Cameras Inside Private Homes....

As an ex-Brit, I’m well aware of the authorities’ love of surveillance and snooping, but even I, a pessimistic cynic, am amazed by the governments latest plan: to install Orwell’s telescreens in 20,000 homes. £400 million ($668 million) will be spend on installing and monitoring CCTV cameras in the homes of private citizens. Why? To make sure the kids are doing their homework, going to bed early and eating their vegetables. The scheme has, astonishingly, already been running in 2,000 family homes. The government’s “children’s secretary” Ed Balls is behind the plan, which is aimed at problem, antisocial families. The idea is that, if a child has a more stable home life, he or she will be less likely to stray into crime and drugs...Link

Won’t Rule Out New Taxes for Middle Class.

To get the economy back on track, will President Barack Obama have to break his pledge not to raise taxes on 95 percent of Americans? In a “This Week” exclusive, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner told me, "We’re going to have to do what’s necessary.” Geithner was clear that he believes a key component of economic recovery is deficit reduction. When I gave him several opportunities to rule out a middle class tax hike, he wouldn’t do it...Link

“hypothetical back and forth[s]” ....

During a Monday press conference, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs denied the possibility of tax increases on the middle-class, saying that an Associated Press report was based upon “hypothetical back and forth[s]” between its economic advisers and not actual pending policy. His answer was in response to suggestions by Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and National Economic Council Director Lawrence Summers on Sunday that middle class taxes may have to go up in order to pare down the budget deficit...Link

Tonights cover is.............

Laser Pointer Dog Attack - Watch more Funny Videos

More troops in Afghan war......

The commander of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan is weighing advice that thousands of additional American forces are needed to prevail in the fight against insurgents. A number of analysts who helped draft an assessment for the new commander, General Stanley McChrystal, are publicly advocating a major increase in US troop numbers in Afghanistan -- a politically-sensitive proposal that could meet resistance in the White House and Congress...Link

A purely military economy?

A recent article in the New York Times, entitled "Why a Recovery May Still Feel Like a Recession," has buried in it some startling statistics about the direction of the US economy...Link

“For decades”............

Foreign forces will be engaged in Afghanistan “for decades,” says the UK’s ambassador to the United States. Sir Nigel Sheinwald, the UK Foreign Office’s representative in Washington, told the Boston Globe Friday: “We’re going to have a very long-term commitment to Afghanistan’s future. … This is not just one year; this is going to be for decades. We’re going to help them get to a state which they can ward off the return of the Taliban and Al Qaeda. That’s our strategic objective.”...Link

Update - HR 1207 - 282 Co-sponsors.........

Title: To amend title 31, United States Code, to reform the manner in which the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System is audited by the Comptroller General of the United States and the manner in which such audits are reported, and for other purposes.