Free Republic

...Primarily, the GPS Act would require that government agencies demonstrate probable cause and obtain a warrant before being allowed access to an individual’s geolocation information. It also defines exceptions for requiring a warrant, including in national emergencies (mirroring existing wiretapping law), the monitoring of children by their parents, and emergency calling systems (e.g., 9-1-1). The GPS Act is vitally important not only to protect 4th Amendment rights, but also to provide clear, consistent, and understandable standards for law enforcement and wireless carriers. Without it, the government will maintain its vague and near limitless authority over the wireless data of American...

...Tax brackets and other tax benefits are tied to the consumer price index (CPI). There are several ways to measure CPI, including a measurement which is less fast-paced than the CPI measurement used today. The idea is to use this alternative definition of CPI to slow down the inflation adjustments in the tax code. This would mean that tax bracket thresholds would grow more slowly. This would be a legislated tax change scored by the Joint Tax Committee as a net tax hike, and for good reason: it would change tax law, forcing people to pay more in taxes than...

World history is the progress of the consciousness of freedom. Stunning The New York Times has published a bitter, whining screed that has to be one of the most amazing pieces ever to appear in its pages. Written by a journalist, it is, in essence, a complaint with a purpose: it decries a politician’s view of the news media, and then does all it can to disqualify that politician as a candidate for public office. Just how goofy or extreme would a politician’s denunciation have to be to provoke a journalist into reacting that strongly? It seems reasonable to assume...

Third Resolution. First Branch Salaries. Minimum Age Requirement. Subsequent Office Eligibility. In Convention The clause in Resol. 3. [FN1] "to receive fixed stipends to be paid out of the Nationl. Treasury" [FN2] considered. Mr. ELSEWORTH, moved to substitute payment by the States out of their own Treasurys: observing that the manners of different States were very different in the Stile of living and in the profits accruing from the exercise of like talents. What would be deemed therefore a reasonable compensation in some States, in others would be very unpopular, and might impede the system of which it made a...

Update: As I stated earlier today (below), the Zogby poll I saw yesterday that did not include Palin popped up today and showed, SHOCK, that Bachmann “surges” into the lead. As I also pointed, this poll is 100% unscientific as anyone can sign up to participate in the poll and is not a “random” sample. It’s about as valid as a Bill O’Reilly internet poll. Previous leaders have included Herman Cain and Chris Christie. Michele Bachmann had 24% (yeeeaaah) ahead of Romney and Cain’s 15%. In what is starting to look like a trend, pollsters are now removing Sarah Palin...

...With August 2nd quickly approaching, negotiations on the debt ceiling are coming down to the wire. Senate Republicans face pressure from the left to make concessions on massive tax increases in return for promised spending cuts. The budget compromise fiascos of 1982 and 1990 are classic examples of what Congressional Republicans should strive to avoid. In both cases, spending cuts and tax increases were agreed upon, but the spending cuts never materialized. For this reason, all forms of tax increases should be off the table when it comes to confronting the government’s severe overspending problem. Read more: http://www.atr.org/senate-republicans-holding-firm-against-tax-a6264#ixzz1PwYYlMCj

Danger from States to National Government. Small v. Large States. Two Branch Legislature. Third Resolution. Popular Election of First Branch. Length of Terms. In Convention Mr. Jonathan Dayton from N. Jersey took his seat. [FN1] [FN3] Docr. JOHNSON. On a comparison of the two plans which had been proposed from Virginia & N. Jersey, it appeared that the peculiarity which characterized the latter was its being calculated to preserve the individuality of the States. The plan from Va. did not profess to destroy this individuality altogether, but was charged with such a tendency. One Gentleman alone (Col. Hamilton) in his...

This is the best montage piece I’ve seen in a long time, maybe evah! It’s the best way you’ll spend 9 minutes today. Enjoy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wJfsLafye4&feature=player_embedded

...O’DONNELL: “We actually just heard a conservative Republican say that we're going to fix the country, and some of that is gonna be through revenue increases, tax increases. Doesn't want to use the word ‘tax’ but that's what it is. We’ve got a Republican here talking about tax increases. Is this the first flicker of hope that the Republican tax cut fever might be fading?” ROBERT REICH: “Lawrence, I think that it is a big deal…We’ve got to be practical, we’ve got to be reasonable, we’ve got to deal with this budget deficit’. And maybe we are seeing the beginning...

The fact that every level of government taxes our income, consumption and property prompted John R. Smith to ask in the title of a recent BizPacReview post, “Why don’t they just tax our corpses?” Owning an automobile requires that we pay a sales tax, title and registration fees, annual registration fees, ad valorem taxes, state and federal gas taxes, and, if we want to avoid the “I-95 parking lot,” we pay a turnpike toll. Even if we don’t own an automobile, our taxes help pay for our neighbor’s hybrid car, and for the ethanol he pumps into it. Apparently, this...

First and Second Resolutions. Lansing Speech. State or National Supremacy. Mason Speech. Attributes of Federal v. Republican Governments. IN CONVENTION Mr. William Blount from N. Carolina took his seat. 1st. propos: [FN2] of the Report of Come. of the whole [FN3] before the House. Mr. ELSEWORTH 2ded. by Mr. GORHAM, moves to alter it so as to run "that the Government of the United States ought to consist of a supreme legislative, Executive and Judiciary." This alteration he said would drop the word national, and retain the proper title "the United States." He could not admit the doctrine that a...

Listen to the pledge of allegiance that runs alongside the patriotic images, and later to the one that overlays video of previous U.S. Open winners: (VIDEO)

Madison Speech. End of NJ/Patterson Plan. Randolph Plan as Amended. In Committee of the Whole On the Propositions of Mr. Patterson [FN1] The substitute offered yesterday by Mr. Dickenson being rejected by a vote now taken on it; Con. N. Y. N. J. Del. ay. [FN2] Mas. Pa. V. N. C. S. C. Geo. no. [FN3] Mayd. divided. Mr. PATTERSON's plan was again at large before the Committee. Mr. MADISON. Much stress had [FN4] been laid by some gentlemen on the want of power in the Convention to propose any other than a federal plan. To what had been answered...

IN COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE ON THE PROPOSITIONS OF Mr. PATTERSON & Mr. RANDOLPH On motion of Mr. DICKINSON to postpone the 1st. Resolution in Mr. Patterson's plan, in order to take up the following viz-"that the Articles of Confederation ought to be revised and amended, so as to render the Government of the U.S. adequate to the exigences, the preservation and the prosperity of the Union" the postponement was agreed to by 10 States, Pen: divided. Mr. HAMILTON, had been hitherto silent on the business before the Convention, partly from respect to others whose superior abilities age & experience...

The leadership at the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission interpreted the Dodd-Frank financial-overhaul law last July to mean that the SEC would secure funding to spend money however the SEC saw fit. This included signing a 900,000 square foot lease with no Program of Requirements in three days for an elegant, downtown Washington DC office building. Thankfully, the money to fund the 900,000 square foot lease was shot down in the Fiscal Year 2011 Budget that passed earlier this year. However, the SEC still jumped the gun back in July 2010 by signing the 900,000 square foot lease at the taxpayers...

Throughout the course of this year’s Louisiana budget debate, a storm has been brewing over how to resolve the state’s $1.2 billion overspending problem. At various points an internet sales tax, 194% tax hike on cigarettes, and restoring spending cuts were all floated as partial resolutions. Fortunately, Gov. Jindal’s pledge to “oppose and veto any and all efforts to raise taxes” has helped keep legislators focused on their primary task – reining in spending - with the exception of HB 591: a $12 million cigarette tax increase that Gov. Jindal promptly vetoed today. To override the governor’s veto, which hasn’t...

After a decade of experimenting with mandates, tax credits and tariffs, a national consensus has been reached that ethanol is just not worth it. Late to arrive at this conclusion are farmers, their Congressional representatives, and presidential candidates eager to win over primary voters—a coalition that has made it nearly impossible to begin unwinding the various policies designed to prop-up ethanol. The driving force behind U.S. ethanol consumption is the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), otherwise known as the ethanol mandate, which was established with the enactment of the Energy Policy Act of 2005.The RFS mandated that a minimum of 4...

Patterson Plan Debate. Lansing Speech. Federal v. National. Articles as Treaty. Comparison of Plans. Wilson Speech. IN COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE ON [FN1] RESOLUTIONS PROPOSD. BY MR. P. & MR. R Mr. LANSING called for the reading of the 1st. resolution of each plan, which he considered as involving principles directly in contrast; that of Mr. Patterson says he sustains the sovereignty of the respective States, that of Mr. Randolph distroys it: the latter requires a negative on all the laws of the particular States; the former, only certain general powers for the general good. The plan of Mr. R....

NJ/Patterson Plan. Imposts and Stamp Tax. Regulate Trade. Tax Requisitions. Force to Collect Taxes. Multiple Supreme Executives. Judicial Branch & Jurisdiction. Compel State Compliance. New States. [FN2]Mr. PATTERSON, laid before the Convention the plan which he said several of the deputations wished to be substituted in place of that proposed by Mr. Randolph. After some little discussion of the most proper mode of giving it a fair deliberation it was agreed that it should be referred to a Committee of the whole, and that in order to place the two plans in due comparison, the other should be recommitted. At...

Most are familiar with her story. In April of 2009, Susan Boyle’s audition for Britain’s Got Talent went viral. Nor is the modest Scottish singer from a wee village a one-hit wonder with two bestselling albums behind her now. The media, however, still hasn’t warmed to Boyle’s 2010 autobiography. One clue (page 13): When my mother arrived there in labour, the hillside was bright with golden daffodils and the sight of spring lifted her spirits for a moment. She was apprehensive. Having given birth to eight children over a period of twenty-three years, she had been advised not to have...