Transparency

This administration is pushing the edges of state power every chance they get. When your government wants to track you through cell phone info without having to get a warrant the cliff is close. "the Obama administration has argued that warrantless tracking is permitted because Americans enjoy no "reasonable expectation of privacy" in their--or at least their cell phones'--whereabouts. U.S. Department of Justice lawyers say that "a customer's Fourth Amendment rights are not violated when the phone company reveals to the government its own records" that show where a mobile device placed and received calls."
Something not mentioned here but is mentioned in a few other places is your cell phone can also be used as a microphone. I thought when Obama talked about transparency he was talking about government openness, 1984 here we come.

Protection

 A teenage girl beaten in a Seattle bus tunnel as three security guards who were following company orders looked on said Friday that she sought help from the guards and police but was rebuffed.
It's been said over and over neither police nor security guards are required to protect any one individual and the vast majority of the time the police are no more than the recorders of fact that show up well after the damage has been done.
  Robb at Sharp as a Marble has another take- Sharp as a Marble - That excuse didn't fly with the Germans.
Also deserving of a H/T is David Codrea 

Bigotry

From Dave Kopel over at The Volokh Conspiracy comes this explanation on the 2nd amendment reinforcing and allowing the 1st to be exercised. Pay attention, VPC and the Brady Campaign when you disarm people you empower the bullies and bigots. See Joe Huffman and Sebastian over at SIH for more thoughts.

Wrong on so many levels

NYC proving yet again why I wouldn't even think of visiting. Let's lock up the victim it's safer than going after real live criminals.
Hat tip to Tam.

A most excellent question

Kurt Hoffman has a question I would like to see answered by the VPC or Brady Bunch I am sure it would be enlightening.
St. Louis Gun Rights Examiner: 'Gun violence': why are other forms of violence preferable?

Not so paranoid

And I ask, whose paranoid are you?: Lessons from the Columbine School Shooting
Waiting for the state will get you killed.

"Top Ten Civil Liberties Abuses of the Income Tax" by Chris Edwards (Cato Institute: Daily Commentary)

"Top Ten Civil Liberties Abuses of the Income Tax" by Chris Edwards (Cato Institute: Daily Commentary)

Probably the most concise explanation of why I think our current tax system sucks. Not too long ago I thought the worst part was the inequality of it in that some not only pay no taxes but get money back.
What I think now is there are altogether too many ways the IRS can invade your privacy and in some cases ruin people with little to no accountability.
I am a big fan of user fees and consumption taxes as being more transparent and egalitarian not too mention it is much harder to be arbitrary in enforcement. The fact that I spent 3 years arguing with the IRS and still haven't got it completely straightened out versus Tim Geithner and the other privileged tax cheats we see in government.

Well done anonymous student guy

College Student Shoots, Kills Home Invader - News Story - WSB Atlanta
Apparently college students can tell when it is appropriate to shoot. It's too bad Mr Crook died because violent death is a bad thing on the other hand 10 innocents got to live which is the way it should be.

The Travis McGee Reader: So Much for Ethic Cleansing

The Travis McGee Reader: So Much for Ethical Cleansing

Huh, another politician who thinks he is exempt from taxes.