Free Republic

"“Special Privilege” Muslim Truck Drivers Win Lawsuit After Refusing To Deliver “Demon Alcohol,” Do Their Jobs" Over-the-road company truck drivers aren’t generally allowed to select their loads by any national carrier. They are sent a dispatch, expected to accept it and go pick it up. That’s the understanding when you’re hired, the rules the industry operates under and what is expected of employees. If more consistency in runs or commodity type is needed, local delivery jobs, cement, produce, building materials or the like, perhaps beer or soda, offer an alternative. That’s the system unless you’re an entitled, argumentative, self-aggrandized Muslim...

[This article was e-mailed to me by a fellow Catholic who wanted help refuting it from a Catholic social justice perspective. IOW, not just "Aw, Ezra Klein is a WaPo Socialist", but a real analysis of the legitimacy (if any) and limits of collective bargaining in the public sector, Have a look at it, and at my few comments below. Looking to y'all for some enlightening discussion. You've probably heard politicians fret that state governments - or, worse, the federal government - will default on their debts. House Speaker John A. Boehner called the prospect of a federal default "a...

The most persuasive argument for legalizing pot might just be a dollar sign. California's pot crop is worth $14 billion, according to a state report. The Press Democrat points out that crushes the wine crop which comes in at $2 billion. Legalization would be a huge shot in the arm for plenty of ancillary industries, such as banking and construction.

Dozens of US cities may have entire neighbourhoods bulldozed as part of drastic "shrink to survive" proposals being considered by the Obama administration to tackle economic decline. The government looking at expanding a pioneering scheme in Flint, one of the poorest US cities, which involves razing entire districts and returning the land to nature. Local politicians believe the city must contract by as much as 40 per cent, concentrating the dwindling population and local services into a more viable area. The radical experiment is the brainchild of Dan Kildee, treasurer of Genesee County, which includes Flint. Having outlined his strategy...

A Michigan congressman is defending the U.S. auto industry against calls for increased fuel efficiency by criticizing a famous foe of global warming: California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Republican Rep. Joe Knollenberg's re-election campaign placed a billboard along a busy interstate in Detroit that reads, "Arnold to Michigan: Drop Dead!" It shows a grim-looking picture of the actor-turned-politician and draws attention to Knollenberg's Web site. "Michigan and the Big Three are being unfairly bullied by politicians who have no understanding of auto manufacturing," Knollenberg said Thursday in a statement. Knollenberg said he "picked on Schwarzenegger because he's a perfect symbol of...

OAKLAND -- A federal study now under way finds the cost of building the new Bay Bridge -- specifically the signature 525-foot suspension tower -- could explode again, this time by almost half a billion dollars. Almost ten years ago, Caltrans estimated it would cost $1.3 billion dollars to replace the eastern span of the Bay Bridge. Five years ago, the state said it would in fact cost almost twice that much -- $2.5 billion -- for a new bridge. Last year, Caltrans had still another projected cost: almost $5.3 billion dollars. Wednesday night, Caltrans spokesman Jeff Weiss acknowledged the...

Here is a story you’re unlikely to read in the spate of press attacks on Wal-Mart these days: When Hartford, Connecticut, tore down a blighted housing project, city officials hatched an innovative plan to redevelop the land: lure Wal-Mart there, entice other retailers with the promise of being near the discount giant, and then use the development’s revenues to build new housing. Wal-Mart, after some convincing, agreed, and city officials and neighborhood residents celebrated a big win — better shopping, more jobs, and new housing in one of America’s poorest cities. But then, out of nowhere, outsiders claiming to represent...