http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-03-20/bernanke-says-bailouts-of-banks-unconscionable-update1-.html

March 20 (Bloomberg) — Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said government bailouts of large financial firms are “unconscionable” and must be ended as part of a regulatory overhaul following the worst financial crisis since the 1930s.

“It is unconscionable that the fate of the world economy should be so closely tied to the fortunes of a relatively small number of giant financial firms,” Bernanke said today in a speech in Orlando, Florida. “If we achieve nothing else in the wake of the crisis, we must ensure that we never again face such a situation.”

The whole purpose of the Federal Reserve’s existence is to enable a small number of giant financial firms to control the world economy. This man is evil.

79% Say U.S. Economy Could Collapse

Most American voters believe it’s possible the nation’s economy could collapse, and majorities don’t think elected officials in Washington have ideas for fixing it.

The latest Fox News poll finds that 79 percent of voters think it’s possible the economy could collapse, including large majorities of Democrats (72 percent), Republicans (84 percent) and independents (80 percent).

Just 18 percent think the economy is "so big and strong it could never collapse."

Moreover, 78 percent of voters believe the federal government is "larger and more costly" than it has ever been before, and by nearly three-to-one more voters think the national debt (65 percent) is a greater potential threat to the country’s future than terrorism (23 percent).

I wonder how many people are thinking about what to do if it happens compared to how many just plan to eat the neighbor’s cat. Or their neighbor.

Turns out March 23rd is a big day for progressives! In 1919, Mussolini founded his Fascist movement. In 1933, Germany passed the Enabling Act, which "effectively granted Adolf Hitler dictatorial legislative powers." Whew! I’m sure glad that today, on March 23rd, 2010, those old-fashioned ideas of authoritarian government control are a thing of the past.

Cough.

http://wcbstv.com/topstories/paterson.tax.refund.2.1569690.html

For hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers, the check won’t be in the mail — at least not on time. New York State has stopped paying tax refunds and won’t start again until next month.

The tax refund delay is part of a bigger cash crunch.

Message to New Yorkers: don’t start spending your tax refund money because it’s going to be delayed.

Half a billion dollars’ worth of refund checks were put on hold last Friday, and state beancounters won’t start sending you your money until at least April 1.

"I apologize that we had to do this. I hope it serves notice on the public of how serious our financial situation is," Gov. David Paterson said.

I’m pretty sure if you tried to serve notice to David Paterson of how serious your financial situation is by not paying his greedy ass, you’d get a knock on the door from a friendly but firm fellow with a gun. The nice thing about moving toward authoritarianism is that they won’t have to apologize anymore. They’ll just take your shit and shoot you if you complain.

From Cryptogon

The article doesn’t mention why it was illegal in the first place, but I don’t really care, either. I still can’t imagine why you’d need to register to collect your own rainwater.  Or why you’d need a Cthulhu-approved container to store it in. Or why you’d only be allowed to store a certain amount.

I can only assume that it’s just stupid government being stupid again. Or maybe you’re not supposed to be able to provide for yourself. Self-sufficiency and resilience are frowned upon.

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) – The Utah Legislature has passed a bill that would permit the personal collection of rainwater.

The House unanimously approved the legislation on Wednesday. It has already cleared the Senate.

If signed by the governor the measure would reverse a decades-old prohibition on rainwater harvesting in the state.

Senate Bill 32 would permit the collection of no more than 2,500 gallons in a storage container.

If it becomes law Utahns wouldn’t be able to just put out barrels in the backyard. The proposal requires registering with the state and buying a standardized container.