Free Republic

A juror was dismissed Monday after reporting that a woman dropped a bag of $120,000 in cash at her home and offered her more money if she would vote to acquit seven people charged with stealing more than $40 million from a program meant to feed children during the pandemic. These seven are the first of 70 defendants expected to go to trial in a conspiracy that cost taxpayers $250 million. Eighteen others have pleaded guilty, and authorities said they recovered about $50 million in one of the nation’s largest pandemic-related fraud cases. Prosecutors say just a fraction of the...

While flying around on private jets emits more greenhouse gases than traveling by any other means, Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry defends the practice for himself and his fellow millionaires. "We are the planet's last hope for averting climate catastrophe," he argued. "There are so few of us heroes that the extra pollution we cause is tiny when compared with the massive amounts generated by ordinary people in their everyday travel for work or pleasure." "With time swiftly running out for our planet it is essential that we use the fastest available methods for getting to our far...

White House press secretary Jen Psaki struggled to explain why President Joe Biden’s administration was considering putting up migrants in hotel rooms. Psaki did not dispute reports that the Biden administration awarded a Texas-based nonprofit $86 million to provide hotel rooms for six months for approximately 1,200 families who cross the southern border. AD Newsmax reporter Emerald Robinson questioned Psaki on why the Biden administration would provide hotel rooms, food, and shelter for migrants even as American national guard troops were forced to sleep on the floor when they protected Capitol Hill. “That’s a disparity a lot of people are...

Sometimes, government programs, subsidies and entitlements need no embellishment. In 2008, TracFone Wireless of Miami began distributing free cell phones to people who get food stamps, welfare or other government assistance. Recipients of the free cell phones are allowed to earn up to 150 percent of the federal poverty level, or no more than $33,075 a year for a family of four. The phones provide 68 free minutes a month and, in the words of The Philadelphia Inquirer, "they're paid for, in part, by charges on phone bills that the federal government allows carriers to levy." The free cells are...

Advertising often results in overspending and over-consumption by creating artificially induced needs. The usual catch phrases are "New", "An exclusive offer", "Everyone has one of these", and/or "You deserve the best." Other fallacious "Protect your children with ..." not to mention lastly "Want to know what women really like?" manipulate the minds of targeted groups and raise/lower self esteem to encourage people to purchase their products.

Former ACORN bigwig Dale Rathke racked up a $157,000 American Express bill that he couldn't repay around the time he was caught embezzling from the group founded by his brother Wade, The Post has learned. Rathke was a big spender with multiple credit cards who rang up purchases at luxury shops, traveled by limo and frequented five-star hotels and restaurants, court papers show. American Express filed a claim against Rathke in 2003 in Louisiana civil district court. Among the court papers is a partial credit history that indicates Rathke had several different cards from different companies. He used them to...

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Untouchable or expendable? Most still shell out for Internet -- but not posh purses Thursday, February 19, 2009 3:25 AM By Margaret Harding THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Hard times, choices In tough times, consumers are willing to chop some expenses, but not others, according to a survey by BIGresearch. A look at what people said they had to have or were willing to give up, and the percentage of those surveyed who said so: Must-haves Internet service: 80.9 percent Cell-phone service: 64.1 percent Basic cable/satellite: 60.5 percent Discount apparel: 43 percent Haircuts, colors: 40 percent Expendables Luxury handbags: 92.2 percent Satellite...