Children are led away from Sandy Hook Elementary during Friday's shooting (Photo: AP Photo/Newtown Bee, Shannon Hicks)
HAS THE ALEC/NRA POLITICAL GIANT BORNE BITTER FRUIT ONCE AGAIN IN CONNECTICUT?
As President Obama pledges “meaningful action” to avert yet another mass killing at a U.S. school using an assault weapon, the most “meaningful” (effective) action seems to be the political muscle of ALEC which, in tandem with the NRA, has pushed through state legislation forbidding cities from banning citizens from use of concealed weapons carries and assault weapons. This “meaningful action” rhetoric does not appeal to NYC Mayor Bloomberg, who calls for IMMEDIATE action in this direction.
(Truth-Out)
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CAN IRAN EVER GET A “CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH” FROM THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY ON THE QUESTION OF ITS ALLEGED DEVELOPMENT OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS.?
It appears that it cannot, as time after time over about the last 7 years it has allowed the IAEA to inspect the sites of such “alleged” development, after which “no evidence” of such development could be detected. The recycling of such suspicions and the IAEA’s failure to declare its inspections as “already done” suggests that the agency is unduly controlled by the U.S. agenda of defining Iran as a “nuclear threat.”
(Asia Times)
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THE TAX MAN COMETH: BUT NOT TO THE DOOR OF THE RITZ HOTEL IN LONDON.
New BBC documentary reports that scandal-ridden Barclay’s, the owner of the Ritz, has not paid any corporation taxes in the 17 years it has owned the hotel. It appears that the Ritz is too rich to tax, as the hotel avoids taxes by “re-investment” strategies even as it enjoys huge profits; and one of it subsidiaries actually applies for a VAT tax rebate.
(UK Independent)
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GIANT IDAHO POTATO COMES HOME AFTER A NATIONAL TOUR WITH SUCCESS “BEYOND OUR WILDEST IMAGINATION.”
The big spud on wheels is dispatched to photo opportunities across the country, including the famous steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art up which Rocky had run (the spud couldn’t actually get up the steps) and the Agriculture Department building in D.C., with the USDA threatening to ban potatoes from school lunches as allegedly “non-nutritious.” The potato remains on school lunches and the potato returns to site of an upcoming college football bowl game in Boise.
(Idaho Statesman)
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FLORIDA WILL ISSUE ITS ONE MILLIONTH CONCEALED WEAPONS PERMIT NEXT WEEK.
Florida already leads the nation in number of such permits, now being held by 5.24% of the population. In the wake of the Connecticut shooting, this may seem alarming, but Agriculture Secretary Adam Putnam, who is responsible for issuing licenses, assures us that “Floridians who are obtaining these licenses are obtaining them for the right reason and are using them in an appropriate way.”
(Miami New Times)
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Quote of the day...
Why does Barack Obama not pursue the battle against climate change with the same intensity he pursues war? Why does he not seek to punish the American bankers and stockbrokers responsible for the financial calamity as much as he seeks to punish Julian Assange and Bradley Manning?
In both cases he’s putting the interests of the corporate world before anything else. No amount of fines or penalties will induce corporate leaders to modify their behavior. Only spending some hard time in a prison cellblock might cause the growth in them of their missing part, the part that’s shaped like a social conscience.
William Blum, on official U.S. difference to the triple scourges of climate change, war and poverty.
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the United States is responsible for over 80 percent of all the gun deaths in the 23 richest countries combined.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-moore/its-the-guns-_b_1700218.html
Why is it that many of the very same people who utilize the argument that people kill people and thus, we shouldn’t ban the item in question are the same people who want to ban things like RU486, Napster, gay marriage and many other things??? If the only response is that it’s all about personal responsibility then you need to be consistent in your positions. At least then we can disagree with you but also respect your balanced viewpoint. Until then all this does is come off as an excuse to protect what you want regardless of the contradictions. If it’s all about personal responsibility then all drugs, all software, virtually everything should be legal and it’s up to the individual to make the right choice.
You know what’s sad? That it took the murder of 20 children in a school to wake people up to this issue. Why does progress always have to wait for a tragedy in this country?
I really do believe this issue is more complicated than simple gun control. We need to figure out how to inject some humanity back into society, and that won’t be solved with simple legislation.
Gee, in the face of real controversy, we see the true character of the NRA and it’s membership, Run Like Coward’s Into The Night And Hide. That should actually be the NRA’s new slogan. Ever notice whenever one of the senseless tragedies occur, the NRA and it’s mindless minions run for cover?? Once the anger dies down they resurface like the rodents that they are. Cowards, each and every one of them.