“This is legalized theft.”
Guess who: “This is legalized theft.”
Guess who: “This is legalized theft.”
Tag: government
“This is legalized theft.”
A Catholic University has dropped its health coverage for students due to Obamacare and the contraceptive mandate.
We’ve only just begun: A Catholic University has dropped its health coverage for students due to Obamacare and the contraceptive mandate.
We’ve only just begun: A Catholic University has dropped its health coverage for students due to Obamacare and the contraceptive mandate.
A Tennessee policeman takes $22,000 cash from a driver, because he wants to.
Theft by government: A Tennessee policeman takes $22,000 cash from a driver, because he wants to.
Theft by government: A Tennessee policeman takes $22,000 cash from a driver, because he wants to.
LightSquared has filed for bankruptcy
Another Obama tech wonder company dies: LightSquared has filed for bankruptcy.
From the beginning engineers were saying that LightSquared’s system would interfere with GPS. The only reason the company lasted as long as it did was because it had the political backing of the Obama administration. And the reason it had that backing is because the company’s CEO was a big supporter of Obama.
Another Obama tech wonder company dies: LightSquared has filed for bankruptcy.
From the beginning engineers were saying that LightSquared’s system would interfere with GPS. The only reason the company lasted as long as it did was because it had the political backing of the Obama administration. And the reason it had that backing is because the company’s CEO was a big supporter of Obama.
California officials have confisicated two stuffed animals from a local bar, after being on display for about a half century.
Theft by government: California officials have confiscated two stuffed animals from a local bar, after having been on display for about a half century.
Both animals, while now endangered, were not endangered when they were killed, stuffed, and placed in the bar. Their existence is completely irrelevant to saving either species. For the government to confiscate them is nothing more than a expression of naked power. Worse, if there was no payment for them it is illegal. The Bill of Rights has this clause that says government cannot take a citizen’s property without just compensation.
As I said, theft by government.
Theft by government: California officials have confiscated two stuffed animals from a local bar, after having been on display for about a half century.
Both animals, while now endangered, were not endangered when they were killed, stuffed, and placed in the bar. Their existence is completely irrelevant to saving either species. For the government to confiscate them is nothing more than a expression of naked power. Worse, if there was no payment for them it is illegal. The Bill of Rights has this clause that says government cannot take a citizen’s property without just compensation.
As I said, theft by government.
The McCarthyism of the left
A businessman who has been attacked by the Democrats and the Obama campaign simply because he has supported Mitt Romney has lost hundreds of customers.
Nor is this the first time the left has gone after private citizens who took political positions they didn’t like:
» Read more
Why Lugar lost
Why Lugar lost. And how the left is going to get blindsided in November by these facts.
Why Lugar lost. And how the left is going to get blindsided in November by these facts.
Obama’s Justice Department last week requested the right to access the location information in all cellphones, without a warrant.
What could go wrong? Obama’s Justice Department last week requested the right to access the location information in all cellphones, without a warrant.
What could go wrong? Obama’s Justice Department last week requested the right to access the location information in all cellphones, without a warrant.
The Democrats and the President publicly target a private citizen, merely for supporting Romney.
Building that enemies list: The Democrats and the President publicly target private citizens, merely for supporting Romney.
Three weeks ago, an Obama campaign website, “Keeping GOP Honest,” took the extraordinary step of publicly naming and assailing eight private citizens backing Mr. Romney. Titled “Behind the curtain: a brief history of Romney’s donors,” the post accused the eight of being “wealthy individuals with less-than-reputable records.”
One of those eight, CEO Frank VanderSloot of Melaleuca Inc., was described by the Obama campaign
as being “litigious, combative and a bitter foe of the gay rights movement.” About a week after that post, a man named Michael Wolf contacted the Bonneville County Courthouse in Idaho Falls in search of court records regarding Mr. VanderSloot. Specifically, Mr. Wolf wanted all the documents dealing with Mr. VanderSloot’s divorces, as well as a case involving a dispute with a former Melaleuca employee.
And it appears that Michael Wolf has ties to the Democratic Party and the Obama campaign.
Ah, civility! (as defined by Obama and the left.)
Building that enemies list: The Democrats and the President publicly target private citizens, merely for supporting Romney.
Three weeks ago, an Obama campaign website, “Keeping GOP Honest,” took the extraordinary step of publicly naming and assailing eight private citizens backing Mr. Romney. Titled “Behind the curtain: a brief history of Romney’s donors,” the post accused the eight of being “wealthy individuals with less-than-reputable records.”
One of those eight, CEO Frank VanderSloot of Melaleuca Inc., was described by the Obama campaign
as being “litigious, combative and a bitter foe of the gay rights movement.” About a week after that post, a man named Michael Wolf contacted the Bonneville County Courthouse in Idaho Falls in search of court records regarding Mr. VanderSloot. Specifically, Mr. Wolf wanted all the documents dealing with Mr. VanderSloot’s divorces, as well as a case involving a dispute with a former Melaleuca employee.
And it appears that Michael Wolf has ties to the Democratic Party and the Obama campaign.
Ah, civility! (as defined by Obama and the left.)
Muslims are exempt from Obamacare’s insurance mandate.
Finding out what’s in it: Muslims are exempt from Obamacare’s insurance mandate.
ObamaCare uses the Social Security language of the Internal Revenue Code to determine who is eligible for “religious conscience” objection to the insurance mandate. Specifically, the law provides exemptions for adherents of “recognized religious sects” that are “conscientiously opposed” to accepting benefits from any insurance, public or private.
As a consequence of this provision, Muslims may claim a religious exemption that is denied Christians and Jews. Since Islam believes insurance is haraam (forbidden) and likens insurance to gambling, the religion is excluded from requirements, mandates, or penalties set forth in the bill. Others who fall into this category are the Amish, American Indians, and Christian Scientists. Although the U.S. Constitution grants all Americans equal protection of the law, some Americans are more equal than others.
Not only must this catastrophe of a law be repealed, we voters have got to remove as many as possible of the incompetent elected officials who wrote and voted for it.
Finding out what’s in it: Muslims are exempt from Obamacare’s insurance mandate.
ObamaCare uses the Social Security language of the Internal Revenue Code to determine who is eligible for “religious conscience” objection to the insurance mandate. Specifically, the law provides exemptions for adherents of “recognized religious sects” that are “conscientiously opposed” to accepting benefits from any insurance, public or private.
As a consequence of this provision, Muslims may claim a religious exemption that is denied Christians and Jews. Since Islam believes insurance is haraam (forbidden) and likens insurance to gambling, the religion is excluded from requirements, mandates, or penalties set forth in the bill. Others who fall into this category are the Amish, American Indians, and Christian Scientists. Although the U.S. Constitution grants all Americans equal protection of the law, some Americans are more equal than others.
Not only must this catastrophe of a law be repealed, we voters have got to remove as many as possible of the incompetent elected officials who wrote and voted for it.
Massachusetts’ House yesterday overturned the ban on bake sales imposed by its Department of Public Health.
How nice of them: Massachusetts’ House yesterday overturned the ban on bake sales imposed by its Department of Public Health.
How nice of them: Massachusetts’ House yesterday overturned the ban on bake sales imposed by its Department of Public Health.
The ten scariest DMV horror stories.
The ten scariest DMV horror stories.
Just remember: the Democrats and President Obama have given the management of everyone’s healthcare to this kind of bureaucracy.
The ten scariest DMV horror stories.
Just remember: the Democrats and President Obama have given the management of everyone’s healthcare to this kind of bureaucracy.
An Indian tribe has sued and three researchers have countersued over possession of two 10,000-year-old skeletons unearthed during construction in San Diego.
Fighting over bones: An Indian tribe has sued and three researchers have counter-sued over possession of two 10,000-year-old skeletons unearthed during construction in San Diego.
Not surprisingly, the problem here stems from a poorly written federal law amended by a bureaucratic rule in 2010 that gives any Indian tribe control over any ancient human bones found in the U.S., even if those bones come from a human that lived long before the tribe even existed.
Fighting over bones: An Indian tribe has sued and three researchers have counter-sued over possession of two 10,000-year-old skeletons unearthed during construction in San Diego.
Not surprisingly, the problem here stems from a poorly written federal law amended by a bureaucratic rule in 2010 that gives any Indian tribe control over any ancient human bones found in the U.S., even if those bones come from a human that lived long before the tribe even existed.
The White House today threatened to veto the House budget because of NOAA and NASA trims.
Theater: The White House today threatened to veto the House budget because of NOAA and NASA trims.
Theater: The White House today threatened to veto the House budget because of NOAA and NASA trims.
Massachusetts state officials are restricting the kinds of foods that can be sold at bake sales.
We’re here to help you: Massachusetts state officials are restricting the kinds of foods that can be sold at bake sales.
Bake sales, the calorie-laden standby cash-strapped classrooms, PTAs and booster clubs rely on, will be outlawed from public schools as of Aug. 1 as part of new no-nonsense nutrition standards, forcing fundraisers back to the blackboard to cook up alternative ways to raise money for kids.
We’re here to help you: Massachusetts state officials are restricting the kinds of foods that can be sold at bake sales.
Bake sales, the calorie-laden standby cash-strapped classrooms, PTAs and booster clubs rely on, will be outlawed from public schools as of Aug. 1 as part of new no-nonsense nutrition standards, forcing fundraisers back to the blackboard to cook up alternative ways to raise money for kids.
Last week the federal government abandoned more than a century of precedent to declare it holds senior water rights across much of Arizona’s San Pedro River riparian watershed.
We’re here to help you: Last week the federal government abandoned more than a century of precedent to declare it holds senior water rights across much of Arizona’s San Pedro River riparian watershed.
For some additional background, see this story.
We’re here to help you: Last week the federal government abandoned more than a century of precedent to declare it holds senior water rights across much of Arizona’s San Pedro River riparian watershed.
For some additional background, see this story.
The battle to simplify and ease the United State”s international trade laws heats up.
The battle to simplify and ease the United State”s international trade laws heats up.
The battle to simplify and ease the United State”s international trade laws heats up.
Republic of fear
“Amid shouts of ‘What about free speech?’ from the audience, the Allegan Police Department ordered the event shut-down.”
This happened in Michigan and was instigated by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). And now the police and CAIR are being sued because of it.
This happened in Michigan and was instigated by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). And now the police and CAIR are being sued because of it.
The Labor Department has abandoned its effort to ban kids from working on farms.
A victory of sorts for freedom: The Labor Department has abandoned its effort to ban kids from working on farms.
The reason I consider this merely a temporary victory is that the desire to regulate these matters still exists in the people running the federal government. These same people also don’t understand that, as a free nation, they have no moral right to impose these rules in the first place. Thus, they remain a threat, waiting only for another opportunity to try again.
A victory of sorts for freedom: The Labor Department has abandoned its effort to ban kids from working on farms.
The reason I consider this merely a temporary victory is that the desire to regulate these matters still exists in the people running the federal government. These same people also don’t understand that, as a free nation, they have no moral right to impose these rules in the first place. Thus, they remain a threat, waiting only for another opportunity to try again.
Killing private space
The financial foolishness in Congress, by Republicans this time, continues. In making its budget recommendations for NASA, the report [pdf] of the House Appropriations Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies subcommittee also demands that NASA immediately choose one commercial company for its commercial space program. (Hat tip to Clark Lindsey for spotting this.)
The number of ways this action is counter-productive almost can’t be counted.
» Read more
Four TSA screeners have been charged with accepting cash in exchange for allowing drug smugglers pass through security.
This should make you you feel safer: Four TSA screeners have been charged with accepting cash in exchange for allowing drug smugglers to pass through security.
And in related news: A family missed its flight after TSA agents insisted on giving a seven-year-old girl with cerebral palsy a full pat-down.
This should make you you feel safer: Four TSA screeners have been charged with accepting cash in exchange for allowing drug smugglers to pass through security.
And in related news: A family missed its flight after TSA agents insisted on giving a seven-year-old girl with cerebral palsy a full pat-down.
“The suspect is not cooperating.”
“The suspect is not cooperating.”
The suspect? A crying four-year-old girl the TSA wished to frisk because she had hugged her grandmother.
“The suspect is not cooperating.”
The suspect? A crying four-year-old girl the TSA wished to frisk because she had hugged her grandmother.
A new official analysis announced yesterday predicts that Social Security will run out of money three years earlier than previously predicted.
The day of reckoning looms: A new official report released yesterday predicts that Social Security will run out of money three years earlier than previously predicted.
The day of reckoning looms: A new official report released yesterday predicts that Social Security will run out of money three years earlier than previously predicted.
The Great Lakes are not drying up, as predicted by global warming advocates.
Wrong again: The Great Lakes are not drying up, as predicted by global warming advocates.
Wrong again: The Great Lakes are not drying up, as predicted by global warming advocates.
Two weeks of protests are being planned for this summer over the Obama administration’s contraceptive mandates.
Two weeks of protests are being planned by Catholics for this summer over the Obama administration’s contraceptive mandates.
And some pundits still think this election will be close? Hah. Any politician who has made as many enemies as Obama can’t possibly win.
Two weeks of protests are being planned by Catholics for this summer over the Obama administration’s contraceptive mandates.
And some pundits still think this election will be close? Hah. Any politician who has made as many enemies as Obama can’t possibly win.
The Space Launch System is a threat to JSC, Texas jobs
An op-ed in Houston: “The Space Launch System is a threat to JSC, Texas jobs.”
It appears that even some NASA employees are beginning to see the madness of spending billions on a launch system that will likely only fly one mission almost a decade from now. And it will seem even more mad to more people should Dragon and Cygnus prove successful in the coming year.
To put it bluntly, the long term politics are very much hostile to SLS. It is going to die, if only because the federal government is bankrupt and can’t afford it. I just wish our elected officials had the brains to realize this now rather than three years down the road.
An op-ed in Houston: “The Space Launch System is a threat to JSC, Texas jobs.”
It appears that even some NASA employees are beginning to see the madness of spending billions on a launch system that will likely only fly one mission almost a decade from now. And it will seem even more mad to more people should Dragon and Cygnus prove successful in the coming year.
To put it bluntly, the long term politics are very much hostile to SLS. It is going to die, if only because the federal government is bankrupt and can’t afford it. I just wish our elected officials had the brains to realize this now rather than three years down the road.
It’s not just a good idea, it’s the law!
Mexico has passed its own very strict climate change law.
The new law contains many sweeping provisions to mitigate climate change, including a mandate to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide by 30% below business-as-usual levels by 2020, and by 50% below 2000 levels by 2050. Furthermore, it stipulates that 35% of the country’s energy should come from renewable sources by 2024, and requires mandatory emissions reporting by the country’s largest polluters.
Some predictions:
» Read more
Two seniors “lose” $300 in cash going through TSA security checkpoint.
We’re here to help you: Two seniors “lose” $300 in cash going through a TSA security checkpoint.
We’re here to help you: Two seniors “lose” $300 in cash going through a TSA security checkpoint.
Senate panel proposes major NASA/NOAA budget changes
A Senate panel today proposed shifting the responsibility for building weather satellites from NOAA to NASA.
It is very unclear from this article why the Senate panel proposed this shift. They claim it will save money but I don’t see how.
What I can guess is that there is probably a turf war going on in Congress over this money. For example, shifting these weather satellites to NASA almost certainly means that the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland will get more money, which is almost certainly why Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-Maryland) is for it.
One thought however: NASA generally focuses on individual missions, not long term operational stuff like weather. I suspect it probably is not a good idea to give this work to NASA.
The same article above also outlined the panel’s proposals for other areas of NASA’s budget. To me, the key issue is the budget for commercial space. The White House requested $830 million. The Senate panel has instead proposed $525 million.
» Read more