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(WIRED) -- Facebook unleashed a new commenting system last week that promises to help online publications clean up their commenting cesspools, while simultaneously extending Facebook's tentacles further into the web outside its walls.
Unfortunately for those with visions of a non-Facebook dominated web, this initiative has the potential to dramatically expand the ginormous social network's already imperial reach.
The new system lets website owners replace their current commenting system with Facebook's simply by dropping in a few lines of Javascript.
Then, commenters have to sign in using either their Facebook or Yahoo IDs, an attempt to ensure a commenter is a real person. Commenters can opt to have their comment posted as an update, along with a link to the original story, which spreads the story link inside Facebook's walls.
This offers publishers a number of benefits. They get more links to their site from inside the net's most popular website. A lot of people are "registered" to comment on their sites. And, they have a system designed to discourage vitriol because it's easy for the site owner to ban a user and tough for a user to create a new identity.
For Facebook, the benefit is also clear. Users now have even more incentive to be constantly logged into Facebook (those who are already logged into Facebook don't have to do anything to comment on a website using its system).
Additionally, even more of Facebook's users' net activities flow through its site, since by default comments -- and replies to them -- post to a Facebook user's wall. That deepens users' ties to Facebook, adds more content to Facebook, and gives people more reason to check their Facebook newsfeed for the increased information flow.
It also builds on what's becoming Facebook's most important function: being the identity provider and validator for the wider net. The system opens the door for what's likely inevitable: having news sites rely on Facebook to identify its users and eventually to serve ads to its readers based on their individual Facebook pages.
The Facebook system competes most directly with Disqus (a system Wired.com has just starting using), which also creates a single, central profile used to comment on any site that uses the system. Facebook offers its plug-in for free, while Disqus commenting requires premium accounts for the features a large site needs to have.
The immediate drawbacks of Facebook's commenting system match the larger issues of the social networking site. There's no way to export the comments if a publication decides to drop the system -- just as Facebook jealously holds onto the e-mail addresses of the people you are connected to on Facebook so you can't re-establish your network on some other site.
Facebook will likely create some sort of export system, if only to assuage potential publications, though given Facebook's history with exporting, it will likely be bare bones and not particularly useful in practice.
Facebook's entry into this arena presents sites with three choices -- none particularly ideal.
The first is to gamble that your site is important enough to your readers that you can get away with requiring them to have a specific login for your site, and that you have the technical resources to build that out. But even if you don't use Facebook Connect, the movement seems to be away from a collection of site profiles and passwords and toward a single one that gives you entry to your collection, be it from Google, Yahoo, OpenID or others.
The second option is to go with a service like Disqus and pay that company annually to uphold the belief that there should be multiple identity providers on the net and hope they have enough staying power and stickiness to appeal to your readers.
Or, you can go with Facebook, tacitly acknowledging that the world's largest social network has won the identity wars and getting in on the spoils without paying an annual fee and agreeing to be an occupied outpost in Facebook's empire.
Online publications are desperate for a commenting system that encourages civility, and too many, including Disqus, veer closer to the land of YouTube comments than to the ideal of comments on sites like MetaFilter and Hacker News.
Sites that can afford to do so will likely continue to have their own login systems, if only so that they can collect e-mail addresses, which are still considered incredibly important for marketing and for "owning" a customer.
But doing so leaves a site open to the bad PR of being hacked (like Gawker Media) and without work by either the site or the software maker they use to publish, they will fall behind on the benefits of a social web.
Facebook is clearly gaining more of a presence around the web with its ubiquitous Like buttons and its easy-to-use login system for sites, including its often-creepy automated login system on sites like Yelp and Pandora. And with its comment system, it gains even more ground.
It's yet one more promising avenue for Facebook to encourage users to be constantly logged into Facebook, and lays more track for Facebook to become not only the net's identity provider, but also its largest referrer of traffic and its biggest provider of ads.
Is it any wonder then that investors keep pushing Facebook's valuation higher and higher? How much would you pay for an empire that encompasses nearly the entire web?
Subscribe to WIRED magazine for less than $1 an issue and get a FREE GIFT! Click here!
Copyright 2011 Wired.com.


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On Tuesday, Mitt Romney will conclude a nearly six-year campaign journey for the White House — and his supporters, as Christopher Morris' latest photo essay reveals, could not be more earnest or more ready. The former Massachusetts Governor launched his first presidential bid in February 2007, and his second in June, 2011 — now the polls are tight and battleground states like Ohio, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Florida hang in the balance. Even though Hurricane Sandy disrupted the campaign flow in its final days, Republicans continue to hope that Romney's earlier momentum and economic vision will win him the 270 electoral votes needed to take the oath of office in January.
Photojournalist Christopher Morris spent the last week of the campaign photographing Romney on the trail for TIME. He first photographed the Republican nominee back in the New Hampshire primary and has witnessed his journey to the upcoming finale. Last week he crisscrossed the country with the campaign, from Canton and Kettering, Ohio, to Tampa and Land O'Lakes, Fla.
Morris trains his lens on the voters rallying with great expectations to Romney's side. Their anticipation and determination can almost be physically felt. Many politicos have summed this election up as two men and two parties with very different visions for America's future, and Morris' images capture just how deep this divide plunges. "I was a bit taken back by the strong division in the country, with a palpable disdain and hatred for President Obama by the crowds at the Romney events," says Morris, who covered the George W. Bush's two terms in the White House. "Having covered Gore, Kerry, Bush, and McCain, I've never quite seen it like this."
Morris produced My America, a look at Republican nationalism in the country during George W. Bush's terms. Later this month, Steidl will release Morris' new book Americans, which further examines a nation in divide.
Christopher Morris is a contract photographer for TIME.

subset: commoncrawl


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Sudan / South Sudan: ICRC facilitates repatriation of South Sudanese POWs
GENEVA, Switzerland, February 11, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- An aircraft belonging to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) arrived in Juba today with five South Sudanese ex-prisoners of war aboard. They had been released by the Sudanese government earlier in the day. An ICRC delegate accompanied the five men to Juba, where they were handed over to South Sudanese authorities.
The Sudanese authorities approached the ICRC to facilitate the return home of the ex-prisoners. It agreed to serve as a neutral intermediary between the Sudanese and South Sudanese authorities.
"We are glad that these five men were able to return to their country," said Jean-Christophe Sandoz, head of the ICRC delegation in Sudan. "We will offer logistical support for such repatriations in future as well, should there be a need for it."
In accordance with its mandate under the Geneva Conventions, the ICRC visited the five prisoners during their internment to check on their treatment and conditions of detention. It visits detainees around the world to ensure that they are being treated with dignity and humanity in accordance with international humanitarian law, a set of rules designed to limit the effects of armed conflict.
In April 2012, the ICRC helped repatriate 13 Sudanese ex-prisoners of war after the South Sudanese authorities had released them, and in September it helped repatriate 19 South Sudanese prisoners of war released by Sudan.
The ICRC has been working since 1978 in Sudan, where it helps people suffering the effects of armed conflict and other situations involving violence. It opened a delegation in South Sudan in 2011 after the territory gained its independence.


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EmergingGrowth.com Special Report on RVPlus, Inc., Oil and Gas, and Patents infringement in Pharmaceuticals
28 Dec, 2012, 13:33 GMT
MIAMI, December 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --
EmergingGrowth.com, a leading digital financial media company, Reports on RVPlus, Inc., Oil and Gas and Patents infringement in Pharmaceuticals.
Feature your company on EmergingGrowth.com. Visit EmergingGrowth.com to find out how.
RV Plus (OTCBB: RVPL) just announced that it has generated a total amount of $14,610,576 in accounts receivable as of today for 2012 year from long-term contracts with foreign governments to supply goods and services that support carbon-emissions reduction, energy efficiency, in addition to supporting climate change, environment, forestry, social affairs, and agriculture.
In the past six months, the company has made entry into three definitive material agreements with foreign government parties for goods and services, holding a total value of $1,900,500,000 (USD), which are associated to Civil Society Programs, collectively organized by United Nations affiliates and Parties in Latin America, West Indies, and Africa.
Cary Lee Peterson has told press that he will be publishing a year-end letter to shareholders on January 1, 2013 to recap on 2012 year for the Company and provide details of plans for ECCO2 Tech and partners in 2013. If RVPL can materialize these contracts in the near term, we could see a dramatic move in the company's valuation and share price. Please visit the Company's website for a deeper understanding on the process. http://www.ecco2tech.com/investors.html
Tamm Oil and Gas Corporation (OTCBB: TAMO) recently entered into an agreement with private company CEC North Star Energy Ltd to do work pertaining to their recently purchased additional third party trade seismic which after reprocessing and analysis continues to support the existence of the Bluesky channel of the Norh Star Lands. Based on this seismic, 4 well locations were surveyed recently and the licensing process will be initiated in the next few weeks with an expected completion prior to break up.
Globalstar, Inc. (OTCBB: GSAT) recently announced that it received a delisting notice from NASDAQ do to the fact that it's share price has fallen below $1.00 per share in excess of the time period permitted by NASDAQ rules. The company after a recent appeal to NASDAQ requested a further extension and was denied.
The six time patent infringement in pharmaceuticals case plaintiff Depomed (NASDAQ: DEPO) is making progress in battles. Watson Pharmaceuticals (NYSE: WPI) withdrew its application for the competing drug generic Gralise, and the suit against Impax Laboratories (NASDAQ: IPXL) was dismissed after the withdrawal of their application. The road is getting clearer as the competition is fading. Look for Depomed to react.
About EmergingGrowth.com
By offering 100% original and unmatched content by the best financial reporters, writers and bloggers in the business, EmergingGrowth.com is emerging as a leading digital financial media portal. Its services provide users, subscribers and advertisers with a variety of content and tools through a range of online, social media, mobile and other mobile outlets.
Since its inception, EmergingGrowth.com has distinguished itself from other financial media companies with its sly approach to reading between the lines in order to locate that needle in the haystack. Sign up today to see what EmergingGrowth.com has to offer.
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All information contained herein as well as on the EmergingGrowth.com website is obtained from sources believed to be reliable but not guaranteed to be accurate or all-inclusive. All material is for informational purposes only, is only the opinion of EmergingGrowth.com and should not be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell securities. From time to time, EmergingGrowth.com receives compensation by the companies profiled in its emails, press releases or on its website. If any compensation is received it appears fully detailed in a "special disclosure" on our website as well as on any pages or emails where that company is located. Please check the "Special Disclosure" link (http://www.emerginggrowth.com/special-disclosure) and consult an investment professional before investing in anything viewed within. In addition, Please make sure you read and understand the Terms of Use, Privacy Policy and the Disclosure posted on the EmergingGrowth.com website. Always remember that investing in securities such as the ones listed within are for high-risk tolerant individuals only and not the general public. Whether you are an experienced investor or not, you should always consult with a stockbroker, financial advisor, or similar before purchasing or selling any securities viewed on any emails sent from EmergingGrowth.com or its website.
SOURCE EmergingGrowth.com


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LOS ANGELES -- Rihanna and Nicki Minaj are the leading nominees at the 40th annual American Music Awards with four nods each.
Christina Aguilera announced the nominations Tuesday in Los Angeles. She also said she plans to perform at the ceremony next month.
Drake, Justin Bieber, Maroon 5, One Direction and Usher earned three bids apiece. Carrie Underwood, Chris Brown, fun., Gotye, J. Cole, Katy Perry, Kelly Clarkson, Luke Bryan, and Pitbull are each double nominees.
Drake, Bieber, Maroon 5, Katy Perry and Rihanna are also in the running for artist of the year.
Nominees are selected based on broadcast airplay and online popularity. Fans can vote online for their favorites in all 20 categories.
The American Music Awards will be presented Nov. 18 at Nokia Theatre and broadcast live on ABC.
The complete list of nominees:
_ Artist of the year: Justin Bieber, Drake, Maroon 5, Katy Perry, Rihanna.
_ New artist of the year: J. Cole, fun., Gotye, Carly Rae Jepsen, One Direction.
_ Male artist, pop/rock: Justin Bieber, Flo Rida, Pitbull, Usher.
_ Female artist, pop/rock: Kelly Clarkson, Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry, Rihanna.
_ Band, duo or group, pop/rock: fun., Maroon 5, One Direction, The Wanted.
_ Album, pop/rock: Justin Bieber, "Believe"; Maroon 5, "Overexposed"; Nicki Minaj, "Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded"; One Direction, "Up All Night."
_ Male artist, country: Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Eric Church.
_ Female artist, country: Miranda Lambert, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood.
_ Band, duo or group, country: Zac Brown Band, Lady Antebellum, Rascal Flatts.
_ Album, country: Luke Bryan, "Tailgates & Tanlines"; Lionel Richie, "Tuskegee"; Carrie Underwood, "Blown Away."
_ Artist, rap/hip-hop: Drake, Nicki Minaj, Tyga.
_ Album, rap/hip-hop: J. Cole, "Cole World: The Sideline Story"; Drake, "Take Care"; Nicki Minaj, "Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded."
_ Male artist, soul/R&B: Chris Brown, Trey Songz, Usher.
_ Female artist, soul/R&B: Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige,,Rihanna.
_ Album, soul/R&B: Chris Brown, "Fortune"; Rihanna, "Talk That Talk"; Usher, "Looking 4 Myself."
_ Artist, alternative rock: The Black Keys, Gotye, Linkin Park.
_ Artist, adult contemporary: Adele, Kelly Clarkson, Train.
_ Artist, Latin: Don Omar, Pitbull, Shakira.
_ Artist, contemporary inspirational: Jeremy Camp, Newsboys, tobyMac.
_ Artist, electronic dance music: David Guetta, Calvin Harris, Skrillex.
ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Co.


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Spanish unemployment hits record 5.64 million
- Published
Spanish unemployment has hit a new record high, official figures have shown.
The number of unemployed people reached 5,639,500 at the end of March, with the unemployment rate hitting 24.4%, the national statistics agency said.
The figures came hours after rating agency Standard & Poor's downgraded Spanish sovereign debt.
Official figures due out on Monday are expected to confirm that Spain has fallen back into recession.
Earlier this week, the Bank of Spain said the economy contracted by 0.4% in first three months of this year, after shrinking by 0.3% in the final quarter of last year.
Other figures released on Friday showed that Spanish retail sales were down 3.7% in March from the same point a year ago, the 21st month in row sales have fallen.
'Huge crisis'
In the first three months of the year, 365,900 people in Spain lost their jobs.
The country has the highest unemployment rate in the European Union and it is expected to rise further this year.
The rate has risen sharply since April 2007, when it stood at 7.9%.
"The figures are terrible for everyone and terrible for the government... Spain is in a crisis of huge proportions," Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo said.
The new government has announced reforms to the labour market, including cutting back on severance pay and restricting inflation-linked salary increases, that it hopes will ease the problem.
These measures have angered unions, which have organised widespread general strikes in protest.
The government has also introduced drastic spending cuts designed to reduce its debt levels and meet deficit targets agreed with the European Union. These cuts are contributing to Spain's economic contraction.
"In Spain today, a cycle similar to Greece is starting to develop," said HSBC chief economist Stephen King.
"The recession is so deep that when you take one step forward on austerity, it takes you two steps back."
The yield on Spanish government bonds traded in the secondary market rose following the release of the unemployment figures and the S&P downgrade.
The yield on 10-year bonds rose to 5.96%, up from 5.81%, suggesting investors were becoming more wary of Spain's ability to repay its debts.
Also on Friday, the interest rate Italy has to pay to borrow money from international investors rose. In a sale of 10-year bonds, the government offered a rate of 5.84% compared with 5.24% at a similar sale a month earlier.
However, the government raised 5.95bn euros ($7.88bn; £4.85bn), towards the top end of its target range.
'Comprehensive' reforms
Late on Thursday night, the ratings agency Standard & Poor's cut Spain's rating by two notches to BBB+, warning that the country might have to take on more debt to support its banking sector.
S&P predicts the Spanish economy will shrink by 1.5% this year, having previously forecast 0.3% growth.
However, the agency did make a number of positive comments about the government's attempts to bolster Spain's economy.
"We believe that the new government has been front-loading and implementing a comprehensive set of structural reforms, which should support economic growth over the longer term," S&P said.
"In particular, authorities have implemented a comprehensive reform of the Spanish labour market, which we believe could significantly reduce many of the existing structural rigidities and improve the flexibility in wage setting."


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Our founding dog, Nellie, looks down upon me, her toothy grin reminding me of the great times we shared. Her distinctive black and white markings contrast with a color field of yellow and green in a painting by Mark Ulriksen, famed for his many New Yorker covers. Some may recognize the painting from the cover of our book Dog Is My Co-Pilot—it hangs in our office now, a tribute to the little dog who inspired The Bark.
As a dog lover and an art aficionado, what better way to combine these two passions then to consign a portrait of my favorite four-legged companion? These days there is a great variety of talented artists plying their trade in pet portraiture. What a delight to take in the styles and mediums—traditional realism, folk art-inspired, pop à la Andy Warhol, narrative—in everything from paint to wood to collage.
And nowadays, most pet portraitists work from photographs, so location isn't an issue, nor are good sitting skills! The internet has made it easy to view artists' portfolios and shop for a style that suits your taste and budget. Portrait commissions can start as low as $150, then jump into the thousands with artists of renown. The artist will consult with you on selecting one or more photos on which to base the portrait. Some artists will incorporate special details into the composition that provide a personal touch—including a favorite toy or location. Depending on the artist's schedule, a painting usually takes 2-4 weeks to complete. In the end, you'll have a memento that will last a lifetime, not to mention a great conversation piece.
The very best portraits capture the dog's likeness and spirit. After all, if you want an exact likeness of your dog, you might be better off consigning a photograph. Painted portraits capture the essence of its subject in a way that goes beyond a mere representation, and offers a glimpse of a dog's unique personality. I guess that's why they call it art!


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Welcome to the Home of the Mary Ingles Trail Blazers
Chapter of the
West Virginia Scenic Trails Association
MDIT in Kanawha State Forest
Allegheny Trail
The Mary Draper Ingles Trail (MDIT) is under construction. It approximates the route taken by a pioneer woman, Mary Draper Ingles, and her companion, an elderly Dutch woman, following their escape in 1755 from Shawnee captors at what is now Big Bone Lick, Kentucky. With no maps and only her memory to guide her, Mary reasoned the only way to return home was to follow the rivers. After an incredible 40-day journey over an estimated 450+ miles of rough terrain the two nearly starved women found their way to her home near present day Blacksburg, Virginia. In memory of their courageous journey, a group of Kanawha Valley hikers organized the Mary Ingles Trail Blazers in 1989. Their goal is to develop and maintain the Mary Draper Ingles Trail and other trails in that part of West Virginia. The group also works to promote an interest in hiking and an appreciation of the out-of-doors.
This page was last updated on: October 4, 2019
Date of birth: 1732 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to George & Elenor (Hardin) Draper who came to America from Donegal, North Ireland in 1729.
Sibling: Brother John Draper born in 1730, married Bettie Robertson in 1754.
Husband: William Ingles, born 1729 in London England to Thomas & his wife (name unknown) who died in either England or Scotland. Thomas' younger siblings were Matthew & John. They along with their father & eldest brother immigrated to America at an unknown date. William died in 1782 at the age of 53 years.
Children of Mary & William: Thomas b.~1751, George b. 1753, Mary, Susan, Rhoda and John b. 1766.
Date of death: 1815 at the age of 83.
Captured by Shawnees: July 30, 1755*, at the age of 23, during what is called in America "The French & Indian War" and in Europe "The Seven Years War."
Schooling: None that anyone knows of. Mary could not read at the time of her capture.
Escape From Indian Captivity. The Story Of Mary Draper Ingles And Son Thomas Ingles. Originally written by Mary's son John (date unknown). Transcribed from the original manuscript in 1934 by William Ingles (1877-1966) and Dr. Virginia O'Rear Hudson, Professor of English at Radford College. Copyrighted 1969 by Roberta Ingles Steele and Andrew Lewis Ingles. First edition 1969 & 2nd 1982 now in its fourth printing. ISBN 0-318-03613-4. Available for purchase in large quantities from: Robert Steele, 1832 Deyerle Rd. SW, Roanoke, VA 24018.
Trans-Allegheny Pioneers. Originally written by John P. Hale and published in 1886. 2nd edition copyrighted by Charles H. Enicks in 1931. 3rd edition copyrighted by Harold J. Dudley in 1971 and printed by Derreth Printing Company in Rale igh, NC.
Follow The River, by James Alexander Thom and copyrighted by him in 1981. Published by Ballantine Books, New York, NY. ISBN 0-345-33854-5.
* Mary's capture date is found in a list originally compiled near the end of the French & Indian War, and often assigned today to the pen of Col. Wm. Preston of the Augusta County militia. However, the more likely author is Dr. Thomas Lloyd. It can be found on pages 399-404 in The Virginia Magazine Of History And Biography, Volume II published in June 1895. The date of July 8, 1755 given in Hale's book and Thom's novel is incorrect.
Information compiled by Ed Robey
The following are a few excerpts from the book titled "FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR NOTICES ABSTRACTED FROM COLONIAL NEWSPAPERS VOLUME 2: 1756-1757" by A.F. Lucier:
PHILADELPHIA Jan 22 (1756). Extract of a letter from Augusta County in Virginia, December 20, 1755. "Two of the Women that were taken Prisoner from New-River, are come back, who say, they were 40 days in coming in, and they had lived all the Time on Grapes and Nuts."
PHILADELPHIA Feb. 12. By a Traveller who lately came from New-River, in Virginia, we learn, that two Women were return'd: who had been taken Prisoners the Beginning of last Summer by the Shawanese, and carried to one
of their Towns, where there was a considerable Number of English Prisoners, who had been taken Captive from the Frontiers of Virginia. That when the Warriors arrived within half a Mile of their Towns, It is their Custom to whip those who have been so unfortunate as to fall in their Hands, all the remainder of the way till the get to Town, and that It was in this Manner our poor unhappy Neighbours from Virginia had been treated by them. That they afterwards used them as well as could be expected from Persons of their Savage Disposition. Thus they suffered some of the Men to go out a Hunting, and let them have three Charges of Ammunition, but would allow them no more, for fear of their returning back to the English.
PHILADELPHIA Feb. 26. In a Letter from Fort Cumberland, dated the fifteenth Instant, there is Advice, that two considerable Bodies of French Indians have been lately down there, and had picked up several of the Men belonging to the Fort; but that the Commanding Officer there had detached Parties immediately in Pursuit of them, which obliged them to retreat precipitately, and thereby prevented their getting among the Inhabitants. It is further added, that one Mrs. Inglis, who was taken Prisoner by the Shawanese when Col. Paton was killed, had made a wonderful Escape from the Lower Shanoe Town; and she was fourteen Days In the Woods on her Way home, was naked all the Time, and lived on Chestnuts, &c. The Particulars of what Discoveries she made while among them, was not come to Hand.
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Some writers have proposed that Mrs. Bingeman was Mary's companion on her long trek back from captivity. However, two pieces of evidence make this proposal unlikely. The first is the record usually referred to as the Preston Register, although according to the late author Patricia Givens Johnson it was likely composed by Dr. Thomas Lloyd. The register is a list of names of people killed, wounded, and captured from Augusta County from 1754 through May of 1758. On July 3 there was an attack on some New River plantations. John Bingeman, Mrs. Bingeman, and Adam Bingeman were listed as killed. Adam's wife, "Mrs. Bingman, jr." was listed as wounded. The suffix "jr." in this case simply means "younger" in order to distinguish her from elder Mrs. Bingeman, her mother-in-law. Since Mary's companion was described as an "old Dutch woman," then the only member of the Bingeman family that might fit the bill would have been John's wife. However, she was killed in the raid, and younger Mrs. Bingeman was wounded but not captured, so it seems clear from this list that the old Dutch woman could not have been Mrs. Bingeman.
The second evidence is a note in the Chronicon Ephratense, that refers to the schism caused by the Eckerlin brothers in the Seventh Day Baptist movement that centered around the Ephrata community in Pennsylvania. The Eckerlins formed an offshoot community on New River centered around Dunkards Bottom, now under the water of Claytor Lake. Sabbatarians or Solitaries, as the Seventh Day Baptists called themselves, who were unsatisfied with life at Ephrata would sometimes make their way to Mahanaim, the Eckerlin community, in search of further enlightenment. Henry Zinn was just such a Solitary who found his way up the Great War Road to New River. His apostasy was noted thus, "A young Brother in the Settlement [Ephrata], Henry Zinn by name, also longed at last for such a life of license; he begged the Brethren to accompany him thither [to Mahanaim, the New River settlement of the Eckerlin brothers], and promised in return to love them all his life long. He and the whole family of Bingeman were there killed by the Indians." Obviously, Mrs. Bingeman was too dead to accompany Mary back to the New River plantations.
Other authors have made the mistake of assuming the old Dutch woman was captured in Pennsylvania, home of the so-called Pennsylvania Dutch. Of course, the word Dutch in this context is from the German word Deutsch, the word Germans used to describe themselves. These were High Dutch from Deutschland or Germany, not Low Dutch from the Netherlands. However, there is no period information that would lead us to place much faith in this hypothesis
The two campaigns to southwestern Augusta County in 1755 were conducted by Shawnees and Delawares operating out of their towns in the vicinity of Scioto River. There is no evidence that these warriors had raided in Pennsylania. It is possible that a captive taken in Pennsylvania, could have ended up in one of the lower Ohio River Shawnee towns. However, it seems unlikely that a prisoner from Pennsylvania would have been interested in risking her life to travel further south to the back settlements of Virginia. Of course, she might have conjectured that a move in any direction towards colonial populations was a better choice than staying amongst the Shawnees---but do we need to look beyond the New River colonial settlements for an old Dutch woman? Perhaps not, for there were many German people settled there at that time, the Harmans being the best known today.
There is a good candidate for Mary's companion mentioned in the Register. To judge the likelihood of her candidacy, let us understand further the Register itself. As already stated, the author is unknown. The exact date of its compilation is unknown, but it had to be after May 1758, the date of its last entry. The results of the attack on Draper's Meadow on July 30, 1755 were recorded in the Register, and this is how Mary was listed, "July 30 [] Mrs. English & her two children, New River, prisoners, escaped." Mary's sister-in-law, Betty Draper was listed as "Mrs. Draper, jr., New River, prisoner" to distinguish her from elder Mrs. Draper, the mother of Mary and John. Betty eventually was released and made her way back to her husband, but not until after 1758. This is why Betty was not identified as "escaped" as was Mary. So the fact that Mary was identified as "escaped," indicates the recorder of the Register was aware she had made her way back home by the time the author penned the account.
Since the Register covers attacks in Augusta County from 1754 through the spring of 1758, the date of the Dutch woman's capture should be near Mary's captivity date or earlier. So we have three clues to look for when we check the Register for candidates for Mary's companion; her ethnicity revealed in her name, her date of capture, and her captivity status by 1758. A good candidate will be identified on the Register as a German captured before Mary's captivity date, and identified as "escaped". Only one person on the Register meets those criteria, and the following is the context in which she is listed: "July 3 [] Dutch Jacob, New River, wounded. His wife, New River, prisoner, escaped." So it seems most likely that Mary's companion was the wife of a German settler known as Dutch Jacob.
Anonymous, "A Register of the Persons Who Have Been Either Killed, Wounded, or Taken Prisoners by the Enemy, in Augusta County, as also such as Have Made Their Escape," in The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Volume II, the year ending June 1895, the Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, Virginia.
Ingles, John Sr., Escape from Indian Captivity, edited by Roberta Ingles Steele and Andrew Lewis Ingles, second edition 1982, Radford, Virginia.
Lamech and Agrippa, Chronicon Ephratense. A History of the Community of Seventh Day Baptists at Ephrata, Lancaster County, Penn'a, translated from the original German by J. Max Hark, D. D, published in 1889 by S. H. Zahm & Company, Lancastre, Pennsylvania, pp 188-189.
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Senior Mackenzie Wolfley, 18, is Dixon High School's January Student of the Month. Her parents are Mike and Monica Wolfley of Dixon. She has a younger sister, Madalynn, 12; and a small dog named Max with a big personality.
Favorite class: Spanish, because learning a new language is a lot of fun and still challenges me.
Top teacher: My principal, Dr. Michael Grady. If I ever need anything, he is there to help as much as possible. He is always supportive and reliable. I couldn't aks for a better administrator.
Extracurriculars: I am in Key Club, class officers, the musical, 4-H and National Honor Society.
After graduation: I am heading to college and majoring in speech pathology.
Paycheck: I work at the Dixon Family YMCA in the child care department. I work with the after-school kids and baby-sit younger children, while their parents work out or take classes. I absolutely love my job. It's wonderful being able to put a smile on their faces. They say the funniest things and always know how to brighten my day.
Favorite actor: Jennifer Lawrence.
Favorite TV show: "New Girl."
Favorite game or outdoor activity: Floating in my pool.
Biggest fear?: Disappointing the people I care about.
I'm in the dictionary next to: Optimistic. I try to see the best in people and situations. Even if things are looking down, there is always tomorrow. And if it doesn't get better tomorrow, there's the day after that. You have to keep your chin up!
Dream job: I would want to be a nurse in the nursery wing in a hospital. Being around all of the newborn babies and the ecstatic families would give me a strong appreciation for how precious life is.
Trading places: Audrey Hepburn. She was so iconic and the definition of fabulous. She was classy, and people really looked up to her. I would love to have her self-confidence.
What's the last good book you read?: Anything written by Jodi Picoult is a treasure. She incorporates all of her characters into a captivating story that you can emotionally connect with.
What would you do if you had $100,000? I would use it to help pay for my college education.
What do you wish your high school offered? An informational class designated just for preparing for college. They would help you work on scholarships, looking deeper into successful careers, and set you on a path toward your future.
What's a tip you would give freshmen for making high school life easier? Don't be afraid to try something new. Some of my best high school memories are when I took a chance and stepped out of my comfort zone. You can meet incredible people and discover something new about yourself.
Shout out: To my family, for being so incredibly supportive of everything I do. Thank you so much!


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Replica of Mayflower undergoing extensive repairs
Work needed to keep Mayflower II seaworthy
The replica of the Mayflower that brought the Pilgrims to the New World nearly 400 years ago is undergoing major repairs.
The 56-year-old Mayflower II was brought to dry dock in Fairhaven in December for routine maintenance and inspection. During that work, it was discovered that the wooden vessel needed repairs to its frame that could not be deferred.
The work is necessary to keep the ship seaworthy and to meet Coast Guard regulations. This work was originally planned for a later phase of the ship's restoration plan.
Once the work is completed in May, the Mayflower II will return to the Plymouth waterfront as part of the Plimoth Plantation living-history museum.
The ship is a full-scale reproduction of the Mayflower that sailed from England to Plymouth in 1620.


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58-year-old driver killed in collision with big rig
Driver loses control of rear trailer in San Joaquin County
A 58-year-old driver was struck and killed early Tuesday when a driver of a big rig traveling on a San Joaquin County road lost control of his tow.
The California Highway Patrol said that a driver of an empty double tanker was heading eastbound on Mariposa Road in Farmington when, for unknown reasons, he lost control of the rear trailer.
The trailer sideswipe a truck that was traveling westbound before colliding with another vehicle.
As the driver continued to lose control of his big rig, he crossed over into oncoming traffic, striking the front of a white Honda, CHP said.
In the collision, the Honda become lodged under the big rig, where it came to a rest on the north side of the roadway.
CHP said that the Honda was severely damaged in the crash and emergency crews had difficulty removing the body.
The San Joaquin County Coroner's Office will notify the victim's family. The driver was identified as a Escalon resident.
The others involved in the crash were not injured, CHP said.


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Your Collection: McGrath Replica
This weeks collection comes from James Wood in the U.K.
This is my 96 CR250 Mcgrath replica,it has many factory HRC parts on it including,magnesium ignition cover and clutch cover with cover to allow access to powervalve governor to change springs,HRC pipe,kickstart, gear lever, triple clamps and number plate. I have fully rebuilt the bike using either brand new parts or factory parts.I dont intend to use the bike as many of the parts are unobtainable,so its just a show bike only. Hope you like it.
- James
Do you have something cool you'd like to show off? Submit a piece from your collection as well as your name and mailing address to email@example.com and be entered to win Throttle Jockey stickers. You will be notified via e-mail if you are the winner!
*Please note that while international readers may submit their Collections, we are only able to award and ship prizes to winners within the United States.


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The funny ladies are back!
TV Guide Network's female comedy show StandUp in Stilettos returns this Saturday, and with it, a new roster of funny women ready to bring the laughs. Saturday's one-hour premiere will feature Conan writer Laurie Kilmartin, who also cowrote the book Sh--y Mom. Below, Kilmartin jokes about the pratfalls of dating while being a single mother:
TV Guide Network orders a second season of StandUp in Stilettos
StandUp in Stilettos returns for Season 2 on Saturday night with back-to-back episodes at 11/10c and 11:30/10:30c on TV Guide Network.


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Food & Drink
The best way to experience Hong Kong? Climb aboard one of its iconic trams
By Hiufu Wong, CNN • Updated 12th June 2014
View Gallery
13 Pictures
Ding, ding.
Passengers lean back as a Hong Kong tram -- affectionately called "Ding Ding" by locals -- signals its slow approach to the station.
One by one, riders board through the doors at the back and struggle to pass through the narrow turnstiles.
Jammed bags are a common sight.
The tram slowly rolls back into action, cruising through the middle of traffic in some of
Hong Kong
's busiest neighborhoods, just as it has for 110 years.
"The tram is such an icon of Hong Kong because it's closely associated with the big events that have happened here over the last century," says Emmanuel Vivant, director and general manager of Hong Kong Tramways.
Emmanuel Vivant, director and general manager of Hong Kong Tramways.
jason kwok/cnn
"The tram has continued its service and accompanied the city through times good or bad. Thus it's very intimately connected to its people."
Often lacking an on board passenger information system or uniformed station staff, Hong Kong's trams can be intimidating for rail virgins.
But they're worth figuring out.
Namely because they're a fantastic way to get to know the city.
MORE: How to be a Hong Kong local -- 10 tips for faking it
"Trams run along some of the best parts of Hong Kong," says Vivant.
"It's in the middle of the road with a vantage point [if you sit on the upper deck of the tram]. They travel at a relatively low speed, so you have time to take the views in.
"Inside the tram, you enjoy a special atmosphere, even poetic.
"A lot of cities in the world had replaced their tram networks with cars and buses by the 1950s before realizing the importance of the tram in the 1970s. They then rebuilt the tram networks, but it's different. So Hong Kong is very, very lucky to have the (older) tram in this sense."
How to ride the tram
Hong Kong Tramways route
courtesy nokia maps
Hong Kong's tram stations usually sit in an "island" in the middle of the street, though a few are on the side of the road.
Stops are marked by stand-alone green signs.
The tram line runs 30 kilometers on Hong Kong Island, stretching from Kennedy Town on the western end of the line to Shau Kei Wan on the eastern end.
It runs in only two directions -- eastbound and westbound -- but some routes go further than others.
It's really quite simple.
First, decide which direction you're heading.
Then, look for the tram that goes to or beyond your station. There is a map at the stops.
For example, if you're in Central and want to go to Causeway Bay, all eastbound trams -- those going to North Point, Shau Kei Wan and Causeway Bay -- stop at Causeway Bay station, with the exception of the one going to Happy Valley.
MORE; Sexy, sophisticated, skintight -- China's iconic cheongsam
Boarding is through the rear door -- passengers don't pay until they exit through the front.
The fare is HK$2.30 (about 30 U.S. cents per ride), regardless of the length of the journey.
Fares can be paid with cash or by swiping one of Hong Kong's all-purpose
Octopus cards
inside the tram.
For comparison's sake, it costs more than 50 U.S. cents for a one-stop ride on the more commonly used MTR.
Sometimes, a tram "station" is just a sign on the side of the road.
jason kwok/cnn
QR codes are posted at most stations, allowing passengers to find out the time of the next three arriving trams.
The longest possible tram ride takes around 90 minutes.
Here are a few tram highlights.
MORE: This little card is why people in Hong Kong don't carry cash
Chun Yeung Street, North Point
"My favorite section is the loop at the terminal in North Point," says Vivant.
This route, which actually terminates at North Point, is the only section of a tram route that runs through the middle of a wet market.
"The wet market on Chun Yeung Street used to be less organized and vendors would have their stalls set up in the middle of the tramway," says Eric Lee Tsun-lung, founder of tram fan club
Hong Kong Trams Enthusiast
and the mini-tram cultural museum,
Hong Kong Trams Station
"When I was young, the tram came and honked 'ding, ding' and the vendors moved to the sides with their stuff before resuming their original position as the tram left," says Lee.
Nowadays, vendors don't set up in the middle of the tracks.
Stalls can be found on both sides of the street though, meaning shoppers can often be seen zipping from one side the other, dodging trams in the process.
Riding the tram is easy. Find a station, then decide whether you're heading "Eastbound" or "Westbound."
jason kwok/cnn
MORE: Best wet markets in Hong Kong
Des Voeux Road West, Sheung Wan
On the western side of Hong Kong Island, Des Voeux Road West is packed with dried seafood shops, giving it the nickname "Dried Seafood Street."
"If you go to the Dried Seafood Street in the late morning or early afternoon, you can see something very interesting -- shop owners laying large sieves of dried scallops and salted fishes on the side of the road for sun drying," says Lee. "Some even manage to steal a spot on the roof of the tram station."
In addition to Des Voeux Road West and Chun Yeung Street in the east, Vivant says it's worth taking time to ride the whole route.
"There's the historical area in Sheung Wan, the business center in Central, the commercial center in Causeway Bay and the less eye-catching parts of the east of Hong Kong Island," he says. "It gives you a good idea of all different sides of Hong Kong."
The gallery above has more tram route suggestions.
MORE: How to shop on Hong Kong's dried seafood street
Tram 120, the oldest running tram
Car numbers are randomly assigned. Number 120 is the oldest tram in operation.
jason kwok/cnn
Vivant says Hong Kong Tramways is looking at dedicating a special car for tourists.
In the meantime, there are now 163 trams in operation, each with a different number on the front.
Choosing which one to ride requires special knowledge -- not because of where it goes, but because of its history.
"My favorite is model 120, the only tram built in the 1950s that survives till now," says Lee.
Most of its features are well preserved, including its woven bamboo benches on the upper deck.
"There is only one worker left in the company who knows how to weave these benches," says Vivant.
"There are also two 'party trams' for hire privately, models 28 and 128. Car 128 is our second oldest tram."
Millennium Trams are cars built in 2000 -- models 169 and 170.
"The former management company launched three at that time, hoping it would be the future of Hong Kong trams," says Lee. "But (the cars) were heavily criticized by the public as they look too new, too much like a bus. So they scraped the idea."
MORE: Ultimate Hong Kong kung fu tour
Future of the
There are about 30 tram cars built after 2010 now in operation, known as seventh generation trams.
"Most of the public hopes that the tram remains how it is, whereas frequent travelers want it to be more comfortable and modern," says Vivant.
One of two 'party trams' awaiting hire.
jason kwok/cnn
"To answer this contradiction, the exterior of the tram shares the same shape as the old tram but it's almost 100 percent new inside. Apart from the wheels or controllers that we reuse sometimes. These are over 80 years old."
Tram cars are now made of aluminum instead of wood, so they're more durable.
New trams have passenger information systems, more handles and new engines.
"Without government subsidies, we have to stay competitive and offer 21st-century service to our passengers," says Vivant.
"It's not commonly known, but we are now 100 percent made in Hong Kong with 150 workers in production and maintenance. We are hoping to use our skills to help other cities rebuild their tram networks."
MORE: Is 'affordable art' really all that affordable?
A four-day tram pass can be purchased on
Hong Kong Tramways' website
for HK$37 ($4.80);
private hire
from HK$880 per hour ($11
Hong Kong Trams Station
: Shop no. 18, Level 2, The Peak Galleria
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Help Support the Ronald Reagan Legacy Project
Posted on Monday, December 20th, 2010, 11:28 AM PERMALINK
The Ronald Reagan Legacy Project depends on donations and fund-raising to accomplish our mission. RRLP is committed to preserving the legacy of one of America's greatest presidents throughout the nation and abroad. A few ways we work to remember Ronald Reagan is through dedications around the country bearing his name and asking governors and legislative chambers to remember Reagan on his birthday of February 6th by declaring the day, "Ronald Reagan Day."
The Ronald Reagan Legacy Project is a special project of Americans for Tax Reform, a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C. Donations to RRLP are not tax deductible.
More from Americans for Tax Reform
Another Biden Middle Class Tax Hike: Elimination of Your Step-Up in Basis
Posted by John Kartch on Friday, October 23rd, 2020, 5:15 PM PERMALINK Follow @johnkartch
Joe Biden will eliminate step-up in basis and this will impose a steep tax increase and paperwork nightmare for middle class families and small businesses. It is one of the many Biden tax hikes that violate his own pledge against raising any tax on any American making less than $400,000.
In this video, you can see a sample of the many times Biden has threatened to eliminate step-up in basis.
Under the Biden plan, "When someone dies and the asset transfers to an heir, that transfer itself will be a taxable event, and the estate is required to pay taxes on the gains as if they sold the asset," said Howard Gleckman of the left-leaning Tax Policy Center.
As noted by CNBC:
By taxing the unrealized gain at death, heirs would get hit at the transfer, regardless of whether they sell the asset, Gleckman said.
In Forbes, Robert W. Wood writes of the devastating impact on small businesses:
[Under current law] Everybody gets a stepped-up basis on death, for income taxes. But Biden says maybe no longer. Biden says that'll be gone once he is President. Biden's proposal would tax an asset's unrealized appreciation at transfer. You mean Junior gets taxed whether or not he sells the business? Essentially, yes. The idea that you could build up your small business and escape death tax and income tax to pass it to your kids is on the chopping block. Biden would levy a tax on unrealized appreciation of assets passed on at death. By taxing the unrealized gain at death, heirs would get hit at the transfer, regardless of whether they sell the asset.
In its analysis of Biden's tax plan, Tax Policy Center says the step-up in basis proposal mirrors a proposal described in an Obama-Biden 2016 Treasury Department document. This document confirms that Biden will force a capital gains tax payment immediately upon transfer of an asset after death of a loved one:
Under the proposal, transfers of appreciated property generally would be treated as a sale of the property. The donor or deceased owner of an appreciated asset would realize a capital gain at the time the asset is given or bequeathed to another.
The amount of the gain realized would be the excess of the asset's fair market value on the date of the transfer over the donor's basis in that asset. That gain would be taxable income to the donor in the year the transfer was made, and to the decedent either on the final individual return or on a separate capital gains return.
On top of all that, Biden also vows to impose capital gains tax increases just as America digs out from the pandemic. He said "every single solitary person" will pay capital gains taxes at ordinary income tax rates. He will also double the top rate to 40 percent, highest since Jimmy Carter in 1977.
Click below to see Biden's vow to eliminate stepped-up basis:
Photo Credit: Matt Johnson
Taiwan's President Tsai Expresses Interest in U.S.-Taiwan Free Trade Agreement
Posted by Mary Ann Cortese on Friday, October 23rd, 2020, 11:51 AM PERMALINK
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-Wen seeks to bring forward free trade talks with the U.S. With Taiwan being a long-standing trade partner of America, this big step by Taiwan to strengthen the U.S-Taiwan relationship could potentially create new economic, social and political opportunities for the nation which faces pressure from China.
Taiwan is already a well-established trading partner for the U.S. The country was the 11th largest goods trading partner in 2018 with the U.S. totaling $76.0 billion in two-way trade of goods in 2018 and $18.5 billion in services.
A comprehensive trade deal with Taiwan can offer U.S. companies an alternative to doing business with Beijing, this would be a crucial lifeline in certain sectors. As President Tsai said during a video presentation hosted by the Hudson Institute and Center for American Progress that "the past months have shown us the importance of economic linkages and supply chain security for both Taiwan and the U.S." and "[Taiwan and the U.S.] must be clear-eyed on how to move forward on an FTA."
Along with growth in two-way goods trade, an FTA can bring an increase in services trade, especially in FDI which would be a large beneficiary. In her speech, President Tsai called attention to the increased two-way investment flows linking the U.S. and Taiwan, stating that Google and Microsoft have "substantially increased their investments in Taiwan" over the last year. With Taiwan seeking to become a global hub for technology, a FTA with the U.S. can open the county up to deals with large American tech firms. The FTA could set groundbreaking rules on how to deal with SOE, prevent coerced technology transfers, and limit data localization, similar to those in the USMCA.
This was the essence of a coalition letter Property Rights Alliance executive director Lorenzo Montanari signed alongside other conservative groups sent to president Trump. The letter calls on Trump to "look past the way business has been done in the past and take a fresh approach when the U.S. stands to gain. The veto power Beijing has exercised over this issue in the administration's past should be revoked. Nothing about an FTA with Taiwan is incompatible with serviceable, productive relations with China."
One of the longstanding complaints from the USTR preventing trade negotiations has been Taiwan's prohibitions on meat from the U.S. entering their market. That barrier is no longer there, as president Tsai announced the easing of restrictions on imports of U.S. pork and beef earlier last month. It was done for national interest but also, in the words of president Tsai "If we can take one crucial step forward on the issue of U.S. pork and beef, it will be an important start for Taiwan-U.S. economic cooperation at all fronts."
Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said that "this move opens the door for even deeper economic and trade cooperation" and "kudos to president Tsai for her leadership."
With members of the U.S. Senate believing now is the perfect time to start trade negotiations with Taiwan, a joint letter was sent to U.S. Trade Representative Bob Lighthizer encouraging him to begin the formal process of negotiating a trade agreement with Taiwan. The senators said, "as we look to advance our initiative for a free and open Indo-Pacific, we believe that now is the time to establish trade agreements with like-minded counties in the region."
With Tsai's bold response regarding this long-standing issue, the ball now remains in the U. S's court to start a formal process to institute a free trade agreement with Taiwan. Entering into the negotiation process can help advance America's strategic vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific region, as well as strengthen the U.S economic partnership with Taiwan.
Photo Credit: Daniel M. Shih
More from Americans for Tax Reform
Murkowski Puts Massive Carbon Tax "On The Table" During Event with Sheldon Whitehouse
Posted by Mike Palicz on Thursday, October 22nd, 2020, 3:45 PM PERMALINK Follow @Mike_Palicz
Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairwoman Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said a carbon tax "is worth putting on the table" during a panel discussion yesterday with Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) sponsored by the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research.
"I know that a price on carbon is one that makes Republicans more than a little bit nervous," continued Murkowski. "But I do think that can be and that should be one of the options that is on the table for discussion, in terms of how you can move policies forward," she said.
Sen. Murkowski is correct to note that carbon taxes, which raise the cost of gasoline and household energy bills, face significant political opposition as voters have a well-established track of rejecting carbon taxes on the ballot.
Last Congress, 229 House Republicans voted in favor of an anti-carbon tax resolution. In 2019, a coalition of 90 conservative and free-market organizations penned a letter to Congress opposing any form of a carbon tax. Sen. Murkowski's support for a carbon tax would make her the only Republican in the Senate on record backing such a tax.
Even the panel moderator noted he was "struck" that Sen. Murkowski "in a state where oil and gas production is so critical, was willing to look closely at carbon pricing."
Sen. Murkowski's call for a carbon tax is indeed shocking given that roughly 85% of Alaska's state budget is funded from oil revenues.
When pressed by the event's moderator to explain how her plan would deal with low-income Americans facing higher energy costs, Murkowski suggested using the generated revenue for wealth redistribution. "As you know there have been proposals if there is a price, how you can rebate that to individuals, how you can help with transition assistance. These are the types of policies, and discussions, that must be had," said Murkowski.
Translation: Murkowski suggests using the revenue generated from a carbon tax to send apology checks to poor Americans for raising their energy costs.
Sen. Murkowski's comments seem to reference carbon tax and rebate legislation pushed by progressive advocacy groups like Climate Leadership Council and Citizens' Climate Lobby. According to a recent study from the Tax Foundation, a commonly proposed carbon tax and rebate plan (starting at $50 per metric ton) would raise taxes by $1.87 trillion over ten years, kill 421,000 jobs and reduce GDP by 0.4 percent.
Americans for Tax Reform urges Sen. Murkowski to take carbon taxes completely off the table and instead focus on policies that reduce energy costs for American consumers rather than add to their burden.
Photo Credit: Senator Lisa Murkowski - Energy and Natural Resources Committee
More from Americans for Tax Reform
Biden's Individual Mandate Tax Shatters His $400,000 Pledge and Hits Swing State Households Hard
Posted by John Kartch on Thursday, October 22nd, 2020, 12:33 PM PERMALINK Follow @johnkartch
Joe Biden said he will re-impose the Obamacare individual mandate tax if he is elected. Most households liable for this tax made less than $50,000 per year.
According to IRS data, Biden's individual mandate tax would hit roughly 353,000 households in Florida and 153,000 households in Pennsylvania. (See the full list of state figures at bottom).
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act signed by President Trump zeroed out the $695-$2,085 Biden-Obama individual mandate tax.
But Biden has already vowed to re-impose the individual mandate tax. Here's his exchange with CNN on July 5, 2019:
CNN's Chris Cuomo: "Would you bring back the individual mandate?"
Joe Biden: "Yes. Yes, I'd bring back the individual mandate."
See for yourself by watching the clip below:
According to official IRS data for the 2017 tax year, 74% of households liable for the individual mandate tax had an adjusted gross income of less than $50,000.
- The individual mandate tax penalty was paid by 4,606,271 households.
- 3,430,003 of these households had an adjusted gross income of less than $50,000.
Biden has some explaining to do, as he made a promise to every American making less than $400,000 per year that they would not see a single penny of ANY tax hike. This Biden tax will hit middle class households in every state and every congressional district.
IRS data below shows the number of households per state hit with this tax in just one year, 2017. This data serves as an approximation of how many households will be hit under Biden's individual mandate tax.
Pennsylvania 153,140 households
Florida 353,210 households
Minnesota 69,460 households
Wisconsin 80,240 households
Michigan 132,750 households
Ohio 132,140 households
North Carolina 141,730 households
Arizona 107,360 households
Colorado 98,160 households
Georgia 142,930 households
Nevada 52,130 households
Alabama 41,960 households
Alaska 13,370 households
Arizona 107,360 households
Arkansas 41,130 households
California 553,000 households
Colorado 98,160 households
Connecticut 45,200 households
Delaware 11,230 households
District of Columbia 5,170 households
Florida 353,210 households
Georgia 142,930 households
Hawaii 10,890 households
Idaho 31,460 households
Illinois 162,920 households
Indiana 106,750 households
Iowa 38,430 households
Kansas 40,480 households
Kentucky 54,310 households
Louisiana 64,330 households
Maine 25,460 households
Maryland 64,180 households
Massachusetts 89,050 households
Michigan 132,750 households
Minnesota 69,460 households
Mississippi 32,260 households
Missouri 80,990 households
Montana 19,770 households
Nebraska 30,930 households
Nevada 52,130 households
New Hampshire 23,610 households
New Jersey 124,430 households
New Mexico 25,500 households
New York 260,660 households
North Carolina 141,730 households
North Dakota 11,970 households
Ohio 132,140 households
Oklahoma 54,720 households
Oregon 70,010 households
Pennsylvania 153,140 households
Rhode Island 14,840 households
South Carolina 64,440 households
South Dakota 11,190 households
Tennessee 83,440 households
Texas 559,420 households
Utah 49,470 households
Vermont 10,920 households
Virginia 107,130 households
Washington 110,400 households
West Virginia 22,820 households
Wisconsin 80,240 households
Wyoming 11,090 households
Keep track of Biden's many tax hikes by visiting www.ATR.org/HighTaxJoe
See also:
Flashback: Joe Biden Broke His Middle Class Tax Pledge
Biden Wants to Raise U.S. Corporate Tax Rate Higher Than Communist China
Illinois "Fair Tax" Amendment Opens Door for Billions in Additional Tax Hikes
Posted by Miriam Roff, Sheridan Nolen on Wednesday, October 21st, 2020, 3:36 PM PERMALINK
The fate of Illinois' constitutionally mandated flat tax lies in the hand of voters, who will decide on Nov. 3, 2020 whether or not to adopt the Proposed Amendment to the 1970 Illinois Constitution— also known as the "fair tax" amendment or the "Illinois Allow for Graduated Income Tax Amendment."
A NO vote would uphold the state's current 4.95% flat income tax rate. A YES vote would open the door for significant state income tax hike, with the top rate rising to 7.99%.
By voting YES, voters will eliminate the only safeguard Illinois taxpayers have against income tax hikes, the flat tax— allowing Governor J.B. Pritzker and the Democrat-controlled state legislature to impose some of the highest tax rates in the nation with little or no recourse. If the measure is approved, on January 1, 2021 Illinois would move from a flat 4.95% income tax to new six bracket system with rates ranging from 4.75% to 7.99%, resulting in a $3.7 billion income tax increase.
It's important to note that although the new rates and brackets, as passed by the Democrat-led legislature under SB 687 in 2019, are separate from the proposed constitutional amendment, this $3.7 billion income tax hike is completely dependent upon voters permitting a graduated-rate income tax structure.
Proponents of the progressive tax amendment are selling it as the be-all-end-all solution for ending the state's infamous budgetary woes, claiming SB 687 will actually lower taxes for 97 percent of Illinois residents. The former is a flat out lie, whereas the latter is barely even a half truth.
If the amendment is approved, it's true that Illinois taxpayers with up to $100,000 in income would see their marginal tax rate drop from 4.95% to 4.75% or 4.90% depending on their income level. However, the expected $3.7 billion in new revenue raised off the backs of the rest of the populace would barely make a dent in Illinois' whopping $226 billion deficit.
Further, the proposed amendment does not contain language that limits the amount of tax brackets state lawmakers can create or how high they can raise taxes. The graduated income tax measure also provides zero accountability measures on how the new money will be spent and fails to address years of runaway spending. Keep in mind the Governor has promised over $10 billion in new spending despite the state being broke. Odds are any tax relief for middle and lower-income families would be short-lived.
According to research conducted by Americans for Tax Reform, government spending has ballooned over the last decade. In fact, Illinois had the nation's second highest increase in spending per capita, rising 29.30%, between 2010 and 2018. During this time, Illinois raised the state income tax twice to fund this out-of-control spending. Further, just last year state lawmakers hit taxpayers with 20 new tax increases including the doubling of the gas tax, vehicle registration fee hikes, and the increase of online sales taxes. Even with all these tax increases the state still had an $8 billion budget deficit and an unfunded pension liability over $137 billion prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.
As the Illinois Policy Institute points out, for Democratic lawmakers to fully finance all of the Governor's campaign promises and plug budget holes, a typical middle-class family could end up paying $3,500 more in income taxes. Even Gov. Pritzker admits that "there's certainly no guarantees" that the amendment would protect middle and lower-income Illinoisans from future tax hikes.
The governor's claim that there's certainly no guarantees is correct. Take, for instance, Connecticut—the one state that has swapped out its flat income tax for a progressive income tax in the last 30 years. Nutmeg State lawmakers touted the progressive income tax as a way to fix state finances, address inequality, and promised spending restraint. However, that's not what happened. It instead, cost the state's economy over $10 billion, 360,000 jobs, and middle class families have seen their income tax rates climb over 13% and their property tax burden increase by more than 35% since 1999—the year that the personal income tax was first collected. As a result of these failed policies, Connecticut dons the 6th highest outmigration rate in the nation.
If voters need another reason to reject a progressive income tax structure with the higher rates set by SB 687, it's worth remembering that it would kill jobs and small businesses by imposing the second-highest business tax rate in the nation. Under the Governor's Fair Tax Plan, the corporate tax rate would rise from 7% to 7.99%, and when you take into account the 2.5% replacement tax already imposed on Illinois corporations, the total taxable rate is 10.49%. In 2018, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that Illinois' private sector job growth ranked 46th out of 50 states. With the coronavirus pandemic looming over the heads of local businesses, many of which are on the brink of bankruptcy, the proposed Illinois income tax hike would exacerbate the financial hardships of a dilapidated economy.
A study conducted by the University of Illinois indicated that the state of can expect more than half a million full-time job losses and tens of billions of dollars in lost income over the next year as a result of the novel coronavirus. Illinois had already lost a record 850,000 residents over the last decade. By instituting another financial requirement on employers, this would be the last straw for thousands of small businesses and large employers, driving them to leave the state.
Giving Illinois lawmakers a blank check to spend billions of taxpayer dollars however they please will not provide a different outcome this time. The only way to address the state's financial crisis is by reining in/reforming government spending in a way that taxpayers can afford. If taxpayers in Illinois truly wish to take a stand for fiscal responsibility and accountability, they should vote 'NO' on the graduated income tax amendment this November.
Photo Credit: Alan Cleaver
ATR Releases New Video Against Foreign Price Controls on Medicare
Posted by Alex Hendrie on Wednesday, October 21st, 2020, 11:57 AM PERMALINK
ATR has released a new video highlighting free market opposition to efforts to impose price controls on medical innovation and seniors in Medicare.
The video, narrated by ATR President Grover Norquist, highlights the coalition of 80 conservative, free market, libertarian groups, and activists that oppose the "most favored nation (MFN)" executive order to tie the prices we pay for medicines to foreign, socialist healthcare systems.
Foreign countries have been free riding off American medical innovation for decades through crushing price controls and other market-distorting government rules and regulations.
If we adopt these same price controls, we will do significant harm to the healthcare system. Studies have shown that countries with price controls have access to fewer innovative cures leading to healthcare shortages.
For instance, 290 new medical substances were launched worldwide between 2011 and 2018. While Americans had access to over 90 percent of these medicines, countries with price controls had limited access – the United Kingdom had access to only 60 percent of these medicines, Japan had 50 percent, and Canada had just 44 percent.
Implementing price controls through an MFN will also threaten the ability of our country to continue recovering from COVID-19. The U.S. is the best in the world when it comes to developing innovative, lifesaving, and life preserving medicines. Because of this, the U.S. is leading the way when it comes to developing COVID-19 vaccines, with several promising candidates entering the final stages of testing and clinical trials.
In addition, price controls could harm the U.S. economy. Medical innovation directly or indirectly supports 4 million jobs and $1.1 trillion in total economic impact, including jobs in every state. These jobs will be threatened by price control schemes like the MFN.
Rather than imposing price controls, lawmakers and President Trump should adopt a deregulatory, market-based approach that allows free market innovation to flourish. Moving forward, we should look to policy proposals that promote medical innovation and the development of new cures and reject efforts to impose price controls on the American healthcare system.
The full video can be found here:
Photo Credit: Wellness GM
Tax Hikes on Vaping on the Ballot in Oregon, Colorado
Posted by Matt Owens on Tuesday, October 20th, 2020, 1:08 PM PERMALINK
Misguided tax hikes on vaping threaten public health in Oregon and Colorado. Both states have upcoming ballot measures which would increase taxes on cigarettes and vaping, even though Public Health England and the Royal College of Physicians have concluded that e-cigarettes are at least 95% less harmful than cigarettes.
Oregon Measure 108 places the option on the ballot for voters to decide on a tax hike which would raise rates from 1.33$ per 20 pack of cigarettes to 3.33$. As it applies to E-Cigarettes, the ballot measure, if passed, would impose a tax at a rate of 65 percent of the wholesale sales price for the product. Cigars would also be effected by this ballot measure by increasing taxes from $0.50 to 1.00$ per cigar, this would raise the tax rate to 65 percent, which is its wholesale sales price cap.
The revenue generated from this ballot measure would go to funding multiple health programs for the state. From 2008 to 2018 nine other ballot measures had been offered by states for a tobacco tax increase. The ballot measures in the past had all been defeated by voters; except Proposition 6 in California during 2016.
Colorado Proposition EE is another ballot measure tax hike. In Colorado cigarettes are currently taxed at a rate of 84 cents per pack. The ballot measure would set up an incremental schedule to increase the tax rate for cigarettes to 1.80$ per pack by July 2027. This would result in a 2.64$ tax rate per pack overall. For cigars, the ballot measure would incrementally raise the tax rate from 20 percent to 22 percent by July 2027. E-Cigarettes are currently not taxed in Colorado. This ballot measure would create a new tax for E-Cigarettes starting at 30 of percent manufactures list price in 2021, and incrementally increase to 62 percent of manufactures list price by July 2027. Most of the revenue from these new taxes will be geared towards education funding but, a sizable portion will also be directed towards the general fund.
These taxes make life-saving vape products more expensive and less accessible, and risk jobs and businesses as small vape shops will suffer. Meanwhile cigarette tax revenue is notoriously unreliable. Colorado and Oregon voters will have to consider the many downsides of these tax hikes as they head to the polls.
Photo Credit: Bonnie Moreland
Norquist: 50 Cent Speaks the Truth About Biden Tax Hike. "No one should have 62% of any dollar they earned taken by the government."
Posted by Isabelle Morales on Tuesday, October 20th, 2020, 1:00 PM PERMALINK Follow @isabellealiciaa
Under Joe Biden's tax hikes, many households and small businesses will end up paying a top marginal tax rate above 60 percent.
Biden has vowed to steeply raise personal income taxes and impose an additional 12.4 percent payroll tax (along with a doubling of the capital gains rate to 40 percent). New York state has an 8.82 percent income tax and New York City takes another 3.876 percent
Referring to the combined Biden-NY-NYC tax burden on Monday, the rapper 50 Cent tweeted, "62% are you out of ya [expletive] mind."
50 Cent, or Curtis James Jackson III, was born in Queens, New York City and raised in its South Jamaica neighborhood. His mom Sabrina dealt drugs to get by, and raised Curtis until he was eight years old. She tragically died in a fire, leaving Curtis to be raised by his grandmother.
At the time, the area was one of the toughest neighborhoods in New York. 50 Cent described how, in this environment, people had two options: welfare or hustling. From the time he was 12 years old, 50 Cent internalized these options and became a hustler. His love for rapping began in a friend's basement and, in 2002, his music career took off.
Despite having believed that he was bound to a lifestyle of welfare dependency or hustling, 50 Cent found his own way out, and broke the cycle of poverty and crime that he thought were his only options. It's no surprise that he doesn't take kindly to Joe Biden and New York politicians who want to take 62 cents of any dollar of earnings.
"50 Cent speaks the truth when he says no one should have 62% of any dollar they earned taken by government. 50 Cent speaks not just for rappers but for millions of small businessmen and women who would be hit by the high tax rates threatened by Biden and New York," said Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform.
Check out ATR's compilation of Biden tax hike statements at www.atr.org/HighTaxJoe
Photo Credit: TigerDirect.com
Biden, Harris, and Greenfield Vow to Abolish Iowa's Right to Work Status
Posted by John Kartch, Isabelle Morales on Tuesday, October 20th, 2020, 11:20 AM PERMALINK Follow @johnkartch, isabellealiciaa
Iowa has been a Right to Work state since 1947. But that will come to an end under Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and Theresa Greenfield (D).
As seen on video and in writing, Biden and Harris vow to ban Right to Work laws which protect 166 million Americans in 27 states, more than half the U.S. population. Right to Work laws allow workers the freedom of employment without forced membership in a labor union or forced payment to a union boss.
Joe Biden said: "We should change the federal law [so] that there is no Right to Work allowed anywhere in the country. For real. Not a joke. Not a joke."
Kamala Harris said: "Banning Right to Work laws. That needs to happen."
Click here or below to watch Kamala Harris and Joe Biden vow to abolish Right to Work:
Harris and Biden also documented their anti-Right to Work position in writing here and here. And both have endorsed active legislation called the PRO Act which bans Right to Work. The PRO Act legislation is live ammunition, having already passed the Democrat-run U.S. House of Representatives. In the Senate, it has 40 Democrat co-sponsors and one self-described socialist co-sponsor, Bernie Sanders.
As stated in her op-ed in the Globe Gazette, Theresa Greenfield, the Iowa Democratic Senate candidate, endorses the PRO Act as well, meaning Iowa would lose its Right to Work status.
Right to Work states outperform non-Right to Work states:
- Right to Work states experience stronger growth in the number of people employed, growth in manufacturing employment, and growth in the private sector. According to the National Institute for Labor Relations Research, the percentage growth in the number of people employed between 2007-2017 in Right to Work states was 8.8%, and 4.2% in forced-unionism states. Growth in manufacturing employment between 2012-2017 in Right to Work states was 5.5%, and 1.7% in forced-unionism states. The percentage growth in the private sector from 2007-2017 in Right to Work states was 13.0%, and 10.1% in forced-unionism states.
- Right to Work laws increase individual life satisfaction and economic sentiment. A study by Christos Makridis of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) found that Right to Work laws are associated with an increase in self-reported current life satisfaction, expected future life satisfaction, and sentiments about current and future economic activity among workers, as Forbes describes. The study explains that "these improvements in well-being are consistent with an increase in competition among unions, which prompts them to provide higher quality services that are valued by their members." As the Heritage Foundation explains, "It was no accident that foreign automobile brands located their U.S. plants primarily in right-to-work states like Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee."
- Forced-unionism states experience severe out-migration. An analysis by Stan Greer of the National Institute for Labor Relations Research found that forced unionism states, between 2007-2017, experience net migration of -7.4%, whereas Right to Work states experience a 1.6% growth in number of residents.
- Right to Work laws protect workers from union corruption. The Detroit Free Press reported that U.S. Department of Labor documents showed embezzlement from hundreds of union offices across the country over the past decade. In the past two years, "more than 300 union locations have discovered theft, often resulting in more than one person charged in each instance." Workers should not be forced to fund entities that have high instances of theft and corruption, especially when there are no similar demands that citizens must directly fund a private organization.
Consider yourself warned: If Democrats win full control of the federal government, Iowa's Right to Work will be gone overnight.
"No one should have to pay someone for the right to have a job. Forced union dues were recognized as wrong when congress passed the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947," said Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform. "Everyone in a free country has the right to work without being asked to pay off union bosses."
The 27 Right to Work states are: Florida, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Texas, Tennessee, Indiana, Kentucky, Nevada, Oklahoma, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wyoming, West Virginia, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas, Idaho, Utah, Kansas.
See Also:
Biden and Harris Threaten Independent Contractors and Freelancers Nationwide
Photo Credit: Phil Roeder
House Republicans Introduce Commitment to American GROWTH Act
Posted by Clara Diaz on Monday, October 19th, 2020, 1:46 PM PERMALINK
House Minority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and Ways and Means Ranking Member Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas) have released H.R. 11, "The Commitment to American Growth, Renewal, and Opportunities for Workers, Technology, and Health" (GROWTH) Act.
This legislation contains targeted tax cuts that will help the American economy rebound as the pandemic runs its course.
This effort from House Republicans draws a sharp contrast to Democrat nominee Joe Biden's plan to impose at least $4 trillion in new or higher taxes including income tax increases, business tax increases, and capital gains tax increases. As part of this proposal, Biden has called for repealing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), which will increase taxes on Americans at every income level.
The Commitment to American GROWTH Act will benefit workers, families, and small businesses with further tax cuts that will foster innovation, encourage research and development, and secure America's medical supplies through four main provisions:
Strengthening Pro-Growth Tax Cuts to Boost Jobs and Wages
First, the bill locks in key provisions from the Trump Tax Cuts that support American jobs and paychecks. This legislation would make full business expensing permanent, as well as the business interest limitation of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA).
Full business expensing reduces taxes by allowing businesses to deduct the cost of new investments (machinery, equipment etc.) in the year they are made, which incentivizes growth, increases productivity, creates jobs, and raises wages. This also simplifies the tax code by equalizing the tax treatment of new investments with other business expenses such as wages, rent, and healthcare costs.
In a post COVID-19 world, expensing will help businesses make vital investments as they seek to bring workers back, onshore manufacturing capabilities, and ramp up production. Making these provisions permanent will incentivize long-term investments by providing business certainty.
Supporting and Strengthening American Innovation
This bill also encourages investment in research and development (R&D) so American businesses can continue to make, buy, and sell American made products.
Much like full business expensing of new investments, full R&D expensing creates an incentive to increase capital investment, which leads to stronger economic growth, more jobs, and higher wages. The bill proposes doubling the R&D tax credit, which will encourage more American investment and economic growth. The R&D credit is a general business tax credit companies that incur research and development (R&D) costs in the United States.
Jobs tied to R&D are quality, high paying jobs. In 2017, the average wage for R&D related jobs was $134,978 – 2.4 times higher than the average wage, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Doubling the R&D tax credit will help create more of these quality jobs.
Incentivizing research will make America a more attractive place to grow a business, and it supports high-paying jobs in production and applied research, ultimately, a higher standard of living for all Americans.
Encouraging investments in advanced medical manufacturing
In addition, to strengthening R&D, the bill contains targeted reforms to strengthen American medical development so that our country is not overly reliant on China.
Startup businesses seeking to develop a cure usually have no revenue; therefore, they see no benefit from R&D credits. This provision fixes this aspect, but also provides additional liquidity to startups so they can continue their research. This credit is to be monetized in order to help pre-revenue medical research companies – such as small biotech firms on the frontlines of cures research. In addition, it encourages outside investment in infectious disease drug development firms by allowing any losses to offset other income.
Investments in advanced manufacturing will help the United States regain its status as a global leader in manufacturing. Growth in America's medical independence will help retain and create high paying jobs, support domestic innovation, and enhance national security—especially from China—and increase public health.
Providing liquidity for businesses as they seek to develop cures
This bill encourages growth and innovation in technology breakthroughs by incentivizing outside investment in startup medical research firms.
By giving additional tax benefits to investors in certain infectious disease drug development firms, this will help induce investment in medical research startups. This bill will allow America's innovators to create new companies, such as ones that are working on cures to deadly and rare diseases. H.R. 11 will allow research startups that change ownership to utilize net operating loss carrybacks which will give startup businesses an additional source of liquidity.
Growth in innovation and technology breakthroughs gives American innovators a leg up as they work on research and development of new technological findings.
The best path to rebuilding the economy is pro-growth policies, not tax hikes and intrusive regulations. The Commitment to American GROWTH Act contains a number of targeted provisions that will help the economy recover, policies that draw a sharp distinction to the tax hikes that Democrats support.
Photo Credit: Brook Ward


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Election Day was yesterday in the US, but so what? None of these politicians in NBA Jam were candidates. When the game hits the Xbox 360 and PS3, it will have the same roster - and unlockables - as the Wii version.
That means President Obama and Vice President Biden, Sarah Palin, John McCain, Dubya and Cheney and the happy Clinton couple. This promo shows how all of them perform and the hilarious images used to build their facial expressions. If you want to know each player's ratings, check out this breakdown.
And if you're wondering how EA Sports is doing this without these public figures' express written consent, check here.
NBA Jam arrives on the Xbox 360 and PS3 on November 16.


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Former OMB boss David Stockman told CNBC that Romney's vision of capitalism is not possible if the Federal Reserve continues to run the economy. Stockman said the only candidate that had it right was Ron Paul.
"He was the only one that had it right about the Fed," Stockman said. "The Fed is the heart of the problem. We have destroyed the capital markets, the money markets. Interest rates mean nothing. Everything is trading off the Fed. Wall Street isn't even home. It's a bunch of computers trading word clouds emitted by this central bank or that."
Stockman said that with the insane interest rate policies of the Fed, the crushing debt of entitlements and the neocon-driven war machine with a parasitical military-industrial complex in tow will continue to roll on unless something gives.
Facing the music will never happen "if you can keep borrowing free money forever because the Fed and these lunatics who are running it – and I use that word advisedly – are basically telling the whole world untruths about the cost of money, about the cost of risk, about how you allocate capital."
The Federal Reserve, of course, is not merely a gaggle of lunatics. It is a façade for a cartel of international banksters who know exactly what they are doing – destroying the greatest engine of wealth and prosperity the world has ever known.
The "moneyed vultures who control" the Federal Reserve, as Congressman Louis T. McFadden called them at the outset of the last Great Depression, are determined to bankrupt the government and impoverish the American people.
Before he was killed in a Korean Airlines 747 that was shot down by the Soviets, Congressman Larry P. McDonald said the "drive of the Rockefellers and their allies is to create a one-world government combining super capitalism and Communism under the same tent, all under their control." In order to accomplish this, they must destroy not only economic stability and growth, but also the Constitution and national sovereignty.
"We are on the verge of a global transformation," boasted David Rockefeller at a United Nations dinner in 1994. "All we need is the right major crisis, and the nations will accept the New World Order."
In August, David Stockman took Paul Ryan to the woodshed and chastised the Republicans for their many sins. "Thirty years of Republican apostasy — a once grand party's embrace of the welfare state, the warfare state and the Wall Street-coddling bailout state — have crippled the engines of capitalism and buried us in debt," Stockman wrote for the New York Times. "Mr. Ryan's sonorous campaign rhetoric about shrinking Big Government and giving tax cuts to 'job creators' (read: the top 2 percent) will do nothing to reverse the nation's economic decline and arrest its fiscal collapse."
Ryan, Romney, Obama and the hapless Biden – these are merely bit part actors in a larger drama that will eventually end in disaster. Ron Paul's diligent effort to audit the Fed was a good starting point and has produced tangible results, namely the revelation that the bankster cartel had secretly doled out $16 trillion to foreign banks and corporations, a factoid almost completely ignored, of course, by the establishment media.
Much more must be done soon. The Federal Reserve must be dismantled immediately and the banksters prosecuted for their criminal conspiracy to destroy America. Short of that, we can only expect to be not only fleeced, but as Jefferson warned, made homeless on the continent our fathers conquered.
"America was born of protest, revolution, and mistrust of government," writes Ron Paul. "Subservient societies neither maintain nor deserve freedom for long."
Source: http://www.infowars.com/stockman-our-problem-is-the-federal-reserve/