So It Begins: Congress to Cut Pension Plans

Via LH

Congressional leaders hammer out deal to allow pension plans to cut retiree benefits ... The measure would alter 40 years of federal law and could affect millions of workers. A measure that would for the first time allow the benefits of current retirees to be severely cut is set to be attached to a massive spending bill, part of an effort to save some of the nation's most distressed pension plans. – Washington Post

Dominant Social Theme: It is necessary to cut people's benefits so that the state does not become insolvent.

Free-Market Analysis: This is huge news, and it's definitely launched in a big way on the mainstream media.

As of this writing, the situation is still in flux but from what we've read this legislation is taking place. Even if it doesn't happen this time, it's part of a trend that will reoccur.

Yes, it is a really – really – big story. People's savings and retirement benefits have been decimated by price and monetary inflation. They've lost their jobs and been forced out of their homes. And now the federal government is directly attacking pensions.

More @ The Daily Bell

Christmas Shopping

Via Billy & John

Mark Kessler – Coming Out of the Closet – Part 4

 

Fox News Network’s Alan Colmes had a special guest on Tuesday, December 2, 2014. As so often happens on television, the guest was “coming out of the closet”, though this had nothing to do with sexual orientation.

The guest, Chief Mark Kessler, formerly chief of the Borough of Gilberton, Pennsylvania Police Department, explained why he got into going after patriots, apparently with a total disregard for the intention of the Second Amendment.

Here is an audio of the entire Colmes/Kessler interview.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Following are some excerpts from that interview:

More @ Outpost of Freedom

Obama's Daughters Enjoy Gourmet Lunches at Posh School

 

While many public school students complain about lunchtime mush that meets White House calorie guidelines, President Barack Obama's daughters are dining on gourmet meals at a posh private school in Washington.

School kids have been moaning about tasteless fare local governments adopt to comply with first lady Michelle Obama’s war on the waistline and posting photos of the mystery meals online.

The Sidwell Friends School, the $36,000-a-year private academy attended by Malia and Sasha Obama, also posts its menus on the Internet.

The Daily Caller discovered that Sidwell students eat well.

Thursday’s lunch included: potato sausage soup, firecracker slaw, California chef’s salad, all natural Jamaican jerk chicken wings, sweet potato black-bean bake, sauteed local greens, gemelli alfredo, and slice pineapple.

More @ Newsmax

You Don’t Have To Tolerate Anti-Southern Bigots: The Simple Problem With Tolerance Is That You Get What You Tolerate

 

I tend to think you should tolerate someone who disagrees with your point of view if they are decent enough to tolerate you. If it weren’t for gentlemanly differences of opinion, America wouldn’t have a horseracing industry. What you don’t have to put up with is someone who is openly bigoted against you. If they hate you, you are under no obligation to tolerate them at all.

The Slate Star Codex Blog is an acquired taste. This is a polite way of saying that I’ve acquired it, but would understand it if others didn’t. However, I’ll say without equivocation that they’ve taken home the award for All-Time Great TL/DR Blog post with the entry “I Can Tolerate Anything Except The Outgroup” by Scott Alexander. In fact, I’d argue it takes that award home in a brown paper bag like a bottle of Scotch from the ABC. In it he explains why tolerance should be selectively applied to only those who disagree with us in a decent and respectful fashion.

More @ Red State

The Worst “Less Lethal” Force Idea, Ever?

It has got my vote.

San Diego-based Alternative Ballistics has introduced one of the most terrifying “less lethal” alternatives I’ve ever seen, called “The alternative.”

The single-use device is kept in a pouch on an officer’s duty belt, and when the officer runs into an encounter where lethal force is authorized, but not desired, he can then grab the device from the pouch mounted on his support-hand side, and slide the entire device over the muzzle of his duty weapon.

The device itself consists of a clear plastic “docking station” that slides on to the end of the gun, and the projectile, which looks roughly like a clown’s nose.

More @ Bearing Arms

Black Businesses Looted At Gunpoint During “Black Lives Matter” Protest

Via Billy

Watching these images one cannot help but feel terribly sad and disappointed at how abuses like this are being sold as “necessary protests” by figures like Barack Obama. (Yes, he called these Black power protests “necessary” recently during a television interview.) These businesses are owned by minority families who have risen up from the Big Government plantation so many others among them have refused to leave. For doing so, they are now being punished as a horde of looters storm their life’s work and rob them at gunpoint.

This is America in the Age of Obama, and it is a horrible-horrible mess…

More @ DW Ulsterman

Today I stopped Caring….

Via Harry

 

Today, I stopped caring about my fellow man. I stopped caring about my community, my neighbors, and those I serve. I stopped caring today because a once noble profession has become despised, hated, distrusted, and mostly unwanted.

I stopped caring today because parents refuse to teach their kids right from wrong and blame us when they are caught breaking the law. I stopped caring today because parents tell their little kids to be good or “the police will take you away” embedding a fear from year one. Moms hate us in their schools because we frighten them and remind them of the evil that lurks in the world.

More @ NYC Fire Wire

Undercover Cop Pulls Gun on Garner Protesters After Being Outed

Via Joe

  Complex

Xeni Jardin

Sideways?  Maybe try it upside down next time, then you can be a true member of the hood........

An undercover police officer was photographed pointing his gun at Garner/Ferguson protesters Wednesday evening in Oakland, Calif., as he and his partner faced off with demonstrators.
Reuters photographer Noah Berger captured the stunning moment:

More @ Mediaite

Sen. Coburn's Farewell Remarks: Our Charge is to Uphold the Constitution 1:31