The IMF Destroys Iceland and Latvia

The International Monetary Fund operates primarily as a banker bailout machine. They cajole and tempt and confuse and threaten the leaders of governments worldwide to pay off the failed bets of the big bankers using the taxpayer funds of their countries. This has been going on a long time, at least since the early 1980s.

Thus, I am not in the teeniest bit surprised that the same thing is happening today in Iceland and Latvia.

This article by Michael Hudson has some of the details:

For the past decade Iceland has been a kind of controlled experiment, an extreme test case of neoliberal free-market ideology. ... Is there a limit, a point at which government will draw a line against taking on public responsibility for private debts beyond any reasonable capacity to pay without drastically slashing public spending on education, health care and other basic services? ...

The European Union and International Monetary Fund have told them to replace private debts with public obligations, and to pay by raising taxes, slashing public spending and obliging citizens to deplete their savings. Resentment is growing not only toward those who ran up these debts -- Iceland's bankrupt Kaupthing and Landsbanki with its Icesave accounts, and heavily debt-leveraged property owners and privatizers in the Baltics and Central Europe -- but also toward the neoliberal foreign advisors and creditors who pressured these governments to sell off the banks and public infrastructure to insiders.

This is the trick: replacing private debts with public obligations. Lots of people loaned money to banks and corporations in Iceland. They are now facing huge losses.

What is supposed to happen here is: they take their losses. There was no government guarantee. Why should someone with no relation to this business deal have to pay off their losses just because they happen to live in Iceland?

The government of Iceland may not actually have the money to pay this off. They would have to borrow it. When the IMF makes a "rescue loan" to a government, the money spends no time in Iceland or Latvia. It goes directly to the foreign creditors, in places like New York and London.

However, the debts remain, to be paid off by the taxpayers of Iceland. Taxes rise, which just makes a bad economic situation worse. Valuable and important services are cut -- precisely when they are most needed. Then, the IMF "advisors" come in and start to make a lot of demands.

For example, they may demand that the government sell off "public infrastructure" and the assets of failed banks (which still have considerable value) to pay off the loans which were used to bail out the bankers in New York and London. Who buys this "public infrastructure"?

Typically, it's the bankers in New York and London! Normally, at very good prices -- very, very good prices. Extraordinarily good prices.

Prices for assets in a crisis are normally very low. But, a government that can be coerced into bailing out the bankers can also usually be coerced into selling off state assets at values that no private owner would accept.

Hudson calls this "neoliberal free-market ideology." Of course, it has nothing to do with the principles of capitalism. You could call it a form of fascist imperialism. I think John Perkins, author of Confessions of an Economic Hit Man and The History of the American Empire, would agree with this terminology.

It is hard to tempt and cajole and confuse world leaders when you use unpleasant terms like "fascist imperialism." That's why these proposals are camouflaged with labels like "neoliberal free-market principles," when they have nothing to do with free-market principles.

It's not about "conservative" and "liberal." It's about us against the banker imperialists.

The IMF should be abolished.

“No One Should Die Because They Can’t Afford Health Care”

For many people (and yes I’m jumping to conclusions and making sweeping generalizations here) “No one should die because they can’t afford health care” is the weasel way of saying “I want someone else to pay for it” without sounding like a panhandler. So, take what follows with a grain of salt, OK?

On that note, someone’s Facebook status said:

No one should die because they cannot afford health care, and no one should go broke because they get sick. If you agree, please post this as your status for the rest of the day.

No one should die just because they were born in sub-Saharan Africa, either. But they do. Doesn’t make it fair, but it happens. For every “poor” or underprivileged Westerner complaining about their lack of “health care” (NB: even the poorest Americans have access to better health care than, I would venture to guess, 85% of the earth’s population has ever had), there are a million people living on $1 and a cup of rice each day — so cry me a fucking river.

Every one of us will die at the crossroads of some particular circumstances, time, and place.

Some of us die in our sleep. Some of us are merely in “the wrong place at the wrong time.” Some of us will die because the technology to cure what ails us has not yet been invented. Some of us will die because we made poor choices that presently impact our ability to care for ourselves. And some of us will die unfortunately through no direct fault of our own, because we can’t afford to pay for the technology that does exist.

To lament the fact that some people die under seemingly inopportune circumstances is folly; it ignores the lion’s share of the equation. Financial circumstances are a scapegoat, because at nearly any time and place where the individual isn’t DOA, a change in financial circumstances might forestall death for a few hours, days, weeks, or months.

You’ll get no arguments from me, if you say that “health care is too expensive”: blame the AMA cartel, the FDA, blame “Big Insurance”, etc. But National Healthcare is healthcare fascism, the insurers want guaranteed profits, guaranteed customers for life, and Uncle Sam to pay the bills. They want to sell you your own welfare.

You’ll get no arguments from me, if you say that “the system” needs to be reformed: specifically it needs to not be a system at all. People aren’t permitted under the law to care for themselves or to arrange for the care of others. Or because the consumer is not the customer, and the customer enjoys certain tax privileges that the consumer does not, etc. Or because people have been conditioned to believe that “insurance” should pay for an annual check-up and dental exams and all sorts of other routine maintenance instead of just providing for accidents and serious illnesses.

The problem is that health care, medicine, long term care, etc., is damned expensive. Government is the problem in health care, which keeps it unaffordable.

Asking or forcing others to pay the costs which you can’t afford will do nothing to actually solve that problem, it just shifts the burden, fucking up someone else’s life circumstances, exacerbating the problem for the future.

My Passive Aggressive Response to YouTube Yanking My Cybersecurity Video

YouTube disabled this video yesterday due to "Inappropriate Content." It obviously does NOT violate the Terms of Service, but there's no way to contact YouTube to appeal their decision.

It's too bad, since it had about 20k views and some really great discussion in the comments.

Worse, because of this "violation," we are now on probation and could have our account deleted without warning.

Lingle says government needs to be reworked

HONOLULU - Gov. Linda Lingle on Thursday warned Hawaii residents of a ''fundamental restructuring'' of state government, including layoffs and cuts to public assistance benefits, because of the state's continuing budget woes.

The governor said in a webcast that she plans to decrease payments to social service program beneficiaries and eliminate programs that can effectively be provided by federal or local agencies, or by volunteers.

Lingle said some state offices must be closed and some administrative duties consolidated in areas of government she oversees, which include health and welfare, business and economic development, transportation, and land and natural resources.

More layoff notices for state workers also are likely in coming months, Lingle said, adding to the nearly 1,200 employees who already have received such letters.

Her proposed changes are aimed at shoring up the state's budget, which is now $884 million in the red for the biennium that runs through June 2011.

''Even with all of the prudent cuts in spending we have already made, we are still facing a budget shortfall because we are spending at a rate that exceeds our actual and projected income,'' she said.

However, Lingle offered no specifics, including when the proposed restructuring would occur. ''As we make specific decisions, I will share them with you and the reasons for them,'' she said.

Hawaii's constitution gives the governor wide discretion over state spending that falls under her purview. The Legislature, which isn't scheduled to meet again until January, could call a special session and attempt to block or revise her actions, but that would take time and create a messy political fight.

The governor's Internet speech, which was marred by technical problems, came less than 24 hours before the start of binding arbitration hearings that will decide the next labor contract between the state and the Hawaii Government Employees Association. The union has nearly 30,000 members.

Lingle's timing annoyed Rep. Marcus Oshiro, D-Wahiawa-Poamoho, who charged that she was making an ''insincere and disingenuous attempt'' to sway the neutral member of the three-person arbitration panel toward siding with labor proposals from the state.

''It was more like an opening statement that one makes before the trial begins,'' said Oshiro, chairman of the House Finance Committee. ''When you hold these kinds of media events on the courthouse steps, it tells you that you may be uncertain about your case.''

Still, Oshiro said he welcomes a discussion about ending or shrinking state programs while defining what core services the state should provide.

Randy Perreira, executive director of HGEA, refuted Lingle's assertion that union leaders favor layoffs instead of furloughs.

''HGEA and its negotiating teams recognize that the members prefer furloughs to across-the-board pay cuts, and to that end have proposed furloughs effective in October,'' Perreira said in a statement.

Lingle had wanted to unilaterally furlough 15,600 state workers under her direct control for three days a month to help close the budget gap. But a state judge ruled that unconstitutional, and private talks on furloughs between state officials and the union have been fruitless.

The governor also reduced appropriations to the university system, the Department of Education and the Hawaii Health Systems Corp. by 14 percent in recent months.

In Thursday's address, Lingle said she will ''attempt to avoid'' more cuts to public schools and the University of Hawaii system. But she said she would urge educators to find other money to finance nonessential programs.

Lingle added that tax increases would hurt an already ailing economy, and draining the hurricane and other special funds would not fill the budget gap.

''These actions we must take are not unlike a business that loses one-third of its income and therefore must reprioritize its budget by scaling back on certain expenses and activities, and focusing on its core business,'' she said.

By HERBERT A. SAMPLE, The Associated Press

Tom Jefferson Tells Swedish TV: WHO Pandemic Criteria Lowered to Benefit BF

Check this link ...... http://bit.ly/CGapb

Who Is The Boss?

The bailouts were done to save the big corporations. The citizens paid taxes, or money was borrowed in our name, and the money went to the big corporations. The big corporations then gave out huge bonuses. Some of the corporations actually gave out the exact amount they received from bailouts as bonuses.

Health care reform is something that is for the citizens. So do we ask big corporations to pay taxes, so citizens can have health insurance? No, instead our government is about to pass a low requiring citizens to cough up tons of money, to give to big insurance corporations. That is "reform."

Here is how it is now: We exist to serve the big corporations. That is the purpose of our lives - to be a "productive" member of society. We go to school to learn the things that best serve the big companies. Then we beg to have a "job" which means giving up our brains and labor so someone else can get rich. Once we get a "job" we are "allowed" to have some time off once in a while, if we are lucky. Some of us are allowed to take time off if we get sick.

All of the benefits of our economy now flow to a top few. Vast proportions of the income and wealth now sit at the top 1%. And vast proportions of that sit at the top .01%

by Dave Johnson

Job market unlikely to recover until 2014

About 14.9 million people are out of work and looking for employment

New unemployment data show why it will take years for the labor market to recover from one of its fastest and deepest declines since World War II, even if an economic recovery is around the corner.

The Department of Labor report released Friday showed job cuts in August were lower than they've been in recent months. But a deeper look at the data shows why it will take millions of new jobs to dig American workers out of this recession's deep pit.

Unemployment for teenagers stands at nearly 26 percent. More than 758,000 workers are so discouraged they quit looking for jobs altogether, by far the biggest such number since the Department of Labor started tracking it in 1994. Damage continues to mount in the manufacturing, financial and construction sectors.

In all, some 14.9 million people are out of work and looking for a job.

This means it will take several quarters of economic growth to put the unemployed back to work. About 125,000 jobs need to be created each month just to keep up with the natural increase in the number of job seekers from immigration and population growth. Even if that number is surpassed in coming months, it will take a very long time to make up all the lost ground.

The data show that unemployment is deep, widespread and lasting longer than usual. Here are some details, by the numbers.

Worst downturn in decades
9.7 percent: The current unemployment rate, up from 4.7 percent when the recession began in December 2007.

10 percent: The rate expected to be hit by the end of this year.

2014: The year Moody's Economy.com predicts the unemployment rate will finally dip toward 5 percent, considered to be the "normal" level.

7.4 million: The number of jobs lost since the recession started.

A broader problem
24.9 weeks: The average duration that unemployed workers are out of a job, the highest level since the Department of Labor started tracking the figure in 1948.

4.98 million: The number of people unemployed longer than 27 weeks, also the highest level since World War II, although the growth in the size of the labor market over time contributes to that.

9 million: The number of workers forced to take part-time jobs who would rather work more hours.

33.1: Average hours in the workweek, near this summer's record low of 33 hours.

Different groups, different fortunes
25.5 percent: The unemployment rate among teenagers, the highest level on record since 1948, breaking the previous high of 24.1 set in 1982.

10.1 percent: The unemployment rate for men over age 20.

7.6 percent: The unemployment rate for women over age 20.

8.9 percent: The unemployment rate for white workers over 16 years old, short of the record 9.7 percent from 1982.

15.1 percent: The unemployment rate for black workers over 16 years old, far short of the record 21.2 percent from 1983.

13 percent: The unemployment rate for Latino workers over 16 years old, short of the record 15.7 hit in 1982.

After the bubble
1.4 million: The number of construction jobs lost since December 2007 as the housing crisis intensified.

65,000: The number of construction jobs lost in August, mostly in nonresidential and heavy construction.

537,000: The number of financial sector jobs lost since the recession began, including 28,000 shed in August.

829,000: The number of retail jobs lost since the recession started and consumers pulled back spending, including 10,000 lost in August.

Click for related content

Unemployment rate jumps to 9.7 percent

Silver lining
544,000: The net increase in health care jobs since the recession began, with 28,000 being added in August.

2.6 percent: The rise in average hourly earnings over the last year, with a boost of 6 cents in August bringing the average to $18.65.

0.8 percent: The smaller increase in overall weekly earnings over the last year, which was held back by workers getting fewer hours.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, unless otherwise noted.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

新加坡‧聖淘沙名勝春節前開幕‧首年料吸引1300萬遊客人次

（吉隆坡）新加坡聖淘沙名勝世界將於明年農歷新年前正式開幕，預料首年將吸引1200萬至1300萬遊客人次到訪。

聖淘沙名勝世界副總監（企業傳播）吳為強表示，聖淘沙名勝世界是區域少有以家庭旅遊為設計的主題娛樂城，除了備有賭場外，還有主題公園、海洋生物園、劇場、購物街等娛樂設備，絕對比同區域如澳門賭場更適合全家人旅遊。

新加坡聖淘沙名勝世界概念圖。（圖：星洲日報）

他說，新加坡聖淘沙名勝世界的1300萬遊客人次中，將有60%是外國遊客。

“其中馬來西亞、中國和印度是我們最大的外國市場。

明年新年期間開放時，只剩約30%的酒店未開放而已，其他70%設施及酒店已經準備好，迎接遊客。”

推出大馬遊客家庭配套

聖淘沙名勝世界是雲頂集團旗下最新、最大規模的綜合娛樂城。

吳為強在雲頂集團安排下，週四（9月3日）與中文媒體交流，並講解聖淘沙名勝世界最新進展時指出，為了吸引更多大馬遊客來訪，他特地來馬在MATTA旅遊展設攤子宣傳外，也將在未來公佈特別為馬來西亞遊客而設的巴士服務，屆時將提供從大馬直接送往聖淘沙名勝世界的服務。

他說，他們將在11月召開正式新聞發佈會公佈票價、優惠、配套等詳情，並將會為大馬遊客特別推出家庭配套。

耗資65億9000萬新元
東南亞首個主題公園

坐落在新加坡聖淘沙島的聖淘沙名勝世界，是新加坡雲頂耗資65億9000萬新元興建的娛樂城，占地49公頃的聖淘沙名聲世界將為全家遊客提供多元化的精彩活動。

聖淘沙名勝世界游樂場備有賭場、東南亞首個環球影城主題公園、海洋生物園及海事博物館等等景點。其中環球影城設有全球最高的雙軌過山車之一、變形金剛娛樂設備以及好萊塢達到、失落世界、紐約、科幻城市等七大主題區等。

至於海洋生物園則是全球最大規模的海洋館，超過約70萬種海豚、鯊魚、鯨魚等海洋生物將在8公頃的透明世界里展出。

聖淘沙名勝世界將會推出Hard Rock、Equarius、邁克爾酒店等六家風格各異的酒店，提供1800間房間。

中國‧川震災民示威不滿賠償

（中國‧北京）中國四川去年大地震災區週三（9月2日）有災民走上街頭示威，不滿拆遷的房屋賠償太少。

綿陽市的一名商人稱，大約200人坐在公路上阻塞交通，許多警察把他們圍起來。

香港的中國人權民運信息中心稱，示威者來自北川，當地正在興建新市，但要拆走數以千計的房屋和臨時房屋，但民眾不滿賠償太少。

一名餐館侍應表示，示威週三開始，在綿陽市政府大樓旁。聽聞曾發生一些衝突。綿陽市政府暫時未有評論。

台灣‧兩岸關係是否受損‧達賴：半年後才知

（台灣‧台北）正在台灣訪問的西藏流亡精神領袖達賴喇嘛表示，兩岸關係會否因他訪台而受損，至少要半年後才看得出來。

達賴訪台觸動兩岸敏感的神經，但他週三（9月2日）接受台灣媒體專訪時，語帶輕鬆地說，有些專家喜歡用權謀角度看待他的到來，但他並不在意。

至於會不會擔心兩岸關係因此受損，他說：“會出現甚麼影響，現在說還太早，至少要等半年至1年才會逐漸浮現。”

他聲稱，這些年他經常前往世界各地宣揚佛教中心思想，但“不管我到哪裡，都不會帶有任何政治本質”。

隨時準備與北京會談

另外，達賴在接受路透社專訪時表示，他的立場非常明確，只要北京當局願意，他隨時準備和北京當局討論西藏問題。

中國‧“朝兵沒越境”‧否認美女記者境內被捕

（中國‧北京）中國否認早前獲朝鮮特赦釋放的2名美國女記者，是在中國境內被朝鮮士兵拘捕。

2名女記者向美國媒體表示，3月在中朝邊境採訪時誤闖朝鮮國境，雖迅速返回中國境內，但朝方士兵仍越境拘捕。

姜瑜表示，相關部門在瞭解後，並沒有發生朝兵越境的情況。

與此同時，她也證實，美國對朝政策特別代表博斯沃思，和朝鮮副外交部長金永日，目前同時在中國訪問。

新加坡‧看表演喝飲品收1450令吉‧6獅城客遊泰被敲詐

（新加坡）6名獅城客光顧曼谷酒吧，結果誤進黑店，結賬時才發現賬單比原本說明的高出19倍，達1萬45000泰銖（約馬幣1450令吉）。酒吧負責人恫言，不付清全額就得跳脫衣舞，他們最終給了1萬元泰銖（約馬幣1000令吉）才脫身。

24歲公務員郭齊惠說，她與5個朋友，今年5月結伴到泰國曼谷的帕篷夜市遊玩時，到一家酒吧觀看表演和喝飲料，每個人收費100泰銖（約馬幣10令吉），怎料結賬時，賬單高達1萬45000泰銖。

賬單比原價高出19倍

“當時很多舞小姐到我們面前，喝飲料和要求我們給小費，結果酒吧竟把那些舞小姐喝的飲料，也算在我們的頭上。”

她透露，他們拒絕付款，酒吧派人把他們團團包圍，不讓他們離開，甚至恫言不付清款項，就要他們上台表演脫衣舞。

“整個場面很難看，我們說要報警，他們說要找黑幫對付我們，我們既生氣又擔憂，經過一輪討價還價後，最終支付1萬元泰銖，才得以離開。”

服役員訴被敲詐600

另一方面，一名國民服役人員代爾（21歲）也有類似經驗，他和朋友被敲詐6000泰銖（約馬幣600令吉），比實際費用高出11倍。

“他們派出兩名職員來看著我們，我們不敢拔腿就跑。”

他懷疑，朋友的飲料可能被下藥，因為他只喝一些就醉醺醺。

據悉，今年在曼谷至少發生了3起類似事件。不過，旅客被敲詐後，多數因為嫌麻煩而沒有去報警。

泰國旅遊局吁請旅客在面對類似事件時，不應該嘗試解決問題，而應該支付相關費用，然後尋求旅遊警察援助，以討回款項。

旅遊業者提醒勿貪小便宜

獅城旅遊業者受詢時說，類似的敲詐事件時有所聞，他們提醒顧客勿貪小便宜，否則得不償失。

大通旅遊高級副總經理（市場公關）佘柳華指出，現在很多人去曼谷都是自助行程，但是世界上沒有免費的午餐，遊客最好參加當地旅遊團，讓地陪帶他們去正當的地方。

曾兄弟旅行社市場通訊高級執行人員曾素美說，帕篷的酒吧已營業數十年，公司不便對這些酒吧採取的商業手段作出評論，只能提醒顧客在旅遊時要精明一點。

“每個旅遊地點都有旅遊陷阱，如果遊客擔心陷入讓他們感到不舒服的局面或不確定付款程序，事前應該預先問清楚收費方式。”

新加坡‧失信值2000萬名錶‧錶行主管承認25罪

（新加坡）表行前職員兩年內，一而再失信公司和客戶約20隻名表，去年聖誕節晚上，更是大膽地一次過掃走公司366隻名表！

35歲的余傑利（譯音），案發時在高登鐘表行擔任主管。他今日（週五，9月4日）在法庭承認失信386隻名表，總值超過800萬元（逾1958萬令吉）。

庭上透露，去年聖誕節晚上，被告最後一次在萊佛士城購物中心的高登表行犯案時，關掉警鈴，一口氣將366隻名表裝入兩個旅行袋裡。

在泰自首引渡回新

過後，他回家收拾了一些東西，便直奔兀蘭關卡，前往馬來西亞，再逃去泰國。

案發後，他成為國際刑警名單上的通緝犯。

今年3月17日，他在律師的陪伴下，到曼谷的新加坡駐泰國大使館自首，2天後，他被引渡回國。

被告共面對25項失信控狀，指他從從2006年11月到去年12月間，失信公司和客戶共386隻名表，其中絕大部份是失信公司手表，總值超過810萬元。此外，他也失信公款2萬7137元。

案情顯示，被告除了在去年聖誕節晚上，在下班後偷偷潛回公司拿走366隻名表，過去幾次他也曾趁值勤時，失信公司和客戶約20隻名表。

案發後，被告所交出的名表和現款，總值約462萬余元。

新加坡‧惡妻鞭夫打到流血‧鄰居看不過眼報警

（新加坡）家有惡妻，男子在組屋住家外的走廊，被妻子揮動藤條，邊罵邊打，驚動不少居民。妻子當眾打丈夫的過程，被居民拍下，甚至有居民打抱不平報警。

這起家暴事件於上週六傍晚6時左右，發生在淡濱尼組屋區。遭鞭打的丈夫是一名房產經紀，年約30多歲，與妻子及一個年幼的孩子同住。

居民看到丈夫在走廊被妻子鞭打，將過程拍下。

其中一名目擊的男居民說，事發時，他從住家的窗口，親睹男子在走廊上，被妻子大聲責罵以及鞭打。

“男子沒有反抗，只是不斷閃避，一個打，一個閃，在走廊上來回糾纏，前後鬧了半小時。”

另一名居民也看到妻子在走廊上揮起藤條，猶如教訓小孩子一般地不停抽打丈夫。

男子的雙手，膝蓋以及肩膀處傷痕累累，傷口還流著血。

據居民說，男子過後坐在樓梯口，掩面失聲痛哭，簡直快崩潰，處境堪憐。

據知，男子過後被鎖在屋外，不得其門而入，入夜時分鋪了一塊床褥走廊上便席地而睡，居民見狀忍無可忍撥電報警。

警方受詢時證實接獲報案，並派遣警員到有關單位進行調解。

惡妻5招懲罰丈夫

妻子使出5大招，懲罰丈夫。

鄰居們都曾目睹，丈夫多次在大庭廣眾下，被妻子懲罰。妻子使出的招數如下︰
跪地認錯︰有居民見過丈夫被喝令下樓，在眾目睽睽下拋開男性尊嚴，跪在樓下的草地上，向樓上的惡妻道歉認錯。
自掌嘴巴︰惡妻曾喝令丈夫，用力掌摑自己。
拉耳朵︰惡妻會像懲罰小孩子一樣，要丈夫跪在地上拉耳朵。
藤鞭︰惡妻揮藤條，猛抽丈夫
睡走廊︰把丈夫趕出屋外，讓他在走廊過夜。

多次驚動警方上門
丈夫處處維護妻子

警察多次上門，丈夫卻處處維護妻子。

據居民說，惡妻多次發難，曾多次驚動警方到場，每次都是居民報警，但丈夫總會向警方表示一切沒事。

據悉，男子是標準的“家庭主夫”，負責煮飯，帶孩子上學放學，大小家務也都由他一手包辦。妻子經常打扮得十分漂亮，穿短裙出門，凌晨才回家。

韓國‧用來生產核武‧朝提煉濃縮鈾晉尾聲

（韓國‧首爾）朝鮮今日（週五，9月4日）宣佈，提煉濃縮鈾的項目已進入最後階段，待完成提煉後，就可用於生產核武。

分析家指出，這是朝鮮展現和解姿態一個多月以來，再次對國際社會施壓的新策略。

朝鮮作出上述宣佈時，正值美國朝鮮特使博斯沃思開始對亞洲4國進行訪問，跟各國討論該如何將平壤拉回到六方會談談判桌上。

朝中社（KCNA）引述朝鮮駐聯合國常任代表發給聯合國安理會主席的一封信說：“實驗性濃縮鈾提煉已經成功進行，並且進入尾聲。”

朝鮮之前進行的核武試爆，均是使用钚元素提煉的燃料棒。如果成功提煉濃縮“鈾”，將意味它掌握另一個生產核武的途徑。

為對話和制裁作準備

朝鮮補充，再處理廢核燃料棒的工作正處於最後階段，提煉出的钚元素正在武器化。

“我們同時為對話和制裁作準備。如果聯合國安理會的一些常任理事國有意先施行制裁再進行對話，我們將進一步提昇核威懾，再跟他們展開對話。”

另外，韓國聯合參謀長表示，朝鮮一艘巡邏艇週五早上短暫進入韓國水域，但沒有發生任何事故。這項舉動在警示朝韓緊張局勢仍未平息。

韓誓堅決回應朝挑釁

韓國週五誓言，將堅決回應朝鮮的“威脅和挑釁”。

外交部發表聲明稱：“朝鮮的態度跟聯合國決議背道而馳，我們感到很遺憾。”

發言人文泰瀛表示，美國朝鮮特使博斯沃斯即將從北京飛往首爾進行訪問，屆時雙方將進行“深入會談”。

博斯沃斯在北京表示，“關注”朝鮮的宣佈。

泰國‧汽車爆炸1死12傷

（泰國‧也拉府）泰國警方表示，泰南也拉府今日（週五，9月4日）發生威力強勁的汽車炸彈爆炸，造成至少1名邊境巡邏警察喪生，12人蒙受輕重傷。

警方指出，炸彈被藏在小貨車內。這輛小貨車在靠近停放在路邊的數輛警車後引爆。當時，這些警察正在買早餐。

一名不願具名的高級警官告訴法新社：“炸彈爆炸造成極大的破壞。至少1名邊境巡邏警察喪生，以及包括2名警察在內的12人受傷。”

目擊者稱，有3輛車子，包括藏有炸彈的小貨車在爆炸發生後徹底燒毀。警方估計，這炸彈含有50公斤的炸藥。

台灣‧17年來首次‧台放棄爭取入聯

（台灣‧台北）台灣外交部今日（週五，9月4日）證實，台灣17年來首次放棄推動台灣加入聯合國提案。

聯合國大會將於9月15日在紐約召開，台灣通常會公開請求邦交國在聯合國常年大會上提出台灣入聯提案。

不過，外交部副發言人章計平說：“為了顧全大局，我們今年不會推動台灣入聯提案。”

在中國長期反對下，過去16年以來，台灣一直無法加入聯合國，尤其前總統陳水扁在任期間，兩岸關係陷入低谷，民進黨政府甚至推動“入聯公投”，不但觸怒北京，也引起華府不悅。

今年，台灣決定不再委託邦交國在聯大上提案，這是台北自1993年起推動聯合國案以來，最重大政策轉變，改為積極爭取加入聯合國專門機構，目標包括世界氣象組織、世界銀行、世界糧農組織等。

吳邦國台立院代表先後訪美

另一方面，中國全國人大常委會委員長吳邦國近期將赴美國華盛頓訪問，台灣立法院“台美國會議員聯誼會”也將在下週美國國會復會後訪問華盛頓。分析指出，這是兩岸的議會外交。

吳邦國所率領的代表團從8月31日到9月12日訪問古巴、巴哈馬與美國。這是中國立法機構最高領導人近20年來，首次對美國正式訪問。

中國‧南京天價中秋禮盒‧一對大閘蟹賣5萬

（中國‧南京）中秋將至，又到大閘蟹即將上市的季節。以出產螃蟹聞名的江蘇省南京市高淳縣，近日推出天價大閘蟹禮盒，一對大閘蟹，竟然要價9萬9990元人民幣（約馬幣5萬1650令吉），引起社會嘩然！

黃金製盒子
純銀造用具

中秋將至，又快到菊黃蟹肥的時節，陽澄湖大閘蟹中秋食蟹正當時，南京商家趁勢推出了天價大閘蟹禮盒，2隻螃蟹要價近10萬元人民幣！

據報導，南京市大閘蟹4對裝的禮盒，售價約在人民幣千元左右，但南京市面上出現限量100套的“黃金龍鳳蟹”禮盒，一對大閘蟹的售價接近10萬元人民幣，只因它的盒子包裝是純金。

用黃金製成的盒子中，公蟹的包裝盒有200克左右，母蟹的包裝盒有150克左右，成本價都要6、7萬元人民幣。

此外，隨禮盒附送的贈品為純銀的吃蟹用具“蟹八件”，包括小方桌、腰圓錘、長柄斧、長柄叉、圓頭剪、鑷子、籤子、小匙等。

推出這款大閘蟹禮盒的是當地一家大閘蟹實業有限公司，公司負責人稱，目前預訂情況良好，訂購的多數是商業客戶。

商人被抨引人公然行賄

報導稱，中秋節是中國官場、商界互相送禮的旺季，但自從當局4年前叫停天價月餅後，藉以公然行賄的“傳統節日高價禮品”市場出現空缺。

因此，有民眾批評商人看中螃蟹屬農產品，不受商品包裝的限制，因而打擦邊球，推出天價螃蟹，讓人公然行賄。

September 11th First Responders Testimony

Check this link ....... http://bit.ly/29zyqg

Forget Van Jones, The Majority Of Americans Question 9/11

Efforts to skew 9/11 skepticism as a lunatic fringe belief are disproved by the polls

Controversial Fox News television host Glenn Beck along with a host of other establishment talking heads are again attempting to create the perception that questioning the official story behind 9/11 is a fringe belief, when in fact numerous polls show that the majority of Americans have questions about the attacks as the tragedy approaches its eighth anniversary.

Citing the fact that Obama’s green jobs czar Van Jones, who is increasingly and justifiably coming under fire from conservatives in light of his Communist rhetoric and his socialist ideals, signed a petition in 2004 calling for a proper investigation into whether the U.S. government allowed 9/11 to happen, Beck and others have used the “9/11 truther” label as a smear with which to further attack Van Jones’ credibility.

During his show yesterday, Beck tied Van Jones’ advocacy for 9/11 truth to his “radical, progressive and Communist nonsense” and implied that questions about 9/11 truth were held only by a small minority of mainly leftist Hollywood personalities.

However, despite efforts to portray people with questions about 9/11 as some kind of lunatic fringe minority, numerous polls in the years since the attacks manifestly prove that a majority of Americans share doubts and questions about the 9/11 attacks. Those people include former presidents and respected intelligence veterans, not merely leftist progressives as Beck insinuates.

The Parliament of Japan, the former President of Italy, and widely-respected CIA veteran Robert Baer have all questioned the official story behind 9/11.

Since the attacks, a top former member of Tony Blair’s cabinet, Germany’s Secretary of Defense and the founder of Reagonomics have all slammed the official story – along with a cacophony of former government, military, intelligence and political professionals.

In addition, the majority of victim’s family members doubt the official story and have been pushing for a new investigation for years – as attested to by Bill Doyle, head of the largest victim’s family support group.

An October 2006 New York Times/CBS poll found that a paltry 16% of Americans thought the government was telling the truth about 9/11 and the intelligence prior to the attacks, meaning 84% doubted the accuracy of the official story.

A May 2006 Zogby poll found that over 70 million Americans supported a new investigation into 9/11 and less than half of the American public trusted the official 9/11 story or believed the attacks were adequately investigated. The figure supporting a new investigation rose to 51% of Americans in a September 2007 poll.

In addition, the same poll found that 67% also faulted the 9/11 Commission for not investigating anomalous collapse of World Trade Center 7.

As far back as August 2004, another Zogby poll established the fact that half of New Yorkers believe there was government complicity in 9/11.

Van Jones has since recanted and stated that he does not agree with the petition to which he signed his name in an attempt to diffuse the controversy. However, millions of Americans across the country, a majority of people, still have unanswered questions about 9/11 that won’t be buried by the establishment’s attempt to link 9/11 truth with the increasingly discredited figure of Van Jones.

Watch the video of Beck below.

The Real Lincoln

Leviathan in One Lesson
A podcast with Tom DiLorenzo.

Single-Payer Groceries, Anyone?
Tom DiLorenzo on the socialist principle.

Socialized Healthcare vs. the Laws of Economics
Tom DiLorenzo has bad news for Obama.

How They Lie About Lincoln
Tom DiLorenzo on the latest howlers from Newt.

Who Will Regulate the Regulators?
Tom DiLorenzo on the proposed Fed dictatorship.

Fascialism
Tom DiLorenzo on the new American system.

The 'Libertarian' Fed
Tom DiLorenzo on a malicious myth.

The Rush Towards Obama Socialism
Tom DiLorenzo on how to stop it.

The Attempt To Silence Walter Block
Tom DiLorenzo on the people who tried.

Vicious Greenankeism
Tom DiLorenzo on the Fed's "Yellow Peril" lie.

Abe the Mass Murderer
A "Lincoln scholar" comes clean.

Stimulating the Total State
Tom DiLorenzo on Obama's Hamiltonian roots.

Abraham Delano Messiah
Tom DiLorenzo on the god-president.

That Insensitive Walter Block
Not.

Pay To Play: Why the Fuss?
It's just the criminal gang called government, says Tom DiLorenzo.

Obama's Porcine Infrastructure
Tom DiLorenzo on the "stimulus."

The Lynching of Walter Block
Tom DiLorenzo on the academic left's attempted silencing of dissent.

Every Feminist's Nightmare
Is it Walter Block?

Abraham Obama?
Tom DiLorenzo on the Lincolnian team of liars.

Tales from the Academic Loony Bin
Tom DiLorenzo on the Loyola Baltimore idea police and Walter Block.

Recipe for a New Great Depression
Tom DiLorenzo on Obama's neo-New Deal.

Corrupt Birth
Tom DiLorenzo on American central banking.

Socialist or National Socialist
Take your pick.

Crackpot Egalitarianism
Tom DiLorenzo on how it caused the subprime crisis.

More Lies From the Regime Street Journal
Tom DiLorenzo on a fake banking history.

Our Founding Financial Dictator?
The opposite of a real capitalist.

Don't Vote
Be patriotic instead, says Thomas DiLorenzo.

Hamilton's Curse
Alexander Hamilton's economic and political philosophy is the root of the problem, says Thomas DiLorenzo.

Dishonest Abe
Tom DiLorenzo podcast on the founder of the second republic.

The Call of the Tyrant
Tom DiLorenzo on Abe et al.

The Never-Ending War on American Freedom
Tom DiLorenzo on who killed the Constitution.

More Hokum From Time Magazine
Tom DiLorenzo on comic-book history.

The Myth of the Independent Fed
Tom DiLorenzo on lying textbooks and mass media.

Hamilton's Curse
Tom DiLorenzo podcast with Lew Rockwell on the father of the Fed.

How the West Ended Slavery
But not the US.

How Capitalism Saved America
Tom DiLorenzo is interviewed by Lew Rockwell on the real meaning of freedom (podcast).

Hamilton Lied in the Federalist Papers
His neocon descendants still lie.

The Founding Father of Constitutional Subversion
Tom DiLorenzo on Alexander Hamilton, and the Hamiltonians today.

Fanatical Yankee Utopians
Tom DiLorenzo on the US ancestors of the neocons.

Mortgages for Guaranteed Defaulters
The federal government ordered it, says Thomas DiLorenzo.

The Truth About World War II
Thomas DiLorenzo on Human Smoke, by Nicholson Baker.

Are There Limits to Lincoln Idolatry?
Or to smearing dissenters? Apparently not.

Making Saints of Monsters
Thomas DiLorenzo on official US history.

Speaking Truth to the Lincoln Cult
Thomas J. DiLorenzo on the views of an African-American icon.

Judge Napolitano on Lincoln
A great jurist on America's first dictator.

The Jefferson of Our Time
Thomas DiLorenzo on Ron Paul.

It's Time To End Hamilton's Curse
Thomas DiLorenzo on Jeffersonianism and Ron Paul.

A Nation of Sheep
Andrew Napolitano is required reading for Ron Paul revolutionaries, says Thomas DiLorenzo.

The American Dictatorship Institute
Thomas DiLorenzo on the supreme soviet of neoconservatism.

The Savior of the World
Was it Jesus Christ, or Abraham Lincoln?

Enemies of Liberty Love Lincoln
Thomas DiLorenzo explains why (video).

Hillary in Drag
Thomas DiLorenzo on the governor of Maryland.

Totalitarians Among Us
Thomas DiLorenzo on neocons, Fredheads, Christojihadists, and other enemies of freedom.

Beltwayites Love Fred Thompson
And not Ron Paul.

Why the Military Fails To Protect Us
Thomas DiLorenzo on Lincolnites in power.

Brass Abe in Richmond
Thomas DiLorenzo on a fitting tribute to a corrupt tyrant.

They Hate Our Freedoms
The neocons, that is. Article by Thomas J. DiLorenzo.

The Government-Created Subprime Mortgage Meltdown
Thomas DiLorenzo on who's to blame, and what to do about it.

Neocon Lies About Lincoln
Thomas J. DiLorenzo on party hacks, propagandists, and apologists.

Malice Toward All, Charity Towards None
Thomas DiLorenzo on the foundations of the American state.

Happy Elected Dictator Day
Thomas DiLorenzo on the key US president.

Political Smash-and-Grab
Thomas DiLorenzo on eminent domain.

Republican Reconstruction
No better in Iraq than in the American South.

Foreign Views of the 'Civil War'
Thomas DiLorenzo on the important new book by Charles Adams.

The Deified Abe
Thomas DiLorenzo on the nasty federal religion.

Refusing To Kowtow to Bush
Thomas DiLorenzo on Jim Webb's fight against political correctness.

Rich Rulers
And a nation of chumps and suckers.

Gatekeepers of Political Correctness
Thomas DiLorenzo on "Publishers Weekly."

Death By Government
Thomas J. DiLorenzo on the missing chapter.

Hurrah for 'Sweatshops'
They help the poor, among their other virtues.

Lincoln Unmasked
He was a worse tyrant than you thought, says Thomas DiLorenzo.

America's Temple to Political Plunder
Thomas DiLorenzo on Bill Moyers and the Lincoln Memorial.

The Fatherland Protection Racket
Thomas J. DiLorenzo on Homeland Security Scams, by James T. Bennett.

The Truth About the 'Robber Barons'
And the myths.

My Pilgrimage to The Shrine
Thomas DiLorenzo visits Lincoln's Springfield, Illinois.

Vote for Me and World War III
Thomas DiLorenzo on Newt and other neocons.

Traitors to the American Revolution
Thomas DiLorenzo on Hamiltonian mercantilists and other evildoers.

Bully Boy
Thomas DiLorenzo on the neocons' favorite president.

The Men Who Destroyed the Constitution
Thomas DiLorenzo on The Constitution in Exile, by Judge Andrew Napolitano.

Lincoln's Pro-Slavery Record
Thomas DiLorenzo on the Abe cult's coverup.

Should the Wal-Mart Haters Get Their Way?
Thomas DiLorenzo on the union-inspired attacks on a great company.

Happy Secession Day
Thomas J. DiLorenzo on the real meaning of the 4th.

The Real Gougers
Thomas DiLorenzo on the tax collectors.

A House Undivided Cannot Stand
Thomas J. DiLorenzo on the framers vs. Lincoln.

America's Jacobin Ideologues
Thomas DiLorenzo on neocons and Lincolnites.

The Latest Defamation of Jefferson
Confusing him with Lincoln.

A President's Mission To Destroy the Press
Abe, that is.

The Union Conspiracy Against Wal-Mart Workers
Thomas DiLorenzo on what's really happening.

The Lincoln Cult
How appropriate that a dishonest court historian is now the high priestess.

In Defense of the Windfall Profits Tax
A political one.

4,000 Years of Price Controls
You would think the "price-gouging" maniacs would learn.

The Real Lincoln, and So Much More
Audio and video lectures by Thomas DiLorenzo. And see his two recent books.

Government Lies
Thomas J. DiLorenzo on political marketing 101.

Left/Right Futility
It's centralism/decentralism that really counts, says Thomas J. DiLorenzo.

What Lincoln Believed
Michael Lind gets it half right, says Thomas DiLorenzo.

Repeal the Seventeenth Amendment
If we want a free society.

Treat Iraq Like the Conquered South
Or so says an historian-shill for the warfare state.

Why They Hate Tom Woods
The neocons and liberventionists,

Max Puts the Boot In
Thomas DiLorenzo on Weekly Standard lies.

War Empowers the Worst
Thomas DiLorenzo on The Economics of the Civil War, by Thornton and Ekelund (pdf).

'The Greatest Presidential Reflection Since Lincoln'
Thomas DiLorenzo on neocon hysteria and Bush.

The Tidal Wave of Foreign Aid
Thomas DiLorenzo on another disaster.

The 'Will of the People'
It's largely manufactured by our rulers, with the help of "the media," says Thomas DiLorenzo.

Lincolnite Hypocrisy
Thomas DiLorenzo on Lysander Spooner's fiery attack on Abe.

Giving Thanks
For private property.

American Fascism
Thomas DiLorenzo on our economic system.

Don't Touch Our Loopholes
In fact, give us more and bigger ones, says Thomas DiLorenzo.

Original Sins
Thomas DiLorenzo on the origins of the GOP.

More Trouble for the Lincoln Cartel
Official opinion is in disarray.

Two Anti-Capitalist Frauds
Thomas DiLorenzo on Schlosser and Ehrenreich.

Abolitionist Defends the South
Thomas J. DiLorenzo on Lysander Spooner and the Confederacy.

Intellectual Morons
Thomas J. DiLorenzo on idea men for the state.

The New Deal Debunked
Again. Maybe this time it will take.

Dissecting the Cabal
Thomas J. DiLorenzo on Leo Strauss and the Politics of American Empire by Ann Norton.

The American Gulag
Thomas J. DiLorenzo on Michelle Malkin, FDR, and Lincoln.

The Trade Union Lie
That the employer has superior bargaining position.

More Trouble for the Lincoln Cartel
Thomas J. DiLorenzo on a blow for historical truth – from the NY Times!

Totalitarian Lincolnites
Marx, Hitler, Jaffa, Buckley, et al.

Hate-Crime Art
Thomas DiLorenzo on the second crime at Gettysburg.

The Market Gives Us Leisure
Not unions. Article by Thomas J. DiLorenzo, author of How Capitalism Saved America.

Lincoln's 'Great Crime'
Thomas J. DiLorenzo on the arrest warrant for the chief justice.

Get Real!
Toss your pocket Constitution on the ash heap of history, says Thomas J. DiLorenzo.

Our Libertarian President
Thomas DiLorenzo on Grover Cleveland.

Happy Capitalist Revolution
Thomas J. DiLorenzo celebrates Independence Day.

Getting Fat
From the war on capitalism.

Al Gore Is Right
Thomas J. DiLorenzo on the Lincoln-like assault on civil liberties.

Anticapitalist Drivel
Thomas J. DiLorenzo on what to do about it.

The Real DiLorenzo
The 'Southern Partisan' interviews Thomas DiLorenzo, author of The Real Lincoln.

Beware of 'National Unity'
It's a dangerous mirage.

Neocons Love Lincoln
Hillary does too.

Moore-onomics
Michael Moore is just a labor union nut.

Rousseau of the Right
No wonder the neocons love Alexander Hamilton.

Abraham Ashcroft
And the unconstitution.

Champions of Nonsense
Neoconservatives defend Abe's protectionist looting as "Lockean."

The Yankee Myth
That the warmongering, statist part of the American character is morally superior to the peaceful, libertarian aspect.

Don't Vote
It's the patriotic thing to do, says Thomas DiLorenzo.

The Unconstitutional Tax on American Exports
Thomas DiLorenzo on the economic plundering of the South.

Neocons Plot To Jail War Critics
Or maybe execute them. Naturally, Lincoln is their inspiration.

The Unreal Lincoln
Thomas DiLorenzo refutes Bill Kristol's Weekly Standard.

Making Cannon Fodder
A Straussian exposes the Lincolnian big-lie.

The Cheap Lincoln
Tom DiLorenzo's classic The Real Lincoln is out in a handsome paperback, complete with a new chapter refuting his hystericon critics.

Pledging Allegiance
To the omnipotent Lincolnian state.

The Republican Moneyed Elite
And why they elected Lincoln.

There's Gambling in Vegas
And fascism in DC.

Dishonest Abe
The Lincolnians were inside traders.

Statism, Imperialism, Hubris
Thomas DiLorenzo on Irving "the Godfather" Kristol's neocon manifesto.

The GOP-Liberian Connection
Lincoln started it, with the plan to deport American blacks to Africa.

Supreme Dictators
Thanks, as a happy Woodrow Wilson explained, to Lincoln.

The Political Economy of World Domination
Thomas DiLorenzo on the neocons and their strange, Eastern European philosophy.

Leo Lincoln
No wonder neocons love Abe, says Thomas DiLorenzo.

States Rights vs. Tyranny
And tyrannical central banking.

Six Myths About Lincoln
Thomas DiLorenzo explodes them.

The 'Buy America' Myth
The South, unlike Lincoln and the Buchananites, was right on tariffs, says Thomas DiLorenzo.

Northern States Rights
Thomas DiLorenzo on Straussian lies about America.

Lincoln's Spectacular Lie
That the central government created the states.

Protectionism Means Hostilities
As in 1861.

What Lincoln's Army Did to the Indians
No wonder the neocons love General Sherman.

The Lincolnian Graveyard
Neocons are whistling past it, says Thomas J. DiLorenzo.

Lincolnites Love Bush
Uh oh.

Lincoln: Slavery A-OK
Thomas DiLorenzo on the Great Emancipator's real 13th amendment.

Anti-Lincoln Gangs of New York
Some effects of Lincoln's military slavery.

The Evil of Politics
Thomas DiLorenzo was right from the beginning.

States Rights Mean Freedom
Thomas DiLorenzo explains to hyperventilating neocons.

Lincoln's Willing Executioners
Their evil marches on, but not on private property.

Lincoln's 'Second American Revolution'
Thomas DiLorenzo on our first Republican (i.e., statist and bloodthirsty) president.

Libelers for Lincoln
Thomas DiLorenzo on court historians.

Financing the Empire
How it all began, with the anti-gold Lincoln and his greenbacks.

The Economics of Slavery
Thomas DiLorenzo on Lincolnian distorters.

Bush Is Lincolnian
This is not praise, says Thomas DiLorenzo.

No Justice, No Peace
Thomas DiLorenzo on the other reparations movement.

John C. Calhoun, Free Trader
America's greatest political thinker was also a free-market sage.

The Unknown Lincoln
Not any longer, thanks to Thomas DiLorenzo.

Abeolony
Thomas DiLorenzo on fake Lincoln quotes.

The Weirdest Defense of Lincoln Yet
Thomas DiLorenzo refutes Jude Wanniski.

Whigged-Out Lincolnites
Thomas DiLorenzo on their flipped-out and fibbing worship.

Confronting the Lincoln Cult
An interview with Thomas DiLorenzo, the man who knocked Abraham-Zeus out of his state temple. Read his #1 LRC bestseller.

Is There a Libertarian Case for Lincoln?
Of course not! Thomas DiLorenzo on Machan, secession, and slavery.

Constitutional Con Men
Thomas DiLorenzo on Harry Jaffa and his Lincolnian cabal.

Lincoln's Tariff War
The warmongering, centralizing protectionist invaded the South on a looting expedition.

Hitler Was a Lincolnite
Some distortions of Harry Jaffa exposed.

Prevaricating Pentacrat
Now Tom DiLorenzo, author of The Real Lincoln, really knows he's doing something right.

Lincoln's War on Northern Liberties
The neocons, note, defend everything the Dictator did.

The Economic Causes of Lincoln's War
The neocons lie about them, of course.

Was Lincoln a Tyrant?
Only neocons would deny it.

Glory, Glory Hallelujah
Abe's evil marches on.

Lying For Lincoln
Thomas DiLorenzo on the neocon smears against his important new Lincoln book.

Stop Lying About Lincoln
Thomas DiLorenzo has had it with official prevaricators.

Dislike Aggressive War and National Socialism?
Then you must like slavery. Thomas DiLorenzo on the typical defense of Honest Abe.

Lincolnites Can't Stand the Truth
But that's not stopping the truth teller, Thomas DiLorenzo. Read his new book, The Real Lincoln.

Happy Dictator Day
Thomas DiLorenzo on Lincoln.

Cornel West, Marxist
No wonder he's an academic "rock star." Article by Thomas DiLorenzo.

Osama Bin Sherman
No wonder George Will likes him, and the feds named a tank in his honor. Letter by Thomas J. DiLorenzo.

US Military "Trials"
Here's just one episode, courtesy of the murderous Lincoln.

Targeting Civilians
In the modern era, it all started with Lincoln.

Lincoln's Culture of Death
And those who pretend it's pro-life.

The Banner of Federal Oppression
Thomas DiLorenzo puts Independence Day in perspective.

The Truth About the 14th Amendment
And the Northern origins of Jim Crow.

Libertarians Should Love the Confederate Flag
But the Beltway versions are allied with the NAACP and the SPLC in hating it. What gives?

Deconstructing the 'War Street Journal'
Tom DiLorenzo, proud "denizen" of LRC, refutes the attack.

Tyranny Personified
Tom DiLorenzo examines Teddy Kennedy (while wearing rubber gloves).

Secession and Liberty
Thomas J. DiLorenzo on how to make concrete use of the election returns.

Loot Seekers Attack Microsoft
Including the bought-and-paid-for Robert Bork, says Thomas DiLorenzo.