Archive for 2011

LIBYAN REBELS round up black Africans. “Unlike the Iraq invasion where Congress almost unanimously supported President Bush’ initiative, this military action was begun by Obama entirely on his own initiative. Remember that, because I’d be surprised if the media reminds anyone.”

UPDATE: Reader Ari Mendelson writes: “They told me that if voted for John McCain… there would be round ups of black people. And they were right!” Heh.

SO WE’RE SUPPOSED TO GET 5 or more inches of rain today. Bleh. Glad I dug out the downspout trenches a bit more this summer.

DAN MITCHELL: Are Tax Havens Moral or Immoral? “More than 99 percent of my time on this issue is consumed by the difficult task of trying to convince policy makers that tax competition, fiscal sovereignty, and financial privacy should be celebrated rather than persecuted. Sort of like convincing thieves that it’s a good idea for houses to have alarm systems. . . . As this video explains, there are billions of people around the world that are subject to state-sanctioned (or at least state-permitted) religious, ethnic, racial, political, sexual, and economic persecution. These people are especially likely to be targeted if they have any money, so the ability to invest their assets offshore and keep that information hidden from venal governments can, in some cases, be a life-or-death matter.”

SAYUNCLE:

Officer draws gun on woman and tells her to restrain her unleashed dog. While she’s grabbing for the dog, the officer opens fire on the dog. Way to be sure of your target! The officer shoots the dog. The officer then points the gun at her and her sister. And, to add insult to injury, tickets the woman for violating leash laws.

The latter being all that should have been done in the first place.

A common theme in these stories is that the victim is always identified. And no one identifies the officers involved. Name them and shame.

The press doesn’t need future cooperation from the victim. It does need future cooperation from the police. Thus, courtesies are extended. That’s another reason why citizen media are, in this respect, at least, less corrupt than the institutional press, which has made its go-along/get-along deals in numerous settings.

THE PROBLEMS WITH LAWS NAMED AFTER DEAD PEOPLE: “Murder victim’s mother blames ‘bath salts’ drugs for her daughter’s death. New Jersey rushes to pass a ban on bath salts, names law after victim. Now: Tests show accused killer had no bath salts in his system.”