“If legal adults were treated like American teenagers, that government would be considered one of the most oppressive on Earth.”
Read more: http://www.thedailybell.com/news-analysis/teenage-dystopia-the-cycle-of-oppression-and-resistance/
“The next election season, already well underway here, will showcase a younger generation of Democrats that is more liberal and personally invested in standing up to President Donald Trump’s Washington than those leaving office. That means staking out the most liberal stance on issues such as single-payer health care in California, a highly expensive initiative that failed in the legislature last year. The push is in response to the uncertainty surrounding health-care revisions in Washington, but it is estimated to cost twice the state’s annual budget.”
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/California-Democrat-s-blueprint-for-the-election-12550853.php
“The First Circuit Court affirmed last week without a doubt that government promises aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on.”
“The FISA court has always done a dismal job of overseeing the vast surveillance regime it helped spawn. FISA provided a stamp of legitimacy for perpetual deceit and perhaps the worst trampling of constitutional rights in American history. Regardless of the outcome of the current brawl, Washington must radically decrease secret surveillance of the American people.”
“Out of the 351 cases in which the Innocence Project used DNA to exonerate wrongfully convicted defendants, flawed forensic evidence contributed in nearly half. Many Americans, especially those who think shows like Forensic Files and CSI accurately represent real life, believe that forensic evidence presented in criminal trials must be valid. But we have known for years that many forensic evidence techniques are highly subjective and unreliable.”
Read more: https://fee.org/articles/imagine-being-locked-up-in-prison-because-of-bad-forensics/
“S.B. 315 would criminalize simply accessing a computer, app, or website contrary to how the service provider tells you, even if you never cause or intend to cause harm. A violation under S.B. 315 would be classified as ‘a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature,’ punishable by up to $5,000 and 12 months in jail.”
Read more: https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/02/georgia-must-block-flawed-computer-crime-bill
“When it comes to repair, farmers have always been self reliant. But the modernization of tractors and other farm equipment over the past few decades has left most farmers in the dust thanks to diagnostic software that large manufacturers hold a monopoly over. In this episode of State of Repair, Motherboard goes to Nebraska to talk to the farmers and mechanics who are fighting large manufacturers like John Deere for the right to access the diagnostic software they need to repair their tractors.”
“In what many will see as the latest sign of investor euphoria — and of our society’s oversharing epidemic — sharing your 401(k) balance on social media seems to have become a thing. With the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 index hitting record after record since President Trump’s election in November 2016, the question, ‘How’s your 401(k) doing?’ has become a staple in his speeches at campaign-style rallies and fundraisers. And 401(k) balance shoutouts have become a staple among his supporters — and detractors — on Twitter.”
“The Counter Terrorism and Illicit Finance Act would require corporations and limited liability companies with fewer than 20 employees to file a form with the Treasury Department at the time of formation, and update it annually, listing the names of all beneficial owners and individuals exercising control. This proposal carries with it a criminal penalty of up to three years in prison. Given the substantial penalties, this will impose a massive regulatory tax on small businesses as they spend money on lawyers that should go toward workers’ pay.”
Read more: http://thehill.com/opinion/finance/371049-the-beneficial-ownership-proposition-undermines-tax-reform
“The Foreign Ministry statement warns Russian citizens that when abroad they face a serious threat of arrest by other countries at Washington’s request, after which they could be extradited to the United States. The statement, published on Thursday, also warns Russian citizens that upon extradition they will face biased treatment at the hands of the U.S. justice system. The U.S. State Department declined to comment.”