Rants, Raves, Pieces of My Mind
The gene pool needs some chlorine added.
Except, evidently, when directed at certain parties. They can dish it out, but they can’t take it.
We are being encouraged to turn our neighbors in ( Hitler youth, anyone? ) if they say something “fishy” about the government.
Fuck you and the carp you rode in on. Is that fishy enough for you?
Image from No Looking Backwards
“Blood tests show that many survivors of the 1918 flu pandemic seem to have immunity to the current swine flu, but not to the seasonal flu that hits every year.”
Seth Borenstein, WA Associated Press
This from findings in a study by a top University of Wisconsin flu researcher, Yoshishiro Kawaoka, that were released Monday.
Gee, I’ll bet he didn’t have a “statistically significant” sample of the population to choose from. If you were born in 1918 you would be 91. I guess he redefined “many” while he was doing his research.
Anyway, the good news is that you will probably die from something else (like old age) before you croak from swine flu, if you survived the 1918 pandemic. Something to look forward to!!
“One of the greatest delusions in the world is the hope that the
evils in this world are to be cured by legislation.”
Thomas Reed, 1886.
If you sign a contract, you should honor it. But before you sign it,,,,, YOU SHOULD READ IT. I was taught that a long time ago. I have pissed a few people off because they shoved something under my nose and demanded I sign it, and I refused because…I HADN’T READ IT.
So why can’t our representatives (and I use the word loosely as I don’t know WHO they are representing – not me for sure) freaking read the legislation they are passing? Do they not read it because they never learned to read? Do they not read it because it’s to long and boring? (Hint – you wrote it, make it shorter). Or do they not read it because they don’t give a damn about “We the People”?
Evil or Stupid?
The promised “transparency ” in government didn’t even make it past the first piece of legislation that BO signed. No posting on the web, in time for everyone who wanted to could read it. Not even reading it in session so the idiots congress critters who were voting on it could hear what kind of stupidity they were about to commit.
Evil or Stupid?
Someone said that giving power to politicians is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys.
So… Evil or Stupid?
“Taxation with representation ain’t so hot either.” — Gerald Barzan
Present BO says he was “unaware” of the tax day tea party protests.
Perhaps that is because he is “unaware” of just what his hopenchange spending spree will cost us in the long run. Nah, he just doesn’t care.
Remember, the piper always has to be paid. By someone, and I guess “We the People” get to pony up.
”All you need to start an asylum is an empty room and the right kind of people”. (Eugene Pallette in “My Man Godfrey” – 1936)
see more Lolcats and funny pictures
HR 875 The Federal Takeover of Food as we know it. Forget “Buy Local” Forget grow your own. Prepare to be assimilated. No kidding – this bill will drive small farmers right out of business. Looks like that’s what Big Brother wants. Oh, hey – what about the little garden in the yard at the White House (oh wait a minute – that’s soooo racist, a WHITE House) . Anyway – do you think Michelle and the kids will have to abide by the rules set for the rest of us….HA, not a chance in hell.
This POS legislation goes hand in hand with the NAIS program. This program is designed to drive small livestock raisers out of business. That should nicely corral the food supply.
When we can’t raise our own food, or livestock and the government takes our wages to spend as they see fit, we can just toddle off to our “mandatory volunteerism” and all will be well with the world.
The unicorns better start shitting gold brick s pretty soon.
Civil forfeiture is used by law enforcement to seize personal property (real estate, cash, jewelry, etc.) they believe was used during the commission of a criminal offense or is proceeds from criminal activity. When property is seized, prosecutors then file a civil forfeiture action against the property and, if the prosecution prevails, the property owner loses all right, title and interest in the property.
Current forfeiture law requires that:
· In most cases, a person must be convicted of a criminal offense before their property (cash, real estate, cars, etc.) can be forfeited for being involved in or proceeds of criminal activity.
· Law enforcement and prosecutors are not allowed to directly keep proceeds from forfeitures but are reimbursed for actual expenses related to the seizure and forfeiture. Once lienholders, innocent co-owners and victims are compensated, any remaining balance is divided 50% to fund substance abuse treatment at the local level and 50% to the county commissioners/city council (depending on whether police or sheriff did the seizure) to fund “public safety”.
· Law enforcement is required to submit an annual forfeiture report to Dept of Local Affairs.
These changes came about pursuant to the passage of HB 02-1404 in the 2002 legislative session. HB 02-1404 was sponsored by (then) Representative Shawn Mitchell (R-Broomfield) and (then) Senator Bill Thiebaut (D-Pueblo). HB 1404 was a bi-partisan effort that passed in the House on a 51-11 vote and passed the Senate on a 23-10 vote. HB 1404 also received editorial board support from the Denver Post, Rocky Mountain News, Grand Junction Sentinel, Colorado Springs Gazette, and Durango Herald.
WHAT HB 09-1238 WOULD DO:
1. Erodes reasonable protections for property owners by
a. repealing the requirement that someone be convicted of a criminal offense before their property can be forfeited. (in a civil forfeiture action, a property owner does not have 5th Amendment protection against self-incrimination nor the right to counsel)
b. allowing for forfeiture even if the owner didn’t know that the property was used in violation of the law under the theory that he/she “reasonably should have known.”
c. repealing the requirement that the plaintiff prove that the property being forfeited was instrumental in the commission of an offense.
2. Reintroduces the profit motive to law enforcement and no longer requires forfeiture proceeds to be allocated through an accountable budgeting entity (like City Council or County Commissions) but rather allows law enforcement and prosecutors to keep a majority of the proceeds directly.
3. Removes any transparency and accountability by repealing all forfeiture reporting requirements and repeals the prohibition on transfer of forfeiture cases out of state court when local or state law enforcement were the seizing agency, with limited exceptions.
CONCLUSION:
Current law ensures that forfeiture actions are fair and that property owners have due process without undermining law enforcement’s ability to use forfeiture as a legitimate tool. Current law also brings the revenue generated from asset forfeiture into an appropriate budget process and provides accountability while removing any appearance of impropriety. HB 09-1238 repeals these fundamental principals of fairness and due process. It also creates an unacceptable profit motive for law enforcement.
So far we have heard from the following members of the House Judiciary Committee that they OPPOSE HB 1238. If you contact them, please thank them for their opposition and their commitment to preserving due process and property rights.
Rep. Claire Levy (D-Boulder), chairman – 303-866-2578, claire.levy.house@state.co.us
Rep. Dennis Apuan (D-El Paso), 303-866-3069, repdennisapuan@gmail.com
Rep. Bob Gardner (R-El Paso), 303-866-2191, bob.gardner.house@state.co.us
Rep. Joe Miklosi (D-Denver), 303-866-2910, joe@joemiklosi.com
Rep. Sal Pace (D-Pueblo), 303-866-2968, sal_pace@hotmail.com
Rep. Mark Waller (R-El Paso), 303-866-5525, mark.waller.house@state.co.us
We do not yet know the positions of the following members of the House Judiciary Committee. If you contact them, please urge them to OPPOSE HB 1238.
Rep. Beth McCann (D-Denver), vice-chairman – 303-866-2959, ehmccann@comcast.net
Rep. Lois Court (D-Denver), 303-866-2967, loiscourt@msn.com
Rep. Steve King (R-Delta), 303-866-3068, steve.king.house@state.co.us
Rep. Ellen Roberts (R-Archuleta), 303-866-2914, ellen.roberts.house@state.co.us
Rep. Su Ryden (D-Arapahoe), 303-866-2942, su@suryden.com
The Colorado Springs Gazette published an editorial in opposition to HB 1238. To read it, click here: http://www.gazette.com/opinion/bill_49055___article.html/colorado_house.html
HB 1238 is opposed by a diverse, bi-partisan coalition including:
Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition, Independence Institute, ACLU, Colorado Union of Taxpayers, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar Association, Colorado Progressive Coalition, Pikes Peak Justice & Peace Commission, The Center for Justice, Peace & Environment, SAFER Colorado, Pendulum Foundation, Rocky Mountain Peace & Justice Center, Metro Community Church of the Rockies, Drug Policy Alliance, Colorado Libertarian Party, Empowerment Program, Alexandria Temple, National Lawyer’s Guild-Colorado, Law Offices of Phil Cherner, Sensible Colorado, Colorado CURE, Cynergetics Institute, Kilmer, Lane and Newman, Youth Transformation, Charities House Ministries, Montview Presbyterian-Peace & Justice Taskforce, New Foundations Nonviolence Center, Left Hand Book Collective, Turnabout, Surrounded by Recovery, Progress Now, 9-5 National Association of Working Women-Colorado, Road Called Strate.
Now, the govt. isn’t happy with just taking your assets in taxes, they want to skip the middle step and just seize it directly. Let me guess, it won’t go towards reducing the deficit.
