Bitcoin has conflicting status among federal agencies
On March 25, the IRS released guidelines (Notice 2014-21) regarding cryptocurrencies for tax purposes. The IRS wrote, “[The IRS] is aware that ‘virtual currency’ may be used to pay for …
Turkey tries to take down Twitter
Reporters Without Borders recently published a report titled “Enemies of the Internet.” While Turkey was not on that list, the country was ranked 154 in the World Press Freedom Index …
Is Rand Paul shedding his libertarian clothes?
Last Sunday, Rand Paul wrote in an op-ed in Time, “Putin must be punished for violating the Budapest Memorandum, and Russia must learn that the U.S. will isolate it if …
Lawsuit challenges the legality of taxpayer funded primaries
Seven voters in New Jersey filed a lawsuit against the state government in federal court over the fact that independent voters are excluded from taxpayer funded primaries. The lawsuit, Balsam …
Viva la Bitcoin!
For better or worse, Bitcoin has been in the news quite a bit recently. A couple of weeks ago, Mt. Gox suspended all withdrawals; last week, the TSA detained someone …
Six Californias initiative begins a new secession debate
Voters in California may be asked to vote on a proposal to split the state into six Californias. The plan, called “Six Californias” by Tom Draper, the venture capitalist behind …
The “how” and “why” of the debt ceiling
Over the past several years, it has become a something of a tradition for the Congress and President to claim that the federal government will not be able to pay …
Obama signs a “Swiss Army Knife” farm bill
On February 7, President Obama signed a farm bill that has an estimated cost of $954.6 billion. The President and other supporters claim the bill will reduce the deficit by …
Taking Sense Away: Jason Harrington recounts his time with the TSA
On Jan. 4, 2010, The New York Times ran an opinion piece by TSA agent Jason Edward Harrington titled, “To Stop a Terrorist: No Lack of Ideas.” This caused Harrington’s …
With consent of the governed?
A recent opinion poll from Quinnipiac University shows that Americans are split when asked which Party they want to control the US Congress after the mid-term election. Though respondents prefer …