http://www.ocregister.com/articles/amazon-306409-affiliate-california.html

Published: June 29, 2011
Updated: June 30, 2011 5:00 a.m.
Amazon ends deal with 25,000 California websites
Jan Norman Orange County Register

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Gov. Jerry Brown has signed into law California’s tax on Internet sales through affiliate advertising which will immediately cut small-business website revenue 20% to 30%, experts say.

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Board of Equalization Member George Runner blasted Brown for signing the law. “Even as Governor Jerry Brown lifted his pen to sign this legislation, thousands of affiliates across California were losing their jobs. The so-called ‘Amazon tax’ is truly a lose-lose proposition for California. Not only won’t we see the promised revenues, we’ll actually lose income tax revenue as affiliates move to other states.”

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Corelation?

Nah, how could there be. Aren’t “We, The Sheeple” stupid?

Like when MD taxed “millionaires” and the next year there were ⅓ less millionaires around to be taxed.

Now you might say “counterproductive”. I’d say “educational”.

Like stereotypical drug addicts, politicians are addicted to “spending other people’s money”. They feather their nests admirably during their time as “public servants”. Do you feel “serviced”? Like the stallion put out to stud and the taxpayers the mare getting <past tense synonym for the act of procreation>!

Now, think about the crooks in DC, who need trillions, and lo and behold what does their wandering doth see? But all your IRAs and 401Ks just ripe for the plucking. (Or are we back to the stallion and the mare again?) All they have to do is pass a diktat and strong arm about 2200 “custodians”.

With that be the last straw?

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http://www.downsizedcfoundation.org/fda.html

How the FDA helped kill my Dad
A case study in government harm
by Jim Babka

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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has a noble purpose — to protect you from dubious drug claims and toxicity. Most government programs are created for high-minded or compassionate reasons.

But the FDA probably kills more people than it saves.

*** end quote ***

I wouldn’t say “probably”.

I wonder personally how, if the FDA had it’s head out of its collective <synonym for donkey>, then perhaps a drug or treatment might have been available to save her.

I have no details. No specifics. But, just a lingering nagging doubt that if the politicians and bureaucrats were not “helping” or “protecting” me and mine.

Just imagine all the good that could be done if all the expense of unnecessary overhead was wrung out of the process and put to better use.

Imagine “Consumers’ Reports” for medicine?

I’d subscribe!

And, what about all these “charities” that seek to cure stuff but never go out of business. The March of Dimes cured polio and then shifted on to “birth defects”. And United Way pays their CEO millions; how much does the Salvation Army pay its troops?

Sorry, but we could be better served by “simplifying” the Gooferment out of all these processes.

imho

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http://www.rollcall.com/news/weiner_pension_benefits_million-206582-1.html

Weiner’s Pension, Benefits Could Top $1 Million

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Are you kidding me? That’s what’s wrong with this whole scheme to defraud the taxpayer.

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http://www.lifenews.com/2011/06/01/new-zealand-court-unborn-children-have-no-right-to-life

New Zealand Court: Unborn Children Have No Right to Life
by Steven Ertelt | Washington, DC | LifeNews.com | 6/1/11 6:00 PM

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The New Zealand Court of Appeal has issued a legal decision saying unborn children have no legal rights under the laws in the Pacific island nation. It also ruled on whether the Abortion Supervisory Committee was improperly approving abortions on mental health grounds.

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“Rights”?

When do you get “your rights”?

The NZ Court seems to feel that when they say you can have them.

There’s another school of thought that says when you can pick up a gun and defend them.

It’s when one of two sides of a conflict have enough power to hurt the other side badly enough, then we have a concession. Enough of those and we have a general acceptance of mutually agree rights.

So, when do you get yours?

And, when do the politicians and bureaucrats agreed to leave you alone?

… when there are enough people in the streets willing to kill and die for the issue.

So what IS that issue that will reverse the Gooferment as the new uncrowned King of all life?

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http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/05/28/2333197/church-fined-for-improper-tree.html

Albemarle Road church fined $100 per branch for excessive tree pruning
By Brittany Penland Correspondent
Posted: Saturday, May. 28, 2011

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Every two to three years, Eddie Sales trims and prunes the crape myrtles at his church, Albemarle Road Presbyterian Church.

But this year, the city of Charlotte cited the church for improperly pruning its trees.

*** and ***

“The purpose of the tree ordinance is to protect trees,” Johnson said. “Charlotte has always been known as the city of trees. When we take down trees, we need to replace these trees.”

Individuals who would like to trim their trees should call the city foresters to receive a free permit to conduct the landscape work.

Foresters will then meet with the person receiving the permit and give instructions on how to properly trim their trees, Johnson said.

The state Division of Forestry recommends that anyone trimming trees should be certified by the National Horticulture Board, but certification is not required to receive a permit.

On private property, fine amounts are based on the size of the tree improperly pruned. For small trees such as cherry trees or crape myrtles, the fine is $75 per tree. Excessive cutting can increase that fine to $100 per branch.

For large trees such as oaks or maples, the fine is $150 per tree.

Because there is a widespread lack of understanding on how to prune crape myrtles in the Charlotte area, Johnson said, residents found in violation regarding these trees are asked to simply replace them, and the fine will be lifted.

*** end quote ***

Guess down in North Carolina, they never heard of the First, Fourth, and Fifth Amendments. Popularly, know as Freedom of Religion, Freedom from Harassment, and Freedom from Takings.

I know what needs “pruning” in Charlotte — Gooferment.

You have to be kidding me!

Argh!

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http://www.lewrockwell.com/blog/lewrw/archives/88179.html

0.14468 oz of silver

$5.06

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http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2011/04/with-passwords-broken-us-rolls-out-internet-identity-plan.ars

With passwords “broken,” US rolls out Internet identity plan
By Nate Anderson

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NIST hopes to arrive at privacy standards that will give Internet users confidence in using such credentials, to clarify the liability that credentials providers will face should someone still manage to steal your identity, and to issue a “trustmark” that accredits participating credential providers and websites.

Public meetings on NSTIC begin in June, and NIST hopes to be funding pilot projects by 2012. Still, ordinary Internet users won’t be able to use the system for three to five years.

*** end quote ***

The Gooferment did so well with the Social Security Number, I think they should just leave everyone the hell alone.

What’s next tattoo everyone?

Kick the ISPs! They are being paid to provide access. Credit cards! That sounds like a reliable identity to me.

Argh!

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Identity Fraud would be impossible with out the Gooferment’s lame “social security number”. Argh! Everything is so predictable!

http://arstechnica.com/security/news/2011/04/texas-exposes-addresses-ssns-of-35-million-residents.ars

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And now, a large group of Texans are about to have it a lot worse:the state revealed Monday that personal information for 3.5 million citizens has been exposed to the public, including names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and more.

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http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/sc-dc-0330-court-prosecutors-20110329,0,4120668.story

Supreme Court rejects damages for innocent man who spent 14 years on death row
By David G. Savage, Washington Bureau
March 29, 2011, 3:14 p.m.

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WASHINGTON – A bitterly divided Supreme Court tossed out a jury verdict Tuesday won by a New Orleans man who spent 14 years on Death Row and came within weeks of execution because prosecutors had hidden a blood test and other evidence that would have proven his innocence.

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The essence is that, without a pattern of mistakes, one mistake is OK. IMHO even one mistake is TOO much. Where the death penalty is involved. Where the prosecutors are guilty. Goes back to my oft stated objection to Gooferment, you expect justice from the Gooferment’s courts where the Gooferment is one of the adversaries? It can’t happen.

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http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/crime/os-illegal-barbering-arrests-20101107,0,2783682.story

Criminal barbering? Raids at Orange County shops lead to arrests, raise questions
By Jeff Weiner, Orlando Sentinel
November 7 2010

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As many as 14 armed Orange County deputies, including narcotics agents, stormed Strictly Skillz barbershop during business hours on a Saturday in August, handcuffing barbers in front of customers during a busy back-to-school weekend.

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What a complete waste of time, money, and attention!

It’s an example of racist licensing laws.

Why do we need the Gooferment to insert itself in the “hair biz”?

Don’t you think that the free market can handle that?

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Please read this one. Priceless!!!

http://www.lewrockwell.com/crovelli/crovelli50.1.html

Anarchy vs. Barney Fife by Mark R. Crovelli

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If our lives and fortunes were indeed dependent upon protection from a handful of people swaddled in hideous blue polyester, mankind would have long ago lost them. If human nature were truly as depraved as these arguments would have us believe, then the chubby blue line would long ago have been annihilated by its vastly numerically superior criminal adversaries. No “criminal” worth the name would be deterred from committing his favored atrocities by a small group of lightly-armed fat people, whose national reputation is tied inextricably to the donut. To even suggest that this 300 million-strong horde of savage, would-be criminals are kept at bay only by some irrational fear of blue polyester is so asinine that it makes the flat-Earthers look like geniuses by comparison.

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Emphasis mine; think it’s a great zinger.

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http://reason.com/blog/2010/10/04/limits-of-libertarianism-hypot

Limits-of-Libertarianism Hypothetical Brought to Life in Tennessee
Katherine Mangu-Ward | October 4, 2010

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Obion County resident Gene Cranick decided not to pay the $75 fee, and then he set a fire in his backyard in two large barrels. The fire began to spread, and he called 911. The 911 operator told him that because he hadn’t paid the fee, the fire department would not respond. Cranick’s wife told the 911 operator that she would be willing to pay “whatever the cost” to hire the Fire Department to put out the fire, but was told that this was not an option. The Fire Department did not come out until the fire spread to a neighbor’s yard — the neighbor had paid the fee — and the firemen put out the neighbor’s fire but not Cranick’s.

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Did he have fire insurance on his house? If he did, I bet his insurance company lawyers are hard at work reviewing their policy language.

Note Gooferment fire department; does Sears refuse to service folks who don’t buy their service plans? Of course not!

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http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=210789

Social Security example of government rigor mortis
Posted: October 02, 2010
Star Parker

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Social Security passed in 1935. Although there have been changes in the way of tax increases and expansions of the program, Social Security is essentially the same system as was passed 75 years ago.

*** and ***

Americans are retiring earlier and living longer. In 1950, the median male retirement age and male life expectancy were about the same – 66. By 2005, the median retirement age for men was under 62 and the median male life expectancy was over 75.

*** and ***

And the promise we get from our leaders is that they will save and preserve a system that was conceived 120 years ago and enacted here 75 years ago. This is leadership?

Not only is our Social Security system unsuited to our times, it is bankrupt. It went into a deficit situation this year and its overall unfunded liabilities – the total amount promised less the total amount for which there is funding – is almost $20 trillion.

*** end quote ***

Clearly “Social Security Insurance”, which is NOT Social, NOT Security, NOT insurance, is an meme that no longer fits. If it ever did! The stated public purpose was “welfare” when the public was scared by the Great Depression; the unstated private purpose was to amass political power. It basically setup many if, not all, of the problems that we are facing today. Bu allowing the Gooferment to raid the “mythical lockbox”.

Argh!

How can you “insure” against old age?

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http://www.vtcommons.org/blog/2010/08/04/wondering-about-obamas-diplomats

WONDERING about Obama’s diplomats…
Submitted by jcbrook on Wed, 08/04/2010 – 10:39pm.

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http://www.stripes.com/news/middle-east/iraq/state-dept-planning-to-field-a-small-army-in-iraq-1.111839

State Dept. planning to field a small army in Iraq [EXCERPTS]

WASHINGTON — Can diplomats field their own army? The State Department is laying plans to do precisely that in Iraq, in an unprecedented experiment that U.S. officials and some nervous lawmakers say could be risky….

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I don’t think this is what Old George (Washington) meant by a “humble foreign” policy. Could be wrong about it, but aren’t ambassadors supposed to carry portfolios, not m16s?

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http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/07/24/iowa.dam.breach/index.html?hpt=T2

Dam fails in eastern Iowa, causing massive flooding
By the CNN Wire Staff
July 24, 2010 7:15 p.m. EDT

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Culver told CNN that nearly 10 inches of rain had recently fallen in a 12-hour period in the area and was “too much water for the dam to hold.”

*** and ***

The governor said such a failure had never happened before.

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Geee, what a great insight. The Gooferment shouldn’t be in the dam building business. The Gooferment shouldn’t be in any business!

Now, us little L libertarians realize that we are going to have to be creative. But someone should OWN the river. Maybe, it’s a corporation whose stock holders are everyone who has a deed for river front property? Then, they’d have a motivation to protect the river and protect people from it.

Clearly the current method doesn’t work.

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http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/family/articles/2010/07/18/years_and_marriages_later_former_spouses_still_owe_alimony

   * Home /
   * Lifestyle /
   * Family issues

The Boston Globe
Years and marriages later, they still pay
By Bella English
Globe Staff / July 18, 2010

*** begin quote ***

*** end quote ***

They have several examples of the law’s disastrous effects. Unfair and unjust enrichments. Subsidizing a past spouse’s idleness. And, just crazy randomness.

But why should we be surprised? The Gooferment’s one-size fits all solution that is cast in stone sooner or later is absurd.

(Wonder if those “gay marriages” will get the same treatment?)

Of course, little L libertarians don’t think the Gooferment should be in the “marriage business”. It used racist emotions to get into the business. Expanded it with the WW2 wage and price control “benefits” exception. And used the income tax code to “promote families”.

Argh!

No way that the Gooferment should be picking winners and losers in failed marriages. Partnership law, prenus, postnups, and contract law should be used. Not open ended judicial fiat.

Argh!

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http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/signs-stimulus/story?id=11163180

Signs of the Stimulus
Some Call it Transparency, Others Another Example of Government Waste
By JONATHAN KARL and GREGORY SIMMONS
July 14, 2010

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As the midterm election season approaches, new road signs are popping up everywhere – millions of dollars worth of signs touting “The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act” and reminding passers-by that the program is “Putting America Back to Work.”

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So why are we surprised that the politicians and bureaucrats waste our money?

Every time I see one of those signs, I think: “Now where is the broken window?” What worthwhile project has been crowded out by this boondoggle. It could have been the cure for cancer or as something as a toy that gives joy to a child or as nice as some taxpayer taking his family to the beach today or as trivial as buying oneself and extra slice of pizza.

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The parable of the broken window was created by Frédéric Bastiat in his 1850 essay Ce qu’on voit et ce qu’on ne voit pas (That Which Is Seen and That Which Is Unseen) to illuminate the notion of hidden costs associated with destroying property of others.

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