Friday mini-roundup
Minneapolis' Healthy Foods Mandate Screws Over Ethnic Grocers
“The city's Staple Food Ordinance mandates that stores carry products customers don't want.”Buried? Feds to release major climate report day after Thanksgiving
Mises Predicted the "Red Meat Tax"
Why A Revote Is Necessary After Brenda Snipes Resigns Amid Florida’s Midterm Insanity
Even California Cannot Defy Nature Forever
QE Created Dangerous Financial Dependence, Italy Hooked, Withdrawal Next, ECB Warns
Information Attacks against Democracies
Roberts, Trump spar in extraordinary scrap over judges
Tuesday roundup
NeoNote — Campaign finance reform redux
❝❝My idea for campaign finance reform.NeoNotes are the selected comments that I made on other boards, in email, or in response to articles where I could not respond directly.
You can't contribute to a campaign unless you reside in the area affected by the campaign. No one from Phoenix could contribute to a city council election in Tucson, no one from California could contribute to a proposition in Nevada, and so on.
No anonymous contributions. A current public list of all contributions must be maintained.
Any unused funds must be returned proportionally to all contributors or to a specified charity. If someone contributed .01% of the campaign's funding, then they would receive .01% of any monies left over.
Violating any of these rules would render a candidate legally unable to serve in any public office until the end of term for the office they ran for. If they ran for Senate, violation would make them ineligible for six years. In the case of a ballot proposition, the election would be voided and must be held again.
Money is not speech. No matter what the USSC says.
If they want to spend money, they can do so in their own home. If they want to speak against someone, they can do that where ever and when ever. But someone in Idaho doesn't have to live with the aftermath of an election in Illinois.
It's part of my SUPER SECRET PLAN TO DESTROY THE POLITICAL PARTIES.
Don't tell anyone.
People forget that the party system wasn't created by the Constitution. Yet they essentially control the nomination process. Take the cash flow and war chests and political action groups away and the parties collapse.
All without arguing over if cash is free speech.
Oh, and banning corporate campaign contributions. And union contributions. And political "matching funds."
*grins*
Money isn't speech any more than money is press. Money is a tool, a way of keeping score, and power, but it is not speech.
If money was really speech, there would be no legal limit to campaign donations.
If someone has more money, does that mean they have a bigger right of free speech or a bigger right of the press? If that is the case, we might as well do away with elections and just hold auctions.
It's telling that prior to campaign finance "reform," no one thought otherwise. It's also telling that the CFR was used to restrict speech.
Just because the law says something doesn't mean it's so. I'm still convinced that anyone born with a penis is a male.
Under my proposal, there are two restrictions on donating money. You have to be a voter and you have to reside in the area affected by the election. These are the two restrictions that every other proposed form of campaign finance reform tries to do away with.❞❞
“Should We Ban Plastic Straws?”
“Will Witt went to Santa Barbara to ask people what they thought of the new law banning plastic straws. Check it out!”
Read More...Friday roundup
Tuesday roundup
Friday roundup
‘Barbarism’: Texas judge ordered electric shocks to silence man on trial. Conviction thrown out.
Freedom of speech also means freedom not to speakCIA Still Arguing Its Official Leaks To Journalists Shouldn't Be Subject To FOIA Requests
Codswallop. It's just because they don't want citizens taking a close look at their propagandaSanctuary Showdown: The Feds Sue California
Article I Section 8 gives Congress control of immigration. This is not a "states rights" thing, the Tenth Amendment does not applyGeek Squad's Relationship with FBI Is Cozier Than We Thought
I wonder if Best Buy's customers knew that the FBI was peeking into their computersGun crackdowns have already led to too many federal abuses
Government WILL abuse power. The only long term answer is reducing the power that government has.The Deleterious Effects of Our Tabloid Discourse
It's screwing with our thinking, says the guy typing blurbs for headlinesSouth Africa Is Prioritizing White Land Confiscation Over Critical Water Supply Needs
So who will be blamed for the drought?The Ever-Changing ‘Russia Narrative’ Is False Public Manipulation
Taxpayer funded no lessWhich Democrat is obstructing confirmation on Trump’s openly-gay nominee for Ambassador to Germany?
So now it's not enough that he is gay and very qualified? So much for looking out for minoritiesCNN, MSNBC Journalists Give Trump Glowing Praise for North Korea Move as Obama Flacks Lose It
These were the same journalists who a few months ago were saying that Trump was a clown who was endangering the world.The Robot Replacement for Fast Food Workers Has Finally Arrived
If it costs less than a salary would and is more reliable, this is the wave of the futureMedicare’s New Day
“The program’s privately managed plans provide quality care while controlling costs—and winning political support.”These communities sued Big Oil over climate change; then the backlash began
One lawsuit begats others. Irony abounds.Thursday roundup
Malthusian Specter Pushed Back Further: Crops Engineered to Use 25 Percent Less Water
Welcome news, especially in less developed parts of the WorldRand Paul, on Trump: ‘I Think He Will Sign Audit the Fed if We Can Get it to Him’
Noble goal, but I am not sure Trump will go alongWhat Forfeiture Reforms? New Hampshire Police Bypass State Law, Keep Taking People's Stuff
“The Department of Justice's loophole lets officials seize property without having to get a conviction.”Trump DOJ sues California over 'interference' with immigration enforcement
Tenth Amendment advocate that I am, the states have no power over immigrationSeven House Democrats Have Direct Ties To Notorious Jew-Hater Farrakhan, Republicans Call for Their Resignations
“If seven House members had ties to David Duke, they would be forced to resign in disgrace. This is no different.”DOJ to give Oversight panel more 'Fast and Furious' documents
This SHOULD years agoRyanair Threatens to Ground Flights and ‘Prove’ Brexit Voters Wrong, ‘No More Cheap Holidays’
So why should customers use this airline?Florida Senate OKs bill for year-round Daylight Saving Time
Daylight Savings Time is unnecessary. A state doesn't need Congressional approval to change. There are some really silly regulations requiring states to go through the Department of Transportation.Silicon Valley and the ABCs of Diversity
Sometimes diversity isn't the best standardBen Carson Nixes ‘Inclusive’ And ‘Discrimination Free’ Clause From HUD Statement
When it conflicts with the job, diversity should take a back seatWant Boys to Become Men? Teach Them the Classical Virtues
The real answer to "toxic masculinity"Jerry Brown accuses Jeff Sessions of lying, using California for a ‘political stunt’
Who is breaking the law?What If We Operated Auto Garages Like We Do Public Schools?
We should rethink thingsSupersized Monday roundup
China Presses Its Internet Censorship Efforts Across the Globe
Will China demand censorship across the globe? A free internet is humanity's last, best hope.Schumer Will Vote ‘No’ On Judicial Nominee Because He Is White
“The nomination of Marvin Quattlebaum speaks to the overall lack of diversity in President Trump’s selections for the federal judiciary. Quattlebaum replaces not one, but two scuttled Obama nominees who were African American.”Schools are safer than they were in the 90s, and school shootings are not more common than they used to be, researchers say
There isn't a trend. See also School Shootings Have Declined Dramatically Since The 1990S. Does It Really Make Sense To Militarize Schools?Google tried censoring 'gun' shopping searches. It backfired
Someone didn't think it through. Well, it was a bad decision anyway, but the unintended consequences…The History of the 'Assault Weapon' Hoax. Part 1: The Crime that Started it All
“A 1989 shooting at a Cal. schoolyard began the national "assault weapon" issue. It was a consequence of law enforcement failure.”More cover-up questions
Remember Seth Rich?SHOCKER: Companies Pulling NRA Support Totally Backfires
People are taking the NRA boycott seriously. Just not the way the virtue signalers hoped.Obamacare: Will States do the Job that Congressional Republicans Have Failed to Do?
All sorts of implications hereSeven Feet Of Snow In Northern California Puts Screeching Halt To State’s Drought
You mean climate fixes itself?Why Did It Take Two Weeks To Discover Parkland Students’ Astroturfing?
This needs to be in the gun control (victim disarmament) discussion. Remember this The Parkland Teens Fighting For Gun Control Have The Backing Of These Huge Organizing GroupsHigh School Teacher Suspended For Pro-Gun Comments On Parkland Shooting
Thou shalt not dissentHow Lenders Are Turning Low-Level Courts Into Dickensian “Debt Collection Mills”
“Federal law outlawed debt prisons in 1833, but lenders, landlords and even gyms and other businesses have found a way to resurrect the Dickensian practice.”YouTube Purge Begins=> Top Conservative YouTube Sites Taken Down in February Sweep
Thou shalt not dissent OR criticizeReclaiming “Liberal”
In 1900 America, "liberal" meant what "libertarian" means todayLaura Moser Shakes Off the DCCC
This might be a glimpse of what happens next. See also When DCCC Calls, Hang Up the PhoneSupersized Monday roundup
Tuesday roundup
Inside The Two Years That Shook Facebook—And The World
Very long but a good summaryFederal abuses on Obama's watch represent a growing blight on his legacy
Some of us knew this during his first term'We are being targeted': Voodoo believers fear a backlash
There's a mess, but this article doesn't help sort it ourIs California Starting To Circle The Drain?
A long and almost unbelievable tale of what happens when the police aren't policing anymoreWe All Live on Campus Now
Groupthink spillover'Hire the best and fire the worst': Trump proposes biggest civil service change in 40 years
If this is a plan and not a negotiating ploy, it's a really good ideaAre Progressives More Biased Than Conservatives?
“Progressives generally assume that they're less biased than conservatives. New research shows otherwise.”Woman Dragged Out of West Virginia House Hearing For Listing Oil and Gas Contributions to Members
It's an issue that should be examined before they pass any lawCatholic School Parents Fight Lesbian Teacher's Firing. Here's Why That's Good.
Shifting moralityIf You Really Wanted to Ban Porn, Here's What It Would Take
Detailed look at exactly what it would takeNew York Times CEO: Print journalism has maybe another 10 years
Digital works better for millions of peopleCalifornia’s drought restrictions on wasteful water habits could be coming back — this time they’ll be permanent
Water is precious in the desert, and California has acted otherwise for decadesCommonwealth in secret succession plans
I didn't know that head of the Commonwealth wasn't hereditary.Friday roundup
California, Poverty Capital
Not all is goldenReal Federalists Need to Step Up to Fight Jeff Sessions' War on Weed
I still want to know where the Federal government gets the power to outlaw cannabisShe was 91 and dying of dementia. City Hall fined her $39K. Now it says her family must pay.
“In Coachella, Officials Buried A Great-Grandmother In Debt By Mailing Fines To The Wrong House, Then Took Her To Court After She Was Dead.”Wells Fargo Glitch Leaves Customers With Empty Bank Accounts
I'd say it's time to change banksWorst-case global warming scenarios not credible: study
Seems like the science isn't settledCatherine Deneuve, #MeToo, and the Fracturing Within Feminism
This is more important than it looks. The RadFems DO NOT speak for all women. This also confirms a trend I've been watching for five years or soFear and Mass Surveillance: Our Constitutionally Toxic Political Cocktail
The politicos want you scared and not asking questionsHouse Report Concluded Pakistanis Made ‘Unauthorized Access’ To Congressional Servers
So why isn't this make more headlines?I Propose the 48 Hour Trump / MSM News Rule
Why does this make too much sense?These Hospitals Are Sick of High Drug Prices. So They're Starting Their Own Nonprofit Drug Company
Competition worksMexican Cities Are Escaping Corruption and the Cartels through Secession
Now that is an interesting idea.Massive flu outbreak? Here’s the real story the media won’t touch. The lies, the hoax, the scandal.
“That would mean the flu vaccine has been ineffective for decades.”Bill Introduced to Stop Civil Forfeiture Funding of DEA Marijuana Eradication Program
“DEA's use of proceeds acquired through civil asset forfeiture to expand marijuana enforcement makes the already unacceptable practice even worse.”Monday roundup
Monday roundup
Trump to remove ‘climate change’ as a national security threat
It never was a threat. It was an excuse to divert money and resources to a religious cause. Yes, the climate alarmists are a religion. Right down to treating dissenters as heretics.Miami pulls the plug on its red light camera program
Too many cities have leveraged red light cameras into a revenue source and manipulated the light timing to maximize revenue.Donald Trump, Lying, and Eroding Social Trust
Good questions. Presidents and politicos lie, it's what they do. The problems is believing one flavor is better than the other.States Fight Calif. and Mass. over Meddlesome Livestock Law
Why should one state control how farming occurs in another?Navajo Nation sues Wells Fargo in fake-account scandal
“Vulnerable” needs some explaining. There are cultural assumptions that the Diné have that most of the U.S. doesn't. This puts them at a disadvantage when it comes to legal issues.‘Internet Service Providers Should Not Be Able To Decide What People Can See Online,’ Says Man Who Decides What People Can See Online
Mark Zuckerberg is a hypocrite.The #MeToo Movement Is Destroying Trust Between Men And Women
“Demonizing Men Undermines Both Sexes”Judicial Watch President: "Forget Mueller," The Real Question Is "Do We Need To Shut Down The FBI?"
The Bureau is compromised.Democrats Can Weaponize the Sexual Assault Allegations Against Trump
It won't work. Trump is better at this game than the press or his political opponents. He won't go quietly when allegations are in the air.Masterpiece Cakeshop: Are We Free To Disagree?
This nuance is important and often misreported in the media. Jack serves all customers; he does not want to be forced to create all messages.UN Security Council weighs resolution saying Jerusalem decisions are void
Yeah. The UN has no authority in the affairs between two nations or in the internal affairs of any nation. Nor does the US. Nor should they.CA Dems Proposing Spending $1 Billion Giving Health Care To Illegal Immigrants
As long as CA pays and not the rest of the country, I've no problem. But they will find a way to shift the costs, just watch.Trump administration forbids CDC officials from using 7 words and phrases
I'm torn on this one. On the one hand, I don't think the administration should be banning words. On the other hand, I've seen some of the nonsense coming out of the CDC in the last few years.Thursday roundup
Wenesday roundup
Former Dem Congresswoman Sentenced To Five Years In Prison On Corruption Charges
She used both her Congressional membership and a charity.This Company Will Bring Health Care To Your Door, On Demand
As Obamacare destroys the healthcare system, expect smart people finding ways to make it workThey Don't Give Any Advance Notice When They Change The Narrative
Scapegoating on a massive scaleFacebook’s Sheryl Sandberg warns of a “Me Too” backlash against women at work
The backlash is inevitable. The question is how hard and how long.Facebook Is Banning Women for Calling Men ‘Scum’
And the backlash begins…12 states ask Supreme Court to block California egg law
This is long past due. California likes to use it's size and power to meddle in the internal affairs of other states. Almost like they learned it from the Federal government.Judge Halts Indiana Town's Cruel Attempt to Fine Residents Out of their Properties
Not eminent domain, but almost as badMoore spokesman calls sex assault accusers ‘criminals’
I'm not surprised given Moore's history. The sex accusations without proof don't bother me. I'm seriously disturbed that a theocratic Republican with a history of ignoring court rulings is about to be elected to the United States Senate.Can States Compel You to Bake a Cake Against Your Will? The Supreme Court Will Decide.
Most of the pagans and progressives I know think this is a slam dunk. But they don't like it when I ask if that means that the states can force you to do things that violate your beliefs.Wednesday roundup
Tuesday roundup
Newspaper Publishers Want Congress to Bail Them Out of Bad Investments
Let them fail.Amazon Prime does more for northern food security than federal subsidies, say Iqaluit residents
This is working now, but Amazon may pull out.What happened when Walmart left
When the economy collapses, not even Walmart can save you.John McCain faces questions in Trump-Russia dossier case
John McCain can not be trusted.Once Again, NY Times Attempts to Create Trump/Russia Collusion Where There's No Evidence
The New York TImes pioneered fake news and they still do it better than anyone else.The U.S. Media’s Murky Coverage of Putin and TrumpIt seems the Russian press doesn't think the U.S. media is misreading what is happening.
Cash for Clunkers Was a Complete Failure
We suspected and now we know. Nothing government demands from a business won't impose greater costs on the customer.
Liberals target the Rust Belt: ‘Democrats should be able to win in all these places’
Not after writing them off for sixteen years they can't.
California Looking to Give Unions Private Workers' Phone Numbers, Addresses
Now you know who the legislators really work for.
Friday roundup
See if they do
Celebs who said they’d leave country if Trump won
Bryan Cranston. Samuel L. Jackson. Lena Dunham. Neve Campbell. Cher. Miley Cyrus. Ne-Yo. Amy Schumer. Chelsea Handler. Jon Stewart. Whoopi Goldberg. Keegan-Michael Key. George Lopez. Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Al Sharpton.Meanwhile, Shervin Pishevar wants to turn California into an independent country.
Now I am not noting this because I support Trump.
I don’t think these people have the character and honor to do what they say they will do.
Hollywood celebrities always freak out when a conservative is elected. Trump is no conservative, but they are after the publicity. They won’t leave the country, this is where they get paid.