We need a monarch.

I hate to sound like a Tea-Party nutbag, but I really love the United States' Constitution. As I've mentioned before, I'm a free-speech fanatic. I love the Constitution's sharp focus on individual liberties, its emphasis on the rights of the accused, and that grade-school-civics favorite, the checks and balances of power. I despair when these ideals meet real-life sacrifices, especially glaring ones like, oh, the utter lack of Congressional declarations of war since WWII. I also don't like to sully the document's purity with excessive amendments, interpretations and adaptations. No Defense of Marriage Amendment, please, but while you're at it, no marriage at all (it violates the establishment clause, you see). But don't call me a Scalia-esque strict constructionist. If I could, I would copy-edit the otherwise brilliant Constitution and correct a centuries-old omission with no qualms: I would give the United States a monarch. It probably seems unamerican, undemocratic and all-around anti-freedom-y to propose that we foist an unquestioned figure to the crown of government. It probably sounds old-fashioned, all uppity and needlessly symbolic and European. I know it does. It's exactly my point.

Continue ReadingWe need a monarch.

Sting: The war on drugs is a failure

Sting has written a Huffpo article declaring the "war on drugs" to be a failure:

Everyone knows the War on Drugs has failed. It's time to step out of our comfort zones, acknowledge the truth -- and challenge our leaders ... and ourselves ... to change.
How is this "war" a failure? Sting refers to an opinion piece by the Drug Policy Alliance that sets forth the following facts:
Consider the consequences of drug prohibition today: 500,000 people incarcerated in U.S. prisons and jails for nonviolent drug-law violations; 1.8 million drug arrests last year; tens of billions of taxpayer dollars expended annually to fund a drug war that 76% of Americans say has failed; millions now marked for life as former drug felons; many thousands dying each year from drug overdoses that have more to do with prohibitionist policies than the drugs themselves, and tens of thousands more needlessly infected with AIDS and Hepatitis C because those same policies undermine and block responsible public-health policies.

Continue ReadingSting: The war on drugs is a failure

Unconscionable credit card fees

How onerous are credit card fees. Consider this example described by the NYT:

Robert Triozzi . . . found that over a period of several years, Ms. Owens had paid nearly $3,500 on an original balance of $1,900. But Discover was suing her for $5,564, mostly for late fees, compound interest, penalties and other charges. He called Discover’s actions “unconscionable” and threw the case out.

Continue ReadingUnconscionable credit card fees

Five minutes is all it takes to help cap Missouri payday loans at 36%

As I indicated here, Missouri is considering a 36% rate cap for payday loans. Currently, payday lenders often charge 400% and 500% interest on such loans that are financially devastating to the poor and the working poor (Missouri’s 9% “usury” cap does not apply to payday loans). Bill 2116 is now pending before The House Committee on Financial Institutions, which is chaired by Republican State Representative Mike Cunningham. This important bill will not get a hearing unless Mr. Cunningham decides to grant a hearing, at his discretion. This single bill, HB 2116, “combines two bills filed by Representative Mary Still in January into one bill dealing with both annual percentage rates (APR) caps and restrictions of nursing homes offering payday services to employees.” Here’s how you can help. Please consider writing to Mr. Cunningham today, requesting him to hold a hearing regarding Bill 2116, to consider capping Missouri payday loans at 36% interest. Your letter can be two sentences, or you can spell out your reasons in more detail. Mr. Cunningham can be reached at mike.cunningham@house.mo.gov . His snail mail address is:

Representative Mike Cunningham 201 West Capitol Avenue, Room 411-2 Jefferson City MO 65101 Office Phone: 573-751-3819 Fax: 573-526-1888 Even a small number of emails, faxes or letters will make a big difference. If you want to be part of a citizens’ movement cap interest rates of payday loans at 36%, please take a moment to write to Mr. Cunningham. I can’t emphasize enough that your single email, fax or letter could be the difference between this bill getting a hearing, or nothing being done. As for the detailed reasons for imposing a rate cap, see my earlier post on the proposed legislation. I have also inserted (below) a letter written by John Campbell (an attorney with whom I work). Thank you so very much for considering this. Please do consider sending me a copy of any emails you send to Mr. Cunningham. [Letter from John Campbell to Mr. Cunningham]

Representative Cunningham:

I am writing to request that the House Committee on Financial Institutions grant a hearing on Bill 2116, a bill to limit the interest rate on payday loans to 36%.

I have extensive personal experience with payday loans. I am an attorney, and I spend much of my time representing consumers. In the course of my practice, I have talked with dozens of payday loan borrowers. Their stories are remarkably similar. Payday loan borrowers are generally low wage earners with high school degrees or less, and they are typically in desperate situations when they go to a payday lender. In my experience, payday loans lead to create a debt cycle that is difficult for most borrowers to escape.

[more . . . ]

Continue ReadingFive minutes is all it takes to help cap Missouri payday loans at 36%

And it’s causing senseless violence and wasting of tax dollars up here too

Mexico is the biggest supplier of marijuana to the United States, and the illegal drug trade is tearing Mexico apart.

Mexico has been wracked by murders connected to the drug trade. Last year, it suffered more than 6,500 drug-related killings, triple the number in 2007. And 2010 looks worse. As of mid-March, more than 2,000 people have died in drug-related homicides – which puts Mexico on pace for more than 10,000 such deaths this year. That's more than one every hour.
The linked article (from the Chicago Tribune) argues that California's upcoming ballot initiative legalizing marijuana would be the worst nightmare of the Mexican drug cartels. For the terrible numbers from Mexico at a glance, see here.

Continue ReadingAnd it’s causing senseless violence and wasting of tax dollars up here too