The only thing that surprises me about this story is the claim that the NSA can "only" reach 75 percent of Internet traffic -- I have long assumed it to be closer to 100 percent.

On a more positive note, there is at least a glimmer of hope that Eric Holder's Justice Department may finally be showing some teeth. In addition to pursuing actions ( Read more... )

To hear a lot of people talk, you'd almost think that the government was giving away truckloads of money to enable the lowest income Americans to live it up without having to worry about such things as working or paying bills. You'd think that we didn't have problems with crushing poverty or food insecurity or a vastly underfunded social safety ( Read more... )

The old joke about the South and other Republican-leaning states was that they were too wrapped up in wishy-washy "social issues" -- guns, gays, and God -- and not concerned enough with matters of actual public policy. But what have I heard dominating the national conversation ever since President Obama got re-elected ( Read more... )

. . . And by things falling apart, I'm talking about that international ponzi scheme known as the global financial markets, which could be on the brink of yet another meltdown triggered by some Russian money launderers in Cyprus ( Read more... )

Say what you will about Iran, but when it comes to white collar crime, they apparently don't screw around.

I can't help but wonder if the United States would have fewer underlying economic problems if we just executed a few Wall Street bankers so the rest of them would get the message.

Today's been a day off and I've used it catching up on various things. That's included watching last night's State of the Union address and reading over some of the commentary floating around. My reaction? A fairly bland speech and there were probably better ways to spend an hour ( Read more... )

Meet the new boss in Egypt -- same as the old boss. Sigh.

Speaking of renewed protests because of betrayed revolutions, isn't it about time for Occupy to come back in force? A recent column in The Atlantic raises new concerns that the big banks may be poised to wreck the economy again if we don't start putting some of these people in jail.

“ ( Read more... )

Personally, I think this version is entirely plausible. It would certainly explain a few things.

The British bank HSBC ignored US money laundering laws and allowed drug gangs and other criminal organizations to funnel their money through the bank. For engaging in this worst sort of criminal behavior, the bank's punishment is going to be a $1.9 billion fine as part of a "negotiated" deferred prosecution agreement -- essentially probation -- ( Read more... )

I've been reading Joshua Holland's The Fifteen Biggest Lies About the Economy (and Everything Else the Right Doesn't Want You To Know About Taxes, Jobs, and Corporate America). Even as voracious a reader as I am, I rarely describe a non-fiction book as something you don't want to put down, but this one certainly qualifies. Everyone should read ( Read more... )