The Ferguson Forum: 08/19/13

VIDEO: Democrat tells constituents she has to raise their taxes so she can control their choices

Denver City Councilwoman Debbie Ortega is hoping to pass a five cent tax on every grocery bag used in the city. During an Aug 13 city council meeting she tells why she wanted such a tax.

Federal gun bill would ban AR-15 lower parts kits, barrels and receivers

"H.R 2910 says that it seeks to ban the sale and possession of 80% lower receivers for semi-auto rifles. An 80% receiver is not considered a firearm and still requires some basic machine work before it is ready to be used in the build of a gun."

Under Obama welfare now pays more than work in 35 states

"Welfare benefits continue to outpace the income that most recipients can expect to earn from an entry-level job, and the balance between welfare and work may actually have grown worse in recent years. The current welfare system provides such a high level of benefits that it acts as a disincentive for work. Welfare currently pays more than a minimum-wage job in 35 states, even after accounting for the Earned Income Tax Credit, and in 13 states it pays more than $15 per hour."

Read more at the Cato Institute: http://object.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/pubs/pdf/theworkversus.pdf

100,000 poor New Jerseyans to lose affordable health care under ObamaCare

"The bare-bones health insurance policy that’s been the plan of choice for New Jerseyans who can’t afford something better is set to go away next year, thanks to the Affordable Care Act.

And what those policy holders will be left with may be a choice among pricey, pricier and priciest."

Read more at NJ.com: http://www.nj.com/business/index.ssf/2013/08/affordable_care_act_to_end_hea.html

Unemployment rates rise in most US states in July

"Unemployment rates rose in more than half of U.S. states in July and fewer states added jobs, echoing national data that show the job market may have lost some momentum..."

Read more at http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_STATE_UNEMPLOYMENT?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-08-19-10-49-19

Why Libertarianism Will Crush Conservatism

"The diminishing appeal of conservatism for younger, more cosmopolitan millennials as well as exploding immigrant populations who view it as bigoted or old-fashioned translates to serious demographic problems for Republicans. If current trends continue, winning the White House will become a distant memory for the GOP. Absent a commitment to change (something they don't generally excel at), the party may cease to be competitive at the national level."

Read more at PolicyMic: http://www.policymic.com/articles/60007/why-libertarianism-will-crush-conservatism

Inside the Dark Reality Of Obama's Job Numbers

"FactCheck.Org challenged Obama's claim that he has created 4.5 million jobs on the basis that his figures are not based on his full term. The figures cherry-pick the bottom of the recession as a baseline, thus ignoring the nearly 4.5 million jobs that were lost during his first year in office. If you include government jobs, the nation has lost more than 400,000 jobs since Obama took office."

Read more at PolicyMic: http://www.policymic.com/articles/59843/inside-the-dark-reality-of-obama-s-job-numbers

The Simple Statistics That Prove Obama's War on Drugs Remains Racist

"The War on Drugs is most certainly the new Jim Crow. It has destroyed the future of black children for generations. In an attempt to fix a problem, it created a form of economic slavery. If we continue to enforce what a majority of Americans say isn’t worth the cost, we will always be chasing a dream of equality. Until the United States federal government frees itself from the chains of these racist policies, it will remain the biggest promoter of racial inequality in human history."

Read more at PolicyMic: http://www.policymic.com/articles/60087/the-simple-statistics-that-prove-obama-s-war-on-drugs-remains-racisthttp://www.policymic.com/articles/60087/the-simple-statistics-that-prove-obama-s-war-on-drugs-remains-racist

4 Myths About Libertarians, Debunked

"Hi, my name is Charlie and I’m a libertarian. This means that I believe that you should be free to live your life however you see fit as long as you don’t hurt anybody else. Often, libertarians are considered heartless and inconsiderate, valuing their philosophy of liberty and conception of rights over the actual people affected by these policies. But libertarians aren't heartless. We can defend our views on a moral basis, but also on a pragmatic one. Everybody is better off when they are allowed to live their own life with minimal government interference, so allow me to dispel some of the myths that have popped up about us over the years..."

Read more at PolicyMic: http://www.policymic.com/articles/53701/4-myths-about-libertarians-debunked

Obama Has Missed Half Of Obamacare's Legally Imposed Deadlines

The Congressional Research Service, Congress’ non-partisan in-house think tank, compiled 82 deadlines that the Affordable Care Act mandates upon the first three years of its own implementation. Remarkably, it turns out that the White House has missed half of the deadlines legally required by the ACA. And some of those deadlines remain unmet to this day...

Read more at Forbes: http://www.forbes.com/sites/theapothecary/2013/08/18/unpublished-crs-memo-obama-administration-has-missed-half-of-obamacares-legally-imposed-implementation-deadlines/

AFL-CIO to make major unionization push in Texas

Texas was the very first state in the union to pass a “right to work” law making it illegal for union contracts to mandate that all of a company’s workers join a union or at least pay dues to one.

It did this in 1943, four years before Congress passed the Taft-Hartley Act, affirming states could pass such laws. Texas remains synonymous with Big Business conservatism today.

Nevertheless, the AFL-CIO apparently thinks the ground has shifted in the Lone Star State enough to make a serious organizing push there worthwhile...

Read more: http://washingtonexaminer.com/article/2534419#.UhJPoYb2qlY.blogger

CROUSE: When pro-aborts throw tantrums

These days, pro-abortion activists are throwing out-of-control, attention-grabbing temper tantrums both here and around the world. One factor, obviously, is the prevalence of pictures from inside the womb showing preborn babies growing and looking adorable. No wonder more and more people are opposing abortion...

Fordham professor asks: Are unborn children 'innocent aggressors' like 'child soldiers'?

Fordham theology professor Charles Camosy wants to know: Are unborn children ever worthy of the distinction “innocent aggressor”? If so, would not a mother who chooses to abort the “aggressor” be justified in her actions?...

Ed Schultz: MSNBC host says only 'phony Christians' oppose Obamacare

MSNBC host Ed Schultz blasted “phony” Christian conservatives who oppose Obamacare, saying the new health care law

“is the most moral thing this country has ever done.”...

Kansas groups demand city ban weapon-carrying drones

A handful of political and activist organizations in Kansas have partnered to request Lawrence city government officials to protect residents from drones and legislate against their local use...

Illinois passes gun law requiring citizen sellers to do background checks

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn signed a new gun control measure into law on Sunday that mandates all owners — even private citizens — perform background checks on potential buyers before finalizing weapons sales...

Food stamp black market on the rise: SNAP-for-cash big business

The black market for food stamps

— where recipients sell the federal vouchers for cash — has grown by 30 percent in recent years, the Agriculture Department said in a just-released study...

Obama's radio address describes health insurance as a 'right'

President Obama on Saturday offered one of his strongest defenses to date of his signature domestic achievement, lambasting Republican critics of his health care law as obstructionists who are playing politics

with the well-being and economic security of millions of Americans.

BARR: The U.N. comes after America's guns

BARR: The U.N. comes after America's guns - Washington Times