It sounds like something out of a movie. A nuclear weapon detonates at high altitude, generating a burst of electromagnetic energy that devastates the United States–destroying electronics, collapsing communications, halting transportation, and shutting down all electrical power. Unfortunately, the threat of an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) strike is all too real, and it’s time America’s leaders wake up to the reality. But a nuclear weapon isn’t the only way an EMP can be generated. Even unusually powerful solar activity could produce catastrophic destruction in the United States. No matter how it’s generated, the chaotic …
Late-night comedian Conan O’Brien’s blog has a new post parodying Washington’s excessive spending. “Team Coco has found out why our government is so broke,” the blog explains, “They’ve been spending all our hard earned tax dollars on some pretty ridiculous programs.” The post contains a list of humorous fake programs and encourages readers submit their own. But sadly, there’s no need to turn to a crack team of comedy writers to gin up examples of ridiculous government spending. Instead, one need only look to the shenanigans on Capitol Hill to find a …
Since the S&P 500 hit its high for 2011 on April 29 to August 10, 2011, $3.3 trillion invested in the U.S. stock market has been wiped out. The value of American stocks owned fell from $16.82 trillion to $13.57 trillion—19.3 percent. See Chart. That is more than the Gross Domestic Product–the value of all of the goods and services produced in a country—in 2010 of Canada ($1.3 trillion), the U.K. ($2.2 trillion), or Germany (3.1 trillion). While we may not know precisely for some time what triggered this decline …
Catching you up on clips, commentary and news of the day. Sign up for the daily email update from Scribe. Russian ‘reset’ malfunction – Ariel Cohen How Obama can get re-elected: Act like Reagan – Neil Reynolds After $65 billion, Fannie and Freddie want more of your money – Abby W. Schachter Federal Reserve to Markets: You’re On Your Own Now – Elizabeth MacDonald Obamacare Hides $50 Billion in Annual Costs – Tom O’Connell Sweden: Wealth Management In A “Social Democracy” – Max Skjönsberg Wisconsin GOP ‘Darling’ Deals Democrats a Blow …
In a Wednesday column, the president of a major coal industry group defended coal energy against recent attacks from the environmentalist left. The current drive to drastically redcuce coal power in the United States, he claimed, would deal a body blow to the American economy. “There are challenges inherent with using every energy resource,” wrote Steve Miller, president and CEO of the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity. “But if the United States backs away from any of our domestic resources because it poses challenges, we will soon find ourselves …
“We’re cutting our own throats here, I think,” Kim Murray, from the USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council, recently remarked in reference to the U.S. failure to pass pending free trade agreements (FTAs) with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea. These agreements fell to the wayside in the midst of the debt ceiling debates; however, U.S. producers and workers have been feeling the pinch as other countries have already entered into FTAs with these nations. “While we stand still, the European Union’s trade agreement with Korea entered into force July 1.… …
As both sides of the debate remember all too well, the final passage of Obamacare last year hinged on a many-layered debate on abortion funding in the final bill. The balance of power on the final vote in the House of Representatives rested with a small group of pro-life Democrats, led by former Representative Bart Stupak (D–MI), who abandoned their support for a comprehensive restriction on abortion funding. Instead, the “Stupak 7” settled for a presidential executive order that purported to fill the gaps in the legislation that allow various …
The Dow Jones Industrial Average saw its biggest daily gain yesterday since March 2009, but Americans’ confidence in the economy has dropped to levels not seen since that same time period, according to a new Gallup poll. Americans’ economic confidence plunged to -53 in the week ending Aug. 7, a level not seen since the recession days of March 2009. This deterioration coincided with the final wrangling over the U.S. debt ceiling and Standard and Poor’s downgrade of the United States’ debt rating. Economic confidence is now far worse than the …
Verizon employees went on strike this week in protest of the company’s proposed changes to its employee benefits. The company’s collective bargaining agreement expired at midnight on Saturday. By Sunday, Verizon was already alleging a dozen instances of sabotage, and illegal attempts by strikers to block managers from entering Verizon facilities. According to a Verizon press release, the company endured: Ten incidents of fiber-optic lines being deliberately cut in the Bronx, Pomona, Farmingdale and Guilderland in New York; two separate incidents in Tewksbury in Massachusetts; incidents in Bel Air in …
A recent WORLD magazine article highlights the success of a Virginia organization committed to providing struggling single mothers an opportunity for self-sufficiency. Borromeo Housing, located just outside the nation’s capital in Arlington, Virginia, offers low-income, undereducated single mothers a safe, structured environment to begin building a stable life for themselves and their children. The value and necessity of work in achieving self-sufficiency is instilled in women served by Borromeo. In addition to seeking educational opportunities—whether through GED preparation, college classes, or job skills instruction—women living in the organization’s two housing …
