Sunday, January 13, 2013
Obama faces 'limited' options on executive action on gun violence
Obama faces 'limited' options on executive action on gun violence - The Hill
"His options are limited," Adam Winkler, constitutional scholar at the UCLA School of Law, said by phone Friday.
"He can seek to better enforce existing federal law, but he can't act contrary to existing federal law."
Winkler and others say Obama can install changes like new importation limits on weapons, tougher law-enforcement policies and greater cooperation between federal agencies sharing criminal and mental-health records – all without Congress's blessing.
.....Much of the focus seems to be on efforts to strengthen the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), an FBI database through which licensed gun dealers are required to screen potential buyers before selling weapons.
Under federal law, felons, illegal immigrants, drug abusers, spousal abusers and the severely mentally ill may not buy or own firearms.
But the system is riddled with holes, as many states – and even federal agencies – have declined to share records with NICS.
Indeed, an examination of 60 federal agencies in October 2011 revealed that only eight had shared mental-health records with NICS, while only three had submitted drug-abuse records, according to FBI data provided to Mayors Against Illegal Guns, an advocacy group.
Among the agencies that had not shared any records on substance abusers was the Drug Enforcement Administration.
"His options are limited," Adam Winkler, constitutional scholar at the UCLA School of Law, said by phone Friday.
"He can seek to better enforce existing federal law, but he can't act contrary to existing federal law."
Winkler and others say Obama can install changes like new importation limits on weapons, tougher law-enforcement policies and greater cooperation between federal agencies sharing criminal and mental-health records – all without Congress's blessing.
.....Much of the focus seems to be on efforts to strengthen the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), an FBI database through which licensed gun dealers are required to screen potential buyers before selling weapons.
Under federal law, felons, illegal immigrants, drug abusers, spousal abusers and the severely mentally ill may not buy or own firearms.
But the system is riddled with holes, as many states – and even federal agencies – have declined to share records with NICS.
Indeed, an examination of 60 federal agencies in October 2011 revealed that only eight had shared mental-health records with NICS, while only three had submitted drug-abuse records, according to FBI data provided to Mayors Against Illegal Guns, an advocacy group.
Among the agencies that had not shared any records on substance abusers was the Drug Enforcement Administration.
James M. Buchanan | Fellows | Cato Institute
James M. Buchanan | Fellows | Cato Institute
Buchanan and Tullock’s 1962book, The Calculus of Consent, aggressively questionedthis scenario: why do we assume that because a government acts, itnecessarily solves a given problem?
Don’t public as well as privateactors pursue their self-interest?
For his work in Public Choice economics, Buchanan received theNobel Prize in 1986
Buchanan and Tullock’s 1962book, The Calculus of Consent, aggressively questionedthis scenario: why do we assume that because a government acts, itnecessarily solves a given problem?
Don’t public as well as privateactors pursue their self-interest?
For his work in Public Choice economics, Buchanan received theNobel Prize in 1986
Patient Prescription Drug Records May be Used to Deny Americans their Constitutional Rights
Patient Prescription Drug Records May be Used to Deny Americans their Constitutional Rights
All Americans who have been prescribed psychiatric medications could be denied their constitutional rights under gun control legislation expected to be introduced into the U.S. Senate on January 22nd.
Although the actual text of the bill is not yet available to the public, the heavy emphasis on “mental health” in recent gun control discussions echoes the present-day denial of Second Amendment rights to veterans diagnosed with PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder).
In an effort to deny gun ownership “privileges” to as many Americans as possible, Sen. Feinstein and other proponents of total citizen disarmament could simply expand the definition of those deemed “mentally unfit” for gun purchases to include anyone who has ever been prescribed an antidepressant or a drug for ADHD.
I give credit for this realization to Jon Rappoport, editor of No More Fake News.
In a phone conversation yesterday evening, he brought this to my attention, even describing psychiatrists as “the new cops” who get to determine whether you have any rights at all.
Conducting further research on the subject, I found that a national database of prescription drug users already exists. It was created by the National All Schedules Prescription Electronic Reporting Act (NASPER) signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2005.
All Americans who have been prescribed psychiatric medications could be denied their constitutional rights under gun control legislation expected to be introduced into the U.S. Senate on January 22nd.
Although the actual text of the bill is not yet available to the public, the heavy emphasis on “mental health” in recent gun control discussions echoes the present-day denial of Second Amendment rights to veterans diagnosed with PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder).
In an effort to deny gun ownership “privileges” to as many Americans as possible, Sen. Feinstein and other proponents of total citizen disarmament could simply expand the definition of those deemed “mentally unfit” for gun purchases to include anyone who has ever been prescribed an antidepressant or a drug for ADHD.
I give credit for this realization to Jon Rappoport, editor of No More Fake News.
In a phone conversation yesterday evening, he brought this to my attention, even describing psychiatrists as “the new cops” who get to determine whether you have any rights at all.
Conducting further research on the subject, I found that a national database of prescription drug users already exists. It was created by the National All Schedules Prescription Electronic Reporting Act (NASPER) signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2005.
Saturday, January 12, 2013
The Public Employee Union Problem
The Public Employee Union Problem [Michigan Capitol Confidential]
Politicians granting unsustainable government employee salaries, benefits and pensions is a problem everywhere, but the states with the strongest public-sector unions will have the hardest time correcting it. More broadly, as long as these incestuous relationships between government unions and the political class remain in place and unchallenged, the size and scope of government will continue to grow.
Politicians granting unsustainable government employee salaries, benefits and pensions is a problem everywhere, but the states with the strongest public-sector unions will have the hardest time correcting it. More broadly, as long as these incestuous relationships between government unions and the political class remain in place and unchallenged, the size and scope of government will continue to grow.
Eliminate armed guards for the President, Vice-President, and their families, and establish Gun Free Zones around them
Gun Free Zones are supposed to protect our children, and some politicians wish to strip us of our right to keep and bear arms.
Those same politicians and their families are currently under the protection of armed Secret Service agents.
If Gun Free Zones are sufficient protection for our children, then Gun Free Zones should be good enough for politicians.
Those same politicians and their families are currently under the protection of armed Secret Service agents.
If Gun Free Zones are sufficient protection for our children, then Gun Free Zones should be good enough for politicians.
The Right-to-Freeload myth
Sherk: The Right-to-Freeload myth | www.michiganview.com | The Michigan View
"The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they are ignorant," President Reagan once quipped, "but that they know so much that isn't so."
He could have been talking about the opposition to right-to-work legislation proposed in Michigan.
The chief argument against right-to-work laws is factually incorrect.
Although most union members do not know it, the law does not require their union to negotiate on behalf of non-members.
"The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they are ignorant," President Reagan once quipped, "but that they know so much that isn't so."
He could have been talking about the opposition to right-to-work legislation proposed in Michigan.
The chief argument against right-to-work laws is factually incorrect.
Although most union members do not know it, the law does not require their union to negotiate on behalf of non-members.
Hostess sells Wonder bread and five other brands to Tastykakes baker for $390m with new Twinkies owner expected in a matter of weeks
Hostess sells Wonder bread and five other brands to Tastykakes baker for $390m with new Twinkies owner expected in a matter of weeks | Mail Online
The company's demise came after years of management turmoil and turnover, with workers saying the company failed to invest its brands.
Hostess filed for its second Chapter 11 bankruptcy in less than a decade this January, citing costs associated with its unionized workforce.
The company's demise came after years of management turmoil and turnover, with workers saying the company failed to invest its brands.
Hostess filed for its second Chapter 11 bankruptcy in less than a decade this January, citing costs associated with its unionized workforce.
It had about 18,500 employees when it announced that it was shutting down after it was unable to reach a deal on a new contract with striking workers.
SkyDaddy Bloomberg Takes a liking to Playing Deity UPDATED
SkyDaddy Bloomberg Takes a liking to Playing Deity UPDATED
Yesterday, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and city officials unveiled a new initiative to limit supplies of prescription painkillers in the city’s emergency rooms as a way to combat what they described as a growing addiction problem in the region.
Some critics, as documented by The New York Times, however, felt the move would unnecessarily hurt poor and uninsured patients who use emergency rooms as their primary care doctor.
Needless to say, Mr. Bloomberg was not swayed by this line of argument.
“The city hospitals we control, so … we’re going to do it and we’re urging all of the other hospitals to do it, voluntary guidelines.
Somebody said, oh, somebody wrote, ‘Oh then maybe there won’t be enough painkillers for the poor who use the emergency rooms as their primary care doctor,’” the mayor said on his weekly radio show with John Gambling.
“Number one, there’s no evidence of that.
Number two, supposing it is really true, so you didn’t get enough painkillers and you did have to suffer a little bit.
The other side of the coin is people are dying and there’s nothing perfect …
There’s nothing that you can possibly do where somebody isn’t going to suffer, and it’s always the same group [claiming], ‘Everybody is heartless.’ Come on, this is a very big problem.”
In the same interview, Mr. Bloomberg stressed the initiative’s simple rationale is to prevent extra pills from piling up in the cabinets of New Yorkers who no longer need them, where they can pose a health risk if they’re abused.
Yesterday, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and city officials unveiled a new initiative to limit supplies of prescription painkillers in the city’s emergency rooms as a way to combat what they described as a growing addiction problem in the region.
Some critics, as documented by The New York Times, however, felt the move would unnecessarily hurt poor and uninsured patients who use emergency rooms as their primary care doctor.
Needless to say, Mr. Bloomberg was not swayed by this line of argument.
“The city hospitals we control, so … we’re going to do it and we’re urging all of the other hospitals to do it, voluntary guidelines.
Somebody said, oh, somebody wrote, ‘Oh then maybe there won’t be enough painkillers for the poor who use the emergency rooms as their primary care doctor,’” the mayor said on his weekly radio show with John Gambling.
“Number one, there’s no evidence of that.
Number two, supposing it is really true, so you didn’t get enough painkillers and you did have to suffer a little bit.
The other side of the coin is people are dying and there’s nothing perfect …
There’s nothing that you can possibly do where somebody isn’t going to suffer, and it’s always the same group [claiming], ‘Everybody is heartless.’ Come on, this is a very big problem.”
In the same interview, Mr. Bloomberg stressed the initiative’s simple rationale is to prevent extra pills from piling up in the cabinets of New Yorkers who no longer need them, where they can pose a health risk if they’re abused.
Inside the new climate row as Mystic Met Office goes cool on warming
Inside the new climate row as Mystic Met Office goes cool on warming • The Register:
If it holds true, then global temperatures will have experienced a 20-year standstill, with no statistically significant warming.
The Met didn't predict, as the BBC erroneously reported, a 0.43C increase in global temperature over the next five years........
"By putting out the information on Christmas Eve they were just burying bad news – that they have got their climate change forecast wrong," said Stringer.
The Met didn't predict, as the BBC erroneously reported, a 0.43C increase in global temperature over the next five years........
"By putting out the information on Christmas Eve they were just burying bad news – that they have got their climate change forecast wrong," said Stringer.
A twenty year period without statistically significant warming doesn't falsify the theory that manmade industrial emissions are the key driver in climate change - the oceans may be storing energy that isn't yet manifest in higher atmospheric temperatures.
But it certainly wasn't in the script, which raises questions over the validity of the models on which policy decisions have been made, as the BBC's Paul Hudson points out here.
11 of the last 12 annual Met forecasts erred on the warm side - so new and better models should be widely welcomed.
But it certainly wasn't in the script, which raises questions over the validity of the models on which policy decisions have been made, as the BBC's Paul Hudson points out here.
11 of the last 12 annual Met forecasts erred on the warm side - so new and better models should be widely welcomed.
Another claim by the Met has also drawn fire - as the criticism directly addresses the validity of the Met's science, rather than its communications strategy.
Last week the Met made a widely-reported claim that Britain is experiencing more frequent extreme rainfall.
Statistical analysis of rainfall records by the Met Office claimed to show days of heavy rainfall had become more common in England since 1960.
"The apparent trend mirrors increases in extreme rain seen in other parts of the world," wrote the BBC's Roger Harrabin.
Last week the Met made a widely-reported claim that Britain is experiencing more frequent extreme rainfall.
Statistical analysis of rainfall records by the Met Office claimed to show days of heavy rainfall had become more common in England since 1960.
"The apparent trend mirrors increases in extreme rain seen in other parts of the world," wrote the BBC's Roger Harrabin.
For Channel 4 news, the Met's statistical press release was apocalyptic.
There were "clear signals of wetter weather emerging", apparently:
There were "clear signals of wetter weather emerging", apparently:
But the claim has puzzled some observers, not least because last March the Met was predicting a continuing drought for the UK, advising last March that:
"The probability that UK precipitation for April-May-June will fall into the driest of our five categories is 20-25% whilst the probability that it will fall into the wettest of our five categories is 10-15%".
.....Comment
.....Comment
And that seems to encapsulate the problem.
Forecasting is notoriously difficult, and every scientist working in the field deserves some understanding. It's the agency executives' desire to feed the news media with alarmist and politically-motivated "stories" that's the problem - and perhaps the fact that the Met Office is dependent on global warming being a clear and present danger for much of its funding nowadays.
It's hard to imagine the shoddy rainfall press release being issued were this not the case.
Time for new management at the Met? ®
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