those who did.
Mama's
Note: "(A) State Department-designated terrorist group?? I'm
not saying the group he supported didn't make bombs, etc. I think we have
to be careful in trusting what the "state department" designates
as a "terrorist group" because that can include YOU and ME for
simply protesting what they do.
Moussaoui
sentenced to life at Supermax
Indianapolis Star
"Sept. 11 conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui was sentenced Thursday
to spend his life in the country's strictest prison, scolding Americans
on the way for missing a chance to learn from him why they are hated by
al-Qaida terrorists. Capping four years of legal maneuvering and a two-month
trial, U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema sentenced the unrepentant 37-year-old
Frenchman to six life sentences. She told him he would 'die with a whimper,'
isolated from the world and not in the glory of martyrdom." (05/04/06)
Unlike
the first case, this one has had many elements of comedy (admittedly,
black comedy) as it has finally arrived at its conclusion (for now - but
expect appeals, like movie sequels). This nutcase is better off not dead,
to be sure, and we are probably better off not killing him in revenge
for what his comrades did. Sadly, his cost to us in money will be in the
multiple millions.
CA:
Protests shutter LA's produce, garment districts
Los Angeles Times
"The normally bustling downtown Los Angeles produce and garment
districts were virtually shut down this morning and truck traffic at the
ports was lighter than normal after many employees protesting the nation's
immigration policy's did not show up for work. The dearth of activity
in the produce and garment districts, both heavily dependent on immigrant
labor, was so far the most dramatic sign of the impact of today's organized
immigration protests on local commerce. Only sporadic business closures
and staffing shortages reported across the remainder of Southern California.
The Los Angeles Wholesale Produce Market -- which provides fresh food
to restaurants, grocery store chains and countless mom and pop outlets
-- was unusually quiet at 2:30 am when the sprawling complex is normally
a din of shouting workers and rumbling trucks. The nearby 7th Street Market,
the region's second-largest wholesale food market, never even bothered
to open." (05/01/06)
Imagine!
Some people might not have been able to get their favorite salad at their
favorite restaurant on Monday. They might have had to eat at home, or
(gasp) had to take a bag lunch to work! And some Hollywood "star"
might have her new $5000 gown's delivery delayed by a day. Shock! End
of the Republic! Economic collapse! Not.
Old
battle haunts new US-Mexico tensions
Arizona Republic
"More than 1 million migrants flood into the United States each
year across a border cutting straight through what once was Mexican territory,
a touch of history that haunts the immigration debate 158 years after
the land changed hands. The territory north of today's 1,952-mile border
was ripped away in 1848 after a U.S. invasion that ended with the capture
of Mexico City. Ulysses S. Grant, who took part, called the invasion 'the
most unjust war ever waged by a stronger against a weaker nation.' The
loss changed Mexico's destiny and still tears at the country's heart.
Primary school textbooks harp on it. Intellectuals often refer to it.
Museums are dedicated to it. In the United States, some anti-immigration
activists see migrants as a threat to American land and culture, part
of a Spanish-speaking invasion that will reclaim the American Southwest.
Their concern is fed by occasional Mexican references to the booming immigrant
population as a reconquista, or re-conquest, and by the Mexican government's
efforts to reinforce the migrants' ties to their homeland." (05/01/06)
This pitiful
article is what passes for history and journalistic research today. Let's
look at just a few of the falsehoods. First, the US invasion was a response
to repeated Mexican invasions of Texas, for nearly a decade after Texans
won independence and in violation of a peace treaty signed in 1836. Second,
not counting Texas, while Mexico claimed the "half" of Mexico
north of the current international border, there were fewer than 100,000
Mexican citizens (including enslaved AmerInds) north of that line, and
many (such as those in California) were wanting independence from the
tyranny and corruption of Mexico. Most of the territory, especially those
areas that today make up parts of Wyoming, Utah, and Nevada, were in no
way controlled or settled by Mexico. Grant's remarks might be right, after
the fact, but at the time of the war's outbreak, Mexico had a larger population
and much larger army (especially standing army) than the US. And supposedly,
their army was much better trained and much more experienced than the
mostly volunteer US forces: it was not until the US forces sliced deeply
into Mexico that they realized how pitiful Mexico was.
Very few
Mexican citizens fled south to the rump of Mexico following the end of
the war and the treaty, in which the US purchased the Mexican claim to
most of the territory that now makes up California, Nevada, Arizona, western
New Mexico, and parts of Colorado and Utah. (A second purchase, without
war or threat of war, in 1854 - the Gadsden Purchase - added a chuck of
modern Arizona to the US; also not discussed in this farce of an article.)
Most Mexicans in New Mexico (Arizona was virtually unsettled except by
AmerInd) and California were glad to leave behind the tyranny and corruption
of Mexico City for statehood (California) or territorial status (New Mexico)
and today their descendents, though still "Hispanic" and "Native
American" are Americans who have no desire to be part of a stinking
Latin "republic."
May
Day Immigration Protests Celebrate Communist Uprising
(CNSNews.com)
Monday, May Day, is International Worker's Day and the communist celebration
of the Bolshevik Revolution. By design, it also is a day when many illegal
immigrants plan to boycott work, school and shopping in an effort to show
their contributions to the U.S. economy...
This is,
of course, a point that many conservatives and not a few libertarians
made - and when you look at the list of sponsors, it is clear this is
NOT just a coincidence. No matter what faults this nation has, it has
been a stumbling block, even a roadblock, for international socialism
in most of its forms, and once more, they saw a chance to insult it and
"expose" it.
Our
Imperial Courts
The news from the judicial scene this week really is almost a continuation
of the news from the Home Front, both the sentencing and the May Day protest/boycott.
We
have sold our future to these men and women in black, and no signs yet
of being able to buy it back. Of course, these two stories are really
quite minor, as the normal trend goes.
Court
won't review mother's deportation
Houston Chronicle
"A federal appeals court said Monday that it will not review the
case of an immigrant mother fighting to halt her deportation to Mexico.
The U.S. government tried to deport Myrna Dick, 31, in 2004 on the grounds
that she once lied about her citizenship while crossing the U.S. border.
Dick, who married an American in 2002, was pregnant at the time of the
deportation order, and a federal judge allowed her to stay because her
fetus essentially was a U.S. citizen." (05/01/06)
This sounds
cruel, and no doubt it is. It is also something the mother brought on
herself (and her child). I am curious, though, as to how the judge knew
that the unborn child was actually conceived in the US? And as to why
the abortion supporters weren't out in force demanding that the "fetus"
be aborted so that she could be deported?
Court
denies felons' voting rights argument
Houston Chronicle
"A landmark civil rights law cannot be used to argue that barring
felons from voting discriminates against minorities because they are imprisoned
at a higher rate, a federal court ruled Thursday. The 2nd U.S. Circuit
Court of Appeals decided the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which removed barriers
to black voters, was not an avenue of relief for 21 plaintiffs, which
include six current prisoners. The plaintiffs sued the state in November
2000." (05/04/06)
A wise
decision, for once. Now if we could just get back to the idea that felonies
are supposed to be serious crimes, not the collection of so-called "felonies"
that fill law books today.
Middle
Eastern Tarbabies
Yep,
to no one's surprise, we are still stuck to the tarbaby (or babies) and
no sign of any convenient degreaser or solvents around.
Iran
Attacks Iraqi Kurdish Area
BBC News
Iranian troops bombed border areas near the town of Hajj Umran before
crossing into Iraq, the defence ministry in Baghdad said on Sunday. It
said the Iranians targeted the PKK, a Kurdish group that has waged a 15-year
insurgency against Turkey.
The Kurds
continue to be the big losers in this region, split between Turkey, Iran,
and Iraq, and hated by all of them, where they are a minority and a pain
in the neck for centralized governments.
Iraq:
Three killed in car bomb attack
Reuters
"A suicide car bomber attacked the motorcade of the governor of
the restive Iraqi province of Anbar on Tuesday, killing three bodyguards,
hospital sources and local residents in the regional capital Ramadi said.
... The U.S. military said on Tuesday that Iraqi and U.S. troops had killed
more than 100 insurgents last week in Ramadi. Two Iraqi soldiers died
and no Americans were killed." (05/02/06)
Although
the month of April came close to setting a new record for US casualties,
that seemed to slow down a bit this week. But the Iraqis continue to kill
lots of their fellow-countrymen. And women. Some don't like this, as the
next story related.
Protesters
demand better security in Iraq
Cincinnati Enquirer
"About 200 Shiites, many of them women in full-length black abayas,
rallied Monday outside the Green Zone to demand that U.S. and Iraqi forces
do more to stop attacks on Iraqis. Some protesters waved large banners
with slogans demanding better care for families displaced by sectarian
violence. One weeping woman held up the ID card of her husband, saying
he was killed in a drive-by shooting. Two Iraqi men -- a soldier and a
civilian -- emerged from the fortified Green Zone, home of the U.S. Embassy
and the Iraqi government, to meet with the protesters and take notes about
their demands." (05/01/06)
This was
NOT a "Yankee Go Home" protest, it seems.
Mama's
Note: "Improved security" in Iraq sounds great, until you consider
that doing something about it right now is like asking someone to go into
a tank full of sharks and start pulling their teeth! Easy to say, but
a real job to do.
Gangs
claim their turf in Iraq
Chicago Sun-Times
"The Gangster Disciples, Latin Kings and Vice Lords were born
decades ago in Chicago's most violent neighborhoods. Now, their gang graffiti
is showing up 6,400 miles away in one of the world's most dangerous neighborhoods
-- Iraq. Armored vehicles, concrete barricades and bathroom walls all
have served as canvasses for their spray-painted gang art. ... 'I have
identified 320 soldiers as gang members from April 2002 to present,' said
Scott Barfield, a Defense Department gang detective at Fort Lewis in Washington
state. 'I think that's the tip of the iceberg.' ... Barfield said Army
recruiters eager to meet their goals have been overlooking applicants'
gang tattoos and getting waivers for criminal backgrounds. 'We're lowering
our standards,' Barfield said." (05/01/06)
This growing
problem is in very large part the fault of Congress and society, which
have allowed military basic training to soften and deteriorate. In the
past, the criminal history of new soldiers, their gang-affiliations, and
other problems were sweated out of them by drill instructors and NCOs,
and replaced by unit and national loyalties. Today, that is no longer
a case, and often, the claim is made (with some factual justification)
that gang members join the military to gain combat experience and training
in skills that will be useful to their gangs when they leave the service.
Iraq:
Three US soldiers, several Iraqis killed
Reuters
"A police major was killed by gunmen near his house in Diwaniya
.... Two Iraqi soldiers were killed by gunmen near Balad .... Two policemen
were wounded when a roadside bomb exploded near their patrol .... U.S.
troops killed three people who fired on them ... Three U.S. soldiers were
killed when a roadside bomb struck their vehicle in Babil province, south
of Baghdad ..." (05/05/06)
Overall,
though, US casualties were less, but a weekend shootdown of a British
helicopter seemed to be a Royal Army replay of "Blackhawk Down"
in Somalia a few years ago.
Senate
OKs $109 billion in Iraq, hurricane pork
MSNBC
"The Senate Thursday passed a $109 billion bill to pay for the
war in Iraq and hurricane aid for the Gulf Coast, but a veto threat imperils
many provisions added by lawmakers. The bill has grown to about $14 billion
more than President Bush says he is willing to accept, and difficult House-Senate
talks loom over how to cut it back to his request. The White House made
clear within minutes of the vote that Bush is not backing down."
(05/04/06)
Of course,
no one believes that Bush will actually veto it - the veto being perhaps
the ONLY power, constitutional or otherwise, that Bush has not exercised
in more than five years in power.
Rumsfeld
heckled, challenged on Iraq
Las Vegas Review-Journal
"Already under fire from some retired military brass who want
him to resign, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld was greeted at a speech
in Atlanta by unusually hostile anti-war protesters. 'This man needs to
be in prison for war crimes,' shouted Gloria Tatum, 63, of nearby Decatur,
Ga., before being hauled away by security officials. Ray McGovern, a former
CIA analyst and noted critic of the war in Iraq, waited patiently in line
to question Rumsfeld, then let loose. 'Why did you lie to get us into
a war that caused these kind of casualties and was not necessary?' McGovern
said. 'I did not lie,' shot back a feisty Rumsfeld, who waved off security
guards ready to remove McGovern .... Rumsfeld said: 'People need to trust
each other and their government. The idea that people in government are
lying is fundamentally destructive of that trust.'" [FND editor's
note: Then stop lying, Mr. Rumsfeld! - TLK] (05/04/06)
Such raucous
behavior is needed, but without seeing old women dragged off by thugs.
Campaigning
for Election 2006
The build-up continues, and sometimes it is hard to see where the campaign
front ends and the war front begins. All the usual garbage that we expect
in an election year seems to be present in more force this year.
Sour
news for GOP in poll
USA Today
"Six months before Republicans try to hold on to control of Congress
in the fall elections, a new poll shows President Bush has slid to the
lowest approval rating of his presidency, and a majority of voters say
they'll vote for Democrats in November. A USA TODAY/Gallup Poll taken
Friday through Sunday found Bush's approval rating at 34%, two points
under his previous low. He also received the lowest ratings of his presidency
on his handling of the economy, energy and foreign affairs. He tied his
previous low on Iraq: 32%. The poll showed Democrats leading 54%-39% among
registered voters who were asked which party they would prefer in a congressional
race." (05/01/06)
More polls
trying to predict the election - ever wonder why we even bother with the
actual vote?
Open
Colorado seat "is Democrats' to lose"
Fox News
"A western swing district known for its independence and ability
to turn recent congressional elections into eagerly awaited events will
not disappoint political junkies this year, say analysts who call the
7th Congressional District race in Colorado one for Democrats to lose.
'Essentially, if the Democrats don't win this race, they don't win the
House,' said Floyd Ciruli, a Colorado pollster who supports Ed Perlmutter,
one of the two leading Democrats vying for the chance to win the seat
being vacated by two-term Republican Rep. Bob Beauprez, who is running
for governor. 'This is a district where Republicans have little margin
for error,' said Nathan Gonzales, editor of the Rothenberg Political Report,
which puts this race in its 'pure toss up' column. 'That's when the national
environment benefits the Democrats, in a district like this.'"
(05/01/06)
Taking
time to talk to people actually in the district leads to a much different
conclusion than this story presents. Assuming the GOP contenders don't
mess up, it will probably stay in the GOP column. An active and popular
Libertarian might make the difference, but that seems unlikely at this
point.
Our
Right to Defend Ourselves
A good series of tales of people defending themselves was presented from
across the nation this week. I appreciate the effort that Mary Lou Seymour,
in particular (with FND and RRND), goes to in finding these stories. If
you find something of interest,
please pass it on to encourage everyone else.
IN:
Security guard shoots would-be mugger
Indy Channel News
"A man was seriously wounded in a shooting at a Marsh Supermarket
Saturday night on the city's west side. Police said a security guard shot
the man as the man tried to rob a woman in the restroom of the Marsh at
Lynhurst Drive and Rockville Road. Officials said the security guard ordered
the gunman to stop, but the man didn't comply. That's when the guard shot
the man." (04/30/06)
A private
security guard was there, at least. The fact that it was necessary to
have a security guard near the restrooms shows that the situation must
be pretty bad. Businesses should be careful not to have customers robbed
or beaten in their stores.
PA:
Defendant acquitted
York Daily Record
"A York County jury acquitted Antwoine Montouth of all charges
Wednesday resulting from the July 29 shooting of his estranged wife's
boyfriend. Montouth had admitted he shot Alphonso Davis in the leg and
back during a dispute in front of Montouth's Piedmont Circle home. At
his Common Pleas Court trial this week, Montouth's attorney, Farley Holt,
argued the shooting was in self-defense after Davis grabbed Montouth and
tried to muscle him to the ground. Holt said Montouth, who armed himself
before Davis arrived, hit Davis on the head three times, fired a warning
shot into the ground and then shot him twice in an attempt to avoid being
stabbed by another man who arrived with Davis." (05/04/06)
Sounds
like he might have shot the wrong guy, but that he clearly went the second
mile in responding to the attack.
MI:
Home invader killed by homeowner
Detroit Now
"A suspected robber was fatally shot inside a Hazel Park home,
early Friday morning. Police learned the victim and the shooter were acquaintances.
Around 1 a.m., the homeowner called police saying he'd shot an intruder.
When investigators arrived they found 22-year-old Michael Wycoff dead
upstairs. The homeowner claimed his house had been ransacked and a window
was broken, so he grabbed his gun and found Wycoff in an upstairs closet.
Police said there was a confrontation and the homeowner fired."
(05/05/06)
Just because
you know someone doesn't mean that you might not have to defend yourself
against them.
OH:
Robber killed in gun battle with deli owner
NewsNet 5
"A robbery suspect is fatally shot and a deli owner's son is injured
after gunfire is exchanged during a robbery attempt at an eastside deli.
... Police said the suspect entered the store with a gun and mask, and
demanded money. Deli owner Marwan Dayem, 47, and his 19-year-old son,
Abedeldhmai, began to gather the money, and then Marwan Dayem grabbed
a gun he had behind the counter. He began to exchange gunfire with the
suspect, who was struck. The suspect fled the store, and collapsed about
a block away. He was transported to MetroHealth Medical Center, where
he was pronounced dead." (05/05/06)
Pretty
clear case.
Mama's
Note: What is really amazing is how seldom the defender is actually hurt
or killed. It's wonderful, of course, but still amazing. I suspect it
would be even more overwhelmingly that way if more of the defenders really
knew how to use their weapons and understood self-defense better... ok,
I'll get off my soap box.
FL:
If disaster hits, your gun is still yours
CBS 4 News
"If you own a gun and live in Florida, good news: nobody will
be able to force you to give it up following a disaster, so long as the
gun is legally owned and properly licensed. Floridians with a permit can
continue to carry their gun during a declared emergency under a measure
passed unanimously today by the Senate and sent to Governor Jeb Bush.
The bill was inspired by the situation in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina.
Police and soldiers removed guns from houses after the storm flooded New
Orleans, and confiscated guns from some evacuees." (05/04/06)
"So
long as" - silly words when there IS no legal licensing permitted
under the US Bill of Rights.
Mama's
Note: And if you believe that this "measure" is worth a hill
of beans, you have not been paying attention. There is nothing here that
will prevent the "authorities" from doing whatever they darn
well please, especially in some "emergency." They can promise
anything, but their reputation doesn't engender any trust for them. Do
NOT "register" your defense weapons, and NEVER allow anyone
to take them from you!! That's the only "measure" that makes
sense.
FL:
Home invasion suspect shot dead by neighbor
CBS 4 News
"A home invasion robbery has turned deadly for one of the bad
guys, while a second suspect was captured and a third remains loose. It
all started around 10:45 p.m. Wednesday night the trio of armed home invaders
knocked on the door of 15980 SW 76th Street in the community of Lago Mar.
When the victim opened the door, the three armed men forced their way
in with a gun to the victim's head.The victim's girlfriend was in another
room. When she realized what was going on, she quickly ran out of the
back of the house with her cell phone and called police. Then she ran
to her neighbor's home for help. That neighbor then grabbed a gun and
ran next door to help. At some point however, he was confronted by the
3 armed suspects and there was an exchange of gunfire. One suspect was
hit and he died on the scene." (05/04/06)
A good
neighbor indeed. Notice that the cops didn't get there until it was all
over.
Stupid
Government Tricks
This week we are treated to some examples of how government stupidity
makes a bad situation worse, and plays into the hands of people who want
to cause more trouble. And we see, once again, that governments can thoroughly
muddle technology issues AND do a very poor job of simulating free markets.
Carbon
Market Windfall Worries Enviros
BBC News
Power firms could make a £1bn windfall profit from the EU Carbon
Emissions Trading Scheme, BBC News has learned. The windfall is likely
because many firms have benefited from increases in electricity prices
brought about by the scheme without needing to make any extra investment
in return. Peter Bedson, from IPA Consulting, confirmed to the BBC that
the unwarranted profit could reach £1bn. Environmental pressure
groups have called the news a scandal. Part of the problem, Mr Bedson
said, was that firms had been given, free-of-charge, the carbon emissions
permits on which the scheme is based. This, he explained, was like the
government giving energy firms free money.
This has
taken a few years longer to mature into a full-blown "crisis"
- no doubt in part because most environists don't understand the free
market to begin with. This has NEVER been a free market, but rather, a
regulatory scheme disguised as a free market scheme, and like most government
manipulation of economic laws, full of holes and "unforeseen problems."
White
House to release Abramoff logs
CNN
"Despite repeated White House objections to the release of documents
related to Jack Abramoff's visits to the White House, the Secret Service
has agreed to produce all logs detailing the disgraced lobbyist's meetings,
according to a court filing released Monday. The Secret Service agreed
on April 25 to drop any objections to turning over the information and
will 'produce any and all documents' on or before May 10, according to
the filing released by the conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch,
which filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request on February 2."
(05/01/06)
The question
is why they objected in the first place, knowing that almost certainly
ultimately they would have to release the data.
Social
Security, Medicare trust funds sink
Indianapolis Star
"The trustees for the government's two biggest benefit programs
said Monday that the trust fund for Social Security will be depleted in
2040, a year earlier than expected, while Medicare will exhaust its trust
fund just 12 years from now. The annual report showed deterioration in
the financial condition of both programs although the problems in Medicare
were depicted as far more serious because of the skyrocketing costs for
health care. A year ago, the depletion of the Social Security trust fund
had been projected to occur in 2041, one year later than the current estimate,
and the Medicare hospital insurance fund had been forecast to last until
2020, two years longer than the current estimate." (05/01/06)
Of course,
if you believe that these "trust funds" exist except as bookkeeping
entries on some computer, you are crasy. The end of the Ponzi schemes
draws nearer.
Australia:
Anger at plan for at-risk Aborigines
The Age [Australia]
"Indigenous leaders are outraged about a controversial Commonwealth
plan to remove Aboriginal children at risk of abuse and place them in
portable buildings once used at Woomera, saying it is in the children's
best interests to place them with Aboriginal carers. The issue has reignited
sensitivities about the stolen generation, with Aboriginal leaders saying
that while children at risk must be removed, they should be placed with
Aboriginal foster parents or other family members in the community. Federal
Indigenous Affairs Minister Mal Brough has refused to comment on a National
Indigenous Times article suggesting children would be removed from dysfunctional
families and housed in portable buildings moved to Alice Springs from
the former detention centre." (05/02/06)
If this
parallels the problem in the US with AmerInd abused children, the problem
is that there are not enough Abo caregivers to provide for all the children.
But surely there are caring Anglo- and Irish-Australians willing to care
for these children?
Mama's
Note: What a sad and destructive cycle this is. Abuse is inexcusable,
of course, but what government calls "abuse" is often just poverty
and even discipline. The Abo elders should be the ones to determine both
the abuse and the measures needed to address it. It is their responsibility,
not anyone else's. The more government is involved, regardless of the
motive, the worse this cycle will get. "Foster care" is usually
the worst option because those people often do not have the incentive
to act truly in the best interest of the child and even more abuse is
often the result. Just look at the foster care programs in the US!
UK:
Blair shuffles cabinet after election
Guardian [UK]
"Prime Minister Tony Blair has culled his Cabinet with a radical
reshuffle in the wake of a local election defeat. ... The first changes
to the Cabinet were announced by Downing Street after a string of ministers
paraded into No 10. The highest price was paid by [Home Secretary Charles]
Clarke, who had presided over the foreign prisoners fiasco. Mr Blair's
official spokesman made clear he had been fired." (05/05/06)
Blair and
the Labourites are running scared, but clearly not scared enough: Clarke
(for instance) deserves a term in the Tower, or even having his body parts
distributed around the country as a warning to others. Not that the rest
of the Cabinet really deserves better.
Demonstrate
and be slimed
New Scientist
"Rioters could soon be in for a slippery surprise. Researchers
at the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas, US, are working
on a new non-lethal weapon that could quite literally bring them to their
knees -- by sliming them. The institute has developed a super-slimy substance.
When fired at an unruly mob it causes rioters to simply slip over."
(05/02/06)
Sounds
useful during debates in Commons and the US Senate, doesn't it?
UK:
£75 fine for throwing a Wotsit
Ananova [UK]
"A woman has been fined £75 for throwing a Cheesey Wotsit
out of her car window. ... Mrs Buckland said: 'I got a letter saying that,
to date, the council had incurred £298 costs. That means the council
has spent £223 to collect the £75 fine. If I had gone to court
I would have got legal aid and would have been given time pay, it would
have cost a fortune. My gripe is all that taxpayers' money, that has really
got to me.' Jon Maddox, the Luton borough council's enforcement manager
for street services, said: 'It does not matter if it was a cigarette butt
or a Wotsit. The council has invested significantly in a cleaner Luton.
I do not intend to let a small minority of litter louts take us a step
backwards and will take action against anyone I hear of dropping litter.'"
(05/04/06)
The UK
is expensive, but £298? I seriously doubt that. Most US states,
counties, and cities have similar fines (ranging from $30 to $300) for
littering, but enforcement is almost always based on some other reason
- another example of using a law as a hammer.
Mama's
Note: What in the devil is a "Cheesey Wotsit?" What is a "crisp?"
Sounds dreadful. The real moral of the story is: don't allow children
to eat anything in the car!
FBI
probes Watergate prostitution allegations
MSNBC
"The infamous Watergate Hotel is again at the center of political
intrigue. 'We have received subpoenas for documents,' says Watergate Hotel
Assistant General Manager Josh Graham. 'We have complied, but I cannot
confirm names of individuals or companies that were part of those subpoenas.'
FBI agents are investigating what happened in the hotel's posh suites,
which defense contractor Brent Wilkes turned into party suites for politicians
and CIA officers. There was poker and cigars, and the FBI wants to know
if there were prostitutes, too." (05/04/06)
It would
seem that the bribery of public officials with cigars and poker would
be just as criminal as if there was paid sex. But none seems to merit
FBI involvement.
MT:
Governor to grant pardons for sedition
Forbes
"Nearly seven dozen Montana residents convicted of sedition during
World War I are finally getting official pardons from the governor, years
after their deaths. In a ceremony Wednesday afternoon, Gov. Brian Schweitzer,
the grandson of German-Russian immigrants, plans to sign posthumous pardons
for 78 men and women convicted in 1918 and 1919 for criticizing the U.S.
government or its war effort. " (05/03/06)
Maybe other
states will follow suit, though it hardly seems to be worthwhile. Still,
the story of the way tens of thousands of people were treated during WW1
is unknown to most Americans, and is seldom taught in ANY school history
class: robbed, beaten, tarred and feathered (talk about "torture"),
burned out, literally spat upon, drafted out of turn, and often even killed
during basic training by their fellow draftees, these people found that
the American dream did not exist for them. And it was more than just criticism
that resulted in such legal or extra-legal punishment: in some cases (as
in ND and SD) it was the result of not being vocal enough in their support,
or because they did not buy their "fair share" of war bonds.
Mama's
Note: And don't think it can't happen again!
MA:
Six arrested in Big Dig investigation
Cincinnati Enquirer
"Six men who worked for the Big Dig's largest concrete supplier
were arrested Thursday on federal charges accusing them of falsifying
records to hide the inferior quality of concrete delivered to the massive
highway project. The six, all current or former employees of Aggregate
Industries, face a variety of charges including making false statements,
mail fraud and conspiracy to defraud the government between 1996 and August
2005." (05/04/06)
This kind
of prosecution always smells fishy - because it is very often a case of
going out to find scapegoats to blame for a disaster. And certainly, this
massive boondoggle has been a disaster. How many inspectors and city/state
highway department engineers are going to be prosecuted for accepting
shoddy material? Don't hold your breath.
U.S.
to Taiwan's president: You can't stop here
Arizona Republic
"Taiwan's president was forced Wednesday to delay a trip to Latin
America for a day after Washington snubbed his request for a stopover
in New York or San Francisco. China claims the affluent and democratically
governed island of Taiwan as part of its territory. The Chinese government
makes no secret of its dislike for Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian
because his support for the island's continued separation from China.
Chen surprised U.S. officials in March when he scrapped the National Unification
Council, an inactive body in Taiwan that was founded to guide reunification
with China. Chen's move enraged China's communist government."
[RRND editor's note: But of course George W. Bush is happy to host dictator
Hu Jintao, and even apologize to him for the freedom of protestors in
America to call him out for being a murdering sack of **** - TLK] (05/04/06)
Sounds
like a very tacky way to show our displeasure, as Tom points out. We ought
to be welcoming the man for standing up to the thugs in Peking.
Mama's
Note: How very strange... since we've been told a million times that the
US would go to war with China over Taiwan! Might that stance be changing
just a bit somehow? Something to watch, indeed.
Nifty
new stamp would be good forever
Arizona Republic
"Not just diamonds are forever. Add stamps to the list. The post
office is planning a 'forever' stamp for letters, good no matter how many
times postal rates increase. That means folks could say goodbye to those
annoying 2- or 3-cent stamps that have to be added to letters every time
rates go up. Current sheets, books or loose stamps would still be good.
Forever. The idea for the special stamps, which would be sold at the same
price as other first-class stamps, was included in proposals announced
Wednesday that would also raise stamp prices 3 cents, to 42 cents, next
year. 'A forever stamp would help ease the transition to any future price
adjustments,' board Chairman James C. Miller III said. So, would people
stock up on them? 'No, because I'd probably lose them,' said Timothy Cummings,
31, of Lakeland, Fla." (05/04/06)
Another
stupid idea, as the pressure to commercialize and end the government monopoly
on mail grows. Much as I would love to have a "permanent stamp"
it would simply become another excuse for subsidies and essentially another
form of welfare. If people want to get rid of price increases every other
year or so, the privatize it: see what has happened to telephone long-distance
costs, or the costs of computers, for an example of what is more likely
to happen.
More
News and Commentary on Page 2
Nathan
Barton is writing from his secret bunker complex on the eastern slopes
of the Paha Sapa, swilling Doctor Pepper (and gallons of water each day,
milady) and plotting to reelect Gaius Julius Caesar dictator of the Republic
- or was that Senator Palpatine? Granville James Corbin? W? Q?
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