Sunday, January 12, 2003

Venezuela Opposition, Military Clash [AP World News] Compare this AP story to the report of someone who was actually there. Even the AP story by itself has some glaring contradictions--for example, the use of "clash" in the headline when the body of the story describes a one-sided attack on the protesters. comment () trackback ()  6:47:37 PM     Don't bother about burglary, police told. Police have been ordered not to bother investigating crimes such as burglary, vandalism and assaults unless evidence pointing to the culprits is easily available, The Telegraph can reveal. Under new guidelines, officers have been informed that only "serious" crimes, such as murder, rape or so-called hate crimes, should be investigated as a matter of course. In all other cases, unless there is immediate and compelling evidence, such as fingerprints or DNA material, the crime will be listed for no further action. The new "crime screening" guidelines were quietly introduced in the Metropolitan Police area last month and similar measures are being brought into effect by forces across Britain as pressure grows on senior officers to maintain a tighter control over budgets. [news.telegraph.co.uk] I'd like to see some confirmation of this story from another source, but it wouldn't surprise me if it's true. It certainly fits with the British government's overall policy of (unofficially) encouraging crime as much as possible. comment () trackback ()  5:56:00 PM     By Permission or by Right?. Yes, yes, I realize that Bill Gates is far richer than I am. It bothers me not at all, because he has no power over me. I can refuse to buy his products by exercising my own free will. But even the pettiest state official -- a bullying policeman, for example -- does have power to coerce me. I have no choice about doing business with the state. It can take my money without giving me anything in return. And after all, what can it give me? It produces nothing. But can't the rich use their money to buy power -- by influencing elections? Certainly. But the problem is not the money, but the state. It's usually corrupt and uses its power corruptly. If there were no state, or if it could be strictly limited to a few powers, it couldn't become an instrument of the rich. "The way to get rid of corruption in high places," the libertarian Frank Chodorov said, "is to get rid of high places." [Sobran's] comment () trackback ()  1:31:17 PM

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