Watching Netflix is a Privilege According to Chicago

July 2, 2015 at 7:17 pm

I stumbled upon this story earlier.  Apparently Chicago’s Department of Finance has a new scheme for raking in other people’s money.  They want to tax Netflix usage.  Yes, the City of Chicago is hoping to rob its residents of about $12 million a year with a new 9% tax it will begin levying on Netflix.  But wait! That’s not even the best part.  Here is their explanation for this insidious new theft, as quoted by DSLReports: “The amusement tax applies to charges paid for the privilege to witness, view or participate in an amusement,” states the city’s new ruling (pdf). “This includes not only charges paid for the privilege to witness, view or participate in amusements in person but also charges paid for the privilege to witness, view or participate in amusements that are delivered electronically.” So there you go, ladies and gentleman.  You may only partake in amusements when your great benevolent overlords allow it.  But of course it will cost you.  Such a desirable service – you know, having to get permission – has to come at a cost.  I guess you Chicagoans should just be thankful that you were granted this wonderful privilege for free for as […]

David Brat Wins Historic Upset Over Eric Cantor

June 11, 2014 at 10:45 am

Tuesday night, June 10th, 2014 residents of Virginia’s 7th district made history by voting out Republican House Majority Leader Eric Cantor in the GOP primary election. Cantor, a career politician and neo-conservative was ousted in favor of newcomer David Brat, a local university economics professor.  Brat is being hailed as a “tea party” candidate, and while his views seem to align well with those generally held by tea party affiliates he actually received no backing from the major tea party organizations, due to the evidently misled belief that Cantor was untouchable. Brat’s win truly is a history making event, and one that sends a shock wave through the GOP establishment.  Late night’s victory marks the first time in US history that a House Majority Leader has been unseated in a primary election.  The implications of this win are far reaching.  Cantor has been a vocal supporter of amnesty measures for so-called illegal immigrants – an issue that has been coming to a head recently with immigrant children currently flooding over the US-Mexico border as an unforeseen ramification of President Obama’s recent declaration that children would not be deported. Mr. Brat was able to use this to his full advantage to […]

Ukraine, Crimea and Mr. Putin

March 4, 2014 at 6:00 pm

The protests and ultimate governmental overthrow in Ukraine has been in the headlines for a few weeks now.  In the last few days the situation has been heating up and a good time is being had by all in politics and media.  You see, as it’s being reported by the mainstream, Russian President Vladimir Putin is aggressively invading the destabilized Ukraine – particularly the Crimean Peninsula.  Politicians and talking heads are making this sound like a global catastrophe in the making perpetrated by a belligerent leader in an attempt to establish the dominance of his country on the world stage.  The United Nations is holding an emergency meeting of its Security Council in the coming days to assess the situation.  The United States is threatening consequences for Russia if she doesn’t back down.  Lots of dogs are barking and many sabers are rattling.  At it’s face, it sounds like Putin is overstepping, and perhaps he is.  As with every story, there is another side. To get a better grip on the situation we need a little prospective from the history books.  First of all, Crimea itself can be divided into two parts.  The first being the Autonomous Republic of Crimea […]