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Burton S. Blumert on buying gold and silver

The latest installment in "The Lew Rockwell Show" in now available, and, like the prior four, couldn't have come at a better time. Podcast number five is an interview with Burton S. Blumert, president of The Center for Libertarian Studies and publisher of LewRockwell.com, on the subject of buying gold and silver.

As the federal government is bailing out both the housing and banking industries pushing the American economy closer to recession, Blumert compressess his 50 years of experience in the precious metals industry into this 16-minute interview.

Lew Rockwell podcasts

Anyone wanting a no-holds-barred analysis of why America is in the current political/economic morass needs to listen to this, and the three accompanying podcasts hosted by Llewellyn H. Rockwell, editor of LewRockwell.com and president of the Ludwig von Mises Institute.

N.J. high court clarifies proper course for open-records suits

Trenton, N. J. - People who feel they were wrongly denied documents they requested under New Jersey's Open Public Records Act must act quickly if they want to use the courts to force governments to release them, the state Supreme Court ruled yesterday.

In a unanimous ruling, the state's high court affirmed the law's 45-day window for people to sue when a government or agency refuses to turn over documents. The court also said governments that turn over public documents because of such lawsuits must pay all legal fees.

"Citizens are entitled to swift access to public records, and both the public and governmental bodies are logically entitled to have any disputes brought and addressed in the same, rapid manner," wrote Chief Justice Stuart Rabner.

The law allows governments to take up to seven days to either release documents or deny a request for them. It gives 45 days for people to sue after their requests are denied. Yesterday's decision said that is enough time for people to launch legal challenges, and provides certainty for governments.

For more on this story, go to The Newark Star-Ledger

Photo: The New Jersey Supreme Court. Chief Justice Stuart Rabner, who wrote the Court's opinion in a recent decision on how open-records lawsuits should proceed, is seated on the front row in the center.

Bloggers find themselves under more legal scrutiny

Brattleboro, Vt. - When Christopher Grotke answered a late-night knock on the door, he did not expect to find the deputy sheriff on his doorstep serving notice that he was being sued. Nor was he prepared for the charge: libel.

Someone had posted a comment on his citizen-journalism Web site, iBrattleboro.com, stating that a woman in Brattleboro, Vt., was having an extramarital affair. The accused woman then sued Grotke and his Web site co-founder for failing to edit or delete the comment.

The blogging community increasingly is subject to lawsuits and threats of legal action running the gamut from subpoenas to cease-and-desist notices.Since blogging became popular in about 2004, there have been 159 civil and criminal court actions involving bloggers, according to the nonprofit Media Law Resource Center (MLRC) in New York. Seven cases have resulted in verdicts against bloggers, with cumulative penalties totaling $18.5 million. Many more legal actions never result in trial.

For more on this article, go to The Christian Science Monitor

Wolverines look to slash elected officials' pay; Dems warn chief justice not to block proposal

LANSING, Mich. - Democrats are taking aim at the Michigan Supreme Court chief justice, calling on him not to block a proposal they're backing that would cut judges' pay.

The ad, which began running last weekend, urges Chief Justice Clifford Taylor not to block a proposed ballot initiative that would, among other things, cut judges' pay by 15 percent and reduce the salaries of legislators, the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, and secretary of state by 25 percent.

For more on this story, go to Legal Newsline

Photo: Michigan Chief Justice Clifford Taylor is a target of state Democrats who want to cut the salaries of elected officials, including judges.

Colo. blogger provides "fair and balanced" satirical magazine cover

By now, everyone, including those living in the most remote holler of West Virginia, knows of the controversy surrounding the current edition of The New Yorker. The cover shows presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, dressed in traditional Muslim attire, with his wife, Michelle, dressed in camouflage pants and sporting an AK-47 assault rifle exchanging a pound in the Oval Office of the White House.

Upon its release, the magazine cover invoked outrage including a statement by Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton calling it "tasteless and offensive." In response to the hoopla, the New Yorker issued a statement saying the cover was satire (ostensibly to the laughable characterization FOX news "anchor" - and dumb blond of the year-nominee - E. D. Hill made following Obama's victory rally in St. Paul, Minnesota on June 3 referring to "the pound" as "a terrorist fist-jab" ).

Speaking of "fair and balanced," get a load of the satirical "New Yorker" cover a Colorado blogger did of presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain as a POW in the Hanoi Hilton. Given the historical records that undergirds both "covers," one can only wonder if it's really satire.

What's wrong with selling your vote?

by Sheldon Richman

Poor Max Sanders. The 19-year-old University of Minnesota student faces five years in jail and a $10,000 fine; he is accused of putting his vote in the presidential election up for auction on eBay. He started the bidding at $10. The charge is bribery, treating, and soliciting.

I’m confused. Aren’t all our votes for sale? Each candidate tries to bribe us with future benefits of all sorts. Basically, a campaign is an effort to buy votes wholesale.

For more on this op/ed, go to The Future of Freedom Foundation

Fannie and Freddie bailout 101

by William L. Anderson

One way to make someone’s eyes glaze over is to explain the various relationships in financial matters. Discussions of swaps, equity, options, short-selling and the like quickly become technical and esoteric, and most people instantly tune out what is being said.

Unfortunately, this situation convinces people that finance is complicated and cannot be understood – and so it must be left to the "experts" who are assumed to know better. Thus, the average person – the taxpayer who will be left on the hook – does not really understand why entities like "Freddie Mac" and "Fannie Mae" are in trouble, and why their "bailouts" are a disaster. They only know that the people who are supposed to be "in charge" of these things are declaring success.

For more on this op/ed, go to LewRockwell.com

Calif. class action suit alleges bank duped students into taking loans for bogus degrees

OAKLAND, Calif. - A group of students in California say they were ripped off by a bank that teamed up with bogus vocational schools to leave students deep in debt, according a lawsuit filed against KeyBank USA.

KeyBank Education Resources and Great Lakes Educational Loan Services allegedly sought to defraud students at sham vocational schools by offering loans, and when the schools' Ponzi schemes collapse, the students are left in debt and have no new job skills, according to a class action lawsuit filed in Alameda County Court in May.

For more on this story, go to Legal Newsline

The IRS v. Robert Kahre

Las Vegas businessman Robert Kahre, along with his attorney, William A. Cohan, talk with Steve Murphy of "Insider Exclusive" about his battle with the IRS to pay his employees in gold and silver coin. This interview includes footage of FBI and IRS agents raiding Kahre's business in May 2003. According to Cohan and Kahre, agents attempted to destroy these videos and lied about it in court documents.

Nevada businessman stands up to IRS on issue of paying employees in gold

Las Vegas, Nev. - On a 106-degree May afternoon in 2003, government agents raided several establishments belonging to Southern Nevada businessman Robert “Bobby” Kahre. With guns drawn, officials held more than 20 handcuffed workers in the sun without water as agents collected records and other materials.

Kahre hadn’t committed a crime. He had upset the Internal Revenue Service by paying his workers based on the face value of gold and silver coins, versus the market value in the Federal Reserve system (the value of the coins in U.S. paper dollars). Even though the coins were in circulation, displayed a face value, and were regulated by Congress, the IRS’s confusing and endless tax code did not determine how to handle these gold and silver coins if used for payroll. The tax code only references dollars. It does not distinguish between coined money and paper money.

For more on this story, go to Liberty Watch

Photo: Las Vegas attorney Joel Hanson, who served on the Kahre defense team

"20/20" blows the lid off hypocritical traffic stops

Warren, Mich. - Traffic court in Warren, Mich., is a busy place. Sometimes, the courtroom is so crowded it's standing room only. Clutching their tickets, dozens of people line up at the cashier's windows to pay their fines. Many people are here because a cop said they didn't come to a full stop at a stop sign.

Though some drivers try to dispute the cops' versions of what happened, judges tend to believe the cops.

One police officer, David Kanapsky, generated many of those stop sign tickets.

For more on this story, go to "20/20."

Ex-Chicago cop on the run

During it Saturday broadcast, "America's Most Wanted" featured Eddie Hicks, a former Chicago Police Department sergent accused of operating a racketeering ring during the last 10 years of his 30 years on the force. An FBI sting caught Hicks, and other Chicago cops, pretending to be DEA agents taking drugs from suspected dealers only to resell the drugs to another dealer.

Hicks, who was indicted by a federal grand jury in 2001 on charges of possession of a controlled substance and racketeering, never showed for his trial on June 9, 2003. Police suspect Hicks may either be in Brazil or Nevada.

The allegations against Hicks come amidst a police department that has been under already intense scrutiny for misconduct and corruption. For more on those allegations, go to "60 Minutes" and "20/20."

U.C. condos officially on the market

University of Charleston officials hope that if people are considering moving South upon retirement it will be to South Ruffner.

On Monday, the University of Charleston officially made available to the public the opportunity to live in one if its proposed luxury condominiums along the Kanawha River. About 40 people gathered in the Erma Byrd Art Gallery in Riggleman Hall to get more details on the condos including amenities, cost and projected move-in date.

Though it has cleared all legal and regulatory hurdles, ground has not yet been broken on the condominium project. In the course of her presentation on the project, Vice President for Administration and Finance Cleta Mae Harless said plans to begin construction no later than January 1, 2009.

However, Harless said construction on the proposed 16-unit complex is conditional on two things. First, getting commitments from at least 14 individuals or couples to buy a unit who will, second, put 10 percent down on the purchase price.

“We need 14-10 percent people to make this project go,” Harless said.
Currently, Harlesss said plans are to build one six-story complex along 19th Street and Kanawha Avenue behind Triana Field. Should an additional 14 people come along and put 10 percent down, then an additional complex will be built.

In the event that UC doesn’t receive the necessary commitments and cash by the Jan. 1 deadline, Harless said the project is likely to be cancelled, and refunds to those who did make a commitment will be issued. However, she said despite current economic conditions, including the possibility of a recession, U.C. is confident 1900 Kanawha Ave., the address for the condo project, will become a reality.

“We’re going to aggressively pursue this,” Harless said. “Who knows what tomorrow brings.”

Just like home

So, what would potential residents receive in the unit? Well, “all the comforts of home,” and then some, Harless said.

Though there are different size units ranging from 2,100 to 3,200 square feet, all have gas heat, phone and cable service, 10-foot ceilings with both a hillside and river view. Also, while many of the fixtures are standard in each unit, Harless said a resident can have them upgraded.

“I told someone if you want diamonds in your countertop, you can have diamonds in your countertop,” Harless said. “It’s just going to cost you a little extra.”

Among the amenities common to the complex will be controlled entry, an underground parking area, first floor trash chute and upper level exercise and activity room.

The price of completed units range from $770,000 to $1.3 million, Harless said. The price does not include a contractual $75,000 donation a resident would have to make to UC during the life of his or her agreement, and annual association dues.

According to Harless, the U.C. Condominium Association would be a separate and distinct organization from the university.

Though anyone with the right amount of money can purchase a unit, both Harless and U.C. President Ed Welch said the project was created with retirees or high-income professionals who wanted to downgrade from a home in mind. In fact, Welch said it was those very people who several years ago approached U.C. about the possibility of developing a condominium project.

For those on the cusp of retirement, provisions are available for unit owners to rent it out to someone for a 12-month period up to a total of 36 months. The reason for the limitations, Harless said, is so that what was designed to be a “permanent facility” does not turn into a “transient community.”

Depending upon when ground is broken, Harless, in conferring with the project’s general contraction, BBL Carleton, said residents could move in about a year later. If ground is broken during the winter months, the move-in date could be pushed back as much as six months.

The Clay Center v. Florida

One couple eager to move in is Russ and Virginia Keys of Charleston. The retired business executive and state employee who live on Edgewood Drive are one of the seven people who’ve already made a commitment, and put money down on a unit.

The Keys’ epitomize UC’s intent for the condo project as Russ said he and Virginia were “just looking for something simple to get away from the upkeep of a home.”

Likewise, Virginia said while popular destinations live Florida do offer warmer weather during the winter, having a retirement “home” there would just be more hassle. Besides, migrating South would mean missing out on all the featured events at the Clay Center.

“What’s the point in going to Florida when the Clay Center’s season is September through May,” she said.

Photo: U.C. Vice President for Admininstration and Finance Cleta Mae Harless, explains some of the features available in the university's proposed condominum project during an open house Monday at the Erma Byrd Art Galley in Riggleman Hall. U.C. officials hope to break gound on the 16-unit complex by January

Del. man wanted for kidnapping may be in W. Va.

Yesterday, "America's Most Wanted" featured David Matusiewicz during its "15 Seconds of Shame" Segment. Matusiewicz, 41, is wanted by p0lice in New Castle, Del. for kidnapping his three daughters, Laura, Leigh and Karen, then-5-, 4- and 2-years old, respectively, on Aug. 26, 2007.
According to AMW, Matusiewicz, a licensed optometrist, was scheduled to take the children on a tw0-week trip to Florida. When they did not arrive back on schedule, Matusiewicz's ex-wife, Christine Belford, who has custody of the children, called police.

Matusiewicz is wanted for felony interference with custody.

Though no reasons were given, it is believed that Matusiewicz may be working in either Texas or West Virginia. Those with information on Matusiewicz's whereabouts are encouraged to contact either AMW or your local police department.

Ohio man gets MADD about modern-day probibitionsim

Welcome to Jeff Brown's counter crusade!

History about to repeat itself in bailout of mortgage industry

by Llewellyn H. Rockwell, Jr.

Ludwig von Mises had a theory about interventionism. It doesn't accomplish its stated ends. Instead it distorts the market. That distortion cries out for a fix. The fix can consist in pulling back and freeing the market or taking further steps toward intervention. The State nearly always chooses the latter course, unless forced to do otherwise. The result is more distortion, leading eventually, by small steps, toward ever more nationalization and its attendant stagnation and bankruptcy.

When you think about the current Fannie Mae-Freddie Mac crisis, you must remember Mises's theory of intervention. Reporters will not, but you must, provided you want to understand what is going on. President Bush is considering a fateful step in a 60-year-old problem: the nationalization of these mortgage companies. He wants to guarantee the $5 trillion (that's trillion with a "t") in debt owned by these companies. Another option would be to put these monstrosities under "conservatorship," which means that you and I will pay for their losses directly.

Either way, it turns out that there is no magic way to put every American citizen, regardless of financial means or credit history, in a 3,000 square foot home. Someone, somewhere, sometime has to pay. No matter what rescue plan they are able to cobble together, that someone is you.

For more on this op/ed piece, go to LewRockwell.com

Ga. high court refuses to compel Athens police to open files on unsolved 1992 murder

Atlanta, Ga. - The public cannot force police to release files in the unsolved 1992 rape and murder of University of Georgia student Jennifer Lynn Stone until someone is arrested and prosecuted for the crime, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled Monday.

In a 4-3 decision, the court ruled that though police haven't identified suspects or developed new information in the murder, even dormant cases are exempt from the state Open Records Act under a "pending investigation" provision. The decision overturned a state appellate court ruling.

"It is a hard fact of law enforcement, of which the General Assembly was undoubtedly aware, that crimes sometimes remain unsolved for years until a break in the case, whether from a formerly reluctant witness or some new connection of previously seized evidence to a particular suspect," Justice George Carley wrote in the majority decision.

Attorneys for the Athens Banner-Herald, which sued the Athens-Clarke County government for the Stone files in 2005, argued that authorities abuse the pending-investigation exemption to keep information from the public. County attorneys countered that forcing police to release documents in unsolved crimes could undermine investigations.

For an overview of the Jennifer Lynn Stone case, go to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's Website