Gambling Responsibly New York Times 5), discusses the important addiction services provided by the Queens Center for Excellence to troubled bettors at Resorts World Casino New York City, but not the casino's unwavering commitment to promote responsible gambling, which includes a ... |
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ALBANY, N.Y. >> New Yorks transformation into one of the biggest high-roller gambling states in the U.S. is nearly complete, thanks in large part to Osama bin Laden.
The 9/11 attack on America masterminded by Osamas Al-Qaeda jihadist terror network opened the gambling floodgates in New York, with Gov. George Pataki pointing to a desperate need for revenues to fill the gap created by the destruction of the World Trade Center.
At Patakis urging, lawmakers held a special session the month after the attack to approve the biggest expansion of gambling in state history, approving plans for Indian casinos, VLT racinos and participation in the multi-state Mega-Millions lottery drawing. The first new casino opened in 2002 in Niagara Falls, where a disused convention center was turned into a gambling house.
The success that followed set in motion powerful forces that by 2013 resulted in Gov. Andrew Cuomos push to amend the state Constitution to permit up to seven Las Vegas style commercial casinos around the state.
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At the time of the 2001 terrorist attack, there was only two gambling casinos in New York, the Oneida Nations Turning Stone casino near Rome which opened in 1993 and another opened by Mohawk Indians near the Canadian border in 1999. Both opened thanks to a change in federal Indian law.
Fast forward to 2017 and New York has opened three new commercial casinos in the Southern Tier, near Rochester and in Schenectady. A fourth, the $1 billion Montreign casino and resort, is scheduled to open in the Spring of 2018 in Sullivan County in the heart of the Catskills.
It really is a dream come true, Cuomo said at the ribbon-cutting of the $330 million Rivers Casino in Schenectady last Wednesday. We would be talking about this project some times and I would just say, its just too great. Its just too unbelievable that something this grand and powerful was going to happen. But it did.
At another ribbon cutting earlier in February, Cuomo praised the new Del Lago casino in Seneca County, calling it a magnificent monument of how intelligent the decision was to amend the Constitution and expand gambling.
The growth you are seeing now all across upstate New York is going to increase exponentially, Cuomo promised. So we are on our way. Lets cut this ribbon, and lets get to those slot machines.
The Montreign casino resort is expected to boost a once thriving Catskills tourist economy. The 80,000 sq. ft. casino is part of a 18-story hotel with 332 luxury rooms, which includes 12 penthouse suites, 8 garden suites and 7 two-story villas, designed to meet 5-star and 5-diamond standards, the owner Empire Resorts Inc. said in January when it announced a $485 million round of financing. The company also owns the Monticello Casino & Raceway, a successful racino.
When the constitutional amendment was up for a vote four years ago, Cuomo said it was necessary to keep gambling money in the state. Many gambling industry experts agreed, since the new rule of thumb for casinos is that much of the customer base comes from a 50 mile radius.
That has been proven to be true in New York City, which has been denied a commercial casino despite the size of the market. Instead, it has two racinos: Resorts World in Queens and Empire City in Yonkers. Together they accounted for 70 percent of statewide gambling revenue in 2015, the American Gaming Association reported in 2016.
The four new casinos are expected to produce $325 million in annual tax revenues, most of it going to the state.
The casino will compete with 11 Indian casinos now operating around the state, and nearly as many racinos where bettors play video lottery terminals (VLTs) that mimic casino slot machines and table games.
The state Gaming Commission says the state Lottery took in $9.7 billion during the 2015-16 budget year, producing more than $3.3 billion in tax revenue.
The Lottery marks its 50th anniversary in 2017. Until 1967, gambling was prohibited in New York for much of the 20th century apart from betting on horse races, bingo and charitable games.
The also-ran in New Yorks gambling explosion is horse racing. The sport took in about $1.5 billion in 2015, according to the Gaming Commission, with $884 million of that bet at racetracks and the rest at OTB outlets.
Racings future remains cloudy as bettors gravitate to other venues to spend their money. Cuomo has also kept racing at arms length while embracing other types of gambling. Since taking office in 2011, he has avoided going to Saratoga Race Course, the oldest operating sports venue in the U.S.
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By Njiraini Muchira
No industry has captured the imagination of the Kenyan economy in the past three years like betting. Concerned about its runaway growth, the government imposed higher taxes but the proliferation of gaming outlets across the country continued.
The government, through the Kenya Revenue Authority, then turned to gaming equipment: No more importation unless authorised by the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB).
"Any further importation of such gaming devices must have express clearance from the Ministry of Interior and Co-ordination of National Government," said a KRA statement.
BCLB falls under the Ministry of Interior.
BCLB chairman Anthony Kimani Kung'u told The EastAfrican that the majority of the gaming machines entering Kenya do not meet international standards.
"Restricting importation is part of our fight against illegal machines, mostly from China," he said.
He added that the move is to ensure that unscrupulous businessmen do not take advantage of unsuspecting Kenyans.
There has been a proliferation of gaming equipment in estates and other social places.
Backstreet gambling dens
According to the chairman of the Association of Gaming Operators of Kenya, Ronald Karauri, the increase in the machines has tarnished the image of the betting and gaming industry.
"As an association, we have been telling BCLB to crackdown on these machines because they are encouraging irresponsible gaming," he said.
Mr Karauri, who is also the chief executive of sports betting firm SportPesa, added that lack of a modern and progressive law to regulate the industry is fuelling the growth of backstreet gambling dens.
Currently, the industry operates under the Betting, Lotteries and Gaming Act, which stakeholders contend is outdated owing to the evolution of the industry particularly in the use of mobile and online platforms for betting.
Kenyan legislator Jakoyo Midiwo drafted the Betting, Lotteries and Gaming (Amendment) Bill, 2016, to provide a legal framework for regulating and controlling gambling activities.
The Bill also seeks to promote the development of a responsible industry, protect young and excluded persons from the negative effects of gambling and prevent gambling from being a source of crime and from being used for money laundering.
The Bill has however met with opposition from BCLB and industry players on the basis that it does not incorporate the views of stakeholders, and that it is intended to end gambling.
"While we agree the industry needs a modern law, the Bill is not sincere in its object of regulating but will only kill the industry," said Mr Karauri.
Kenya currently has more than 30 licensed betting firms and casinos, although only a few are in operation.
A recent report by PricewaterhouseCoopers shows that the yearly turnover of the sports betting industry in Kenya is worth $20 million, and will reach $50 million in 2020 as demand grows.
The formal Kenyan betting industry, which paid $28.3 million in taxes in 2015, is ranked third in Africa after South Africa and Nigeria.
In the 2016/17 Finance Bill, the government increased taxes on betting, lotteries and gaming after introducing a betting tax charged at a rate of 7.5 per cent of the gaming revenue, lottery tax chargeable at a rate of five per cent and a gaming tax chargeable at a rate of 12 per cent of the gaming revenue.
Kenya currently has more than 30 licensed betting firms and casinos, although only a few are in operation.
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Gov. Eddie Calvo has allowed casino operations at the carnival grounds on a regular basis while gambling is illegal.
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Pacific Daily News 5:12 p.m. ChT Feb. 11, 2017
Sunday cartoon for 02/12(Photo: Roland Miranda/For PDN)
While the voters of Guam have repeatedly rejected attempts to legalize gambling, Gov. Eddie Calvo has allowed casino operations at the carnival grounds on a regular basis.
The casino was supposed to close at the end of the Guam Island Fair Liberation Day Carnival in August, but the gambling operations Texas HoldEm, roulette, blackjack, baccarat and other games were extended. Then, mayors started using the casino for their village fiestas on weekends, with approval from Calvo. Jose Cruz, president of Linala Sin Casino, recently wrote a letter to Attorney General Elizabeth Barrett-Anderson and Rev and Tax Director John Camacho, asking them to investigate the ongoing use of the Tiyan carnival fairgrounds for fiesta-related casino events on weekends.
The Mayors Council or GovGuam insists on continuing this activity in spite of numerous occasions where the people of Guam have resoundingly rejected casino gambling on our island, Cruz wrote.
Sinajana Mayor Robert Hofmann said its because many villages dont have the facilities to offer gambling during their fiestas.
Every district is different in size and capabilities, some mayors have it there some mayors dont, Hofmann said.
He also said the proceeds from the casino go toward programs in the villages. He said Sinajana has raised about $2,500 from gambling. But there is a lack of accountability with casino operations. How much money did the casino make during the carnival, and how much of that went to the mayors and villages? How much does the casino pull in during fiestas, and how much of that goes to community programs? Mayors need to provide this information in an open and transparent manner on a regular basis. And the Calvo administration needs to re-evaluate whether the casino in Tiyan should continue to be used for gambling on a regular basis.
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OUR VIEW: Transparency needed in gambling operations - Pacific Daily News
Spains Congress of Deputies is debating new euthanasia legislation, as right-to-die lobbyists intensify their campaign in the country.
Unidos Podemos (UP), a political coalition of the the Communist Party and the major party Podemos, presented a bill to Congress in mid-January that would permit assisted dying under certain circumstances.
The Unidos Podemos bill proposes that terminally ill patients over the age of 18, and also adults suffering from unbearable psychological or physiological pain, be allowed to access medical assistance in dying.
There is also another bill shortly to be registered in Congress by representatives from Catalonias regional parliament. Late last month the Catalonian parliament resolved to move a federal bill -- similar to the UP proposal -- that would modify the federal penal code to permit medical assistance in dying.
Human freedom lasts until the end of life, said Isabel Alonso, the president of the Right to a Dignified Death Association, which is behind the Catalonian motion.
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SUPPORT THE PATIENTS RIGHTS COUNCILLatest additions to web site: 2/10/17.. Site Map ..
2017 Doctor-Prescribed Suicide Bills Proposed Note: New Mexico is also considering giving non-physicians the power to prescribe lethal drugs for suicide.
New Mexico The New Mexico End of Life Options Act (HB 171) would permit a non-physician to diagnose a patient with a broadly defined terminal illness. It would permit that non-physician to prescribe drugs for the patients suicide on the same day as the diagnosis. Text of HB 171 Analysis of HB 171 More on New Mexico
Scroll down for more of the latest developments and featured articles.
Scroll down for other Recent Developments, and for Featured Articles. For additional information, see Site Map.
The Latest PRC Update (2016 Volume 30, No. 5):
Who will speak for you? Imagine you are in an accident tomorrow and so seriously injured that you arent able to communicate about your health care wishes for several weeks. Who would make health care decisions for you during that time? Do you need an advance directive?
To obtain a durable power of attorney for health care for the state in which you are a resident, call the Patients Rights Council (800-958-5678 or 740-282-3810) between 8:30am and 4:30pm (eastern time).
Recent Major Developments
House To Take First Step Towards Blocking D.C. Assisted Suicide Bill(WAMU February 7, 2017) A U.S. House committee will take the first step on Monday evening towards blocking a D.C. bill that legalizes assisted suicide..{T]he bill was sent to Congress for the 30-day review required under the D.C. Home Rule Act, which gives Congress the right to override the Districts elected representatives. Text of House Joint Resolution 27 More on D.C.
Doctor who made an 80-year-old dementia patients family hold her down while he gave her a lethal euthanasia injection acted in good faith, rules Dutch review panel(Daily Mail February 2, 2017) As the doctor went to administer the injection the woman tried to fight him off. the doctor then ordered the womans family to hold her down to give the drugs. More on Holland
AG, OKeefe seek dismissal of right-to-die case(Cape Cod Times January 10, 2017) A push by two Cape physicians for the right to use medical assistance in dying doesnt belong in the courts, according to Cape and Islands District Attorney Michael OKeefe and Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey. The law firm representing the two physicians worked with Boston-based legal firm Morgan Lewis to help Denver-based Compassion & Choices file the suit. More on Massachusetts
DC mayor signs assisted suicide bill(Washington Examiner December 20, 2016) District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser signed into law Tuesday a bill that would make assisted suicide legal in the district, if it gets through Congress. It is not clear if Congress will approve the legislation. It has blocked D.C. legislation before, most recently the citys recreational marijuana law. Under the Constitution, Congress has to sign off on all D.C. Laws.Note: The DC bill was originally Docket No. B21-38. It is now titled D.C. Act 21-577. More on District of Columbia.
Mexico City legalizes right to euthanasia(Global Times January 6, 2017) Mexico City has become the first entity within Mexico to legalize euthanasia, after the issue was approved Wednesday by the citys constitutional assembly The right to euthanasia will be enshrined in Article 11 of Mexico Citys new constitution, which will come into force in 2018. In January 2016, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto signed a law, allowing Mexico City to have its own local constitution.
A measure to permit doctor-prescribed suicide in South Dakota could appear on the states 2018 ballot if sufficient signatures of registered voters are collected by November 2017.More on South Dakota
Governor Kasich Signs Bill Making Assisted Suicide a Felony(WMFD December 20, 2016) Governor Kasich signed House Bill 470, making assisted suicide a third degree felony in Ohio, punishable by up to five years in prison. The bill strengthens Ohios protections against assisted suicide, which previously only permitted a court to issue an injunction against anyone helping people to kill themselves.
California Tests Electronic Database For End-of-Life Wishes(Kaiser Health News December 7, 2016) A coalition of emergency and social service providers is working to create an electronic registry for POLST forms in California. California has been using them for nearly 20 years. Filling out the forms is voluntary, but once they are completed and signed, they must be followed, and providers have immunity from criminal prosecution or civil liability when they do so in good faith. (Emphasis added.) More on POLST
Dutch euthanasia law is used to kill alcoholic, 41, who decided death was the only way to escape his problems(Daily Mail December 6, 2016) Mark Langedijk joked and drank before GP administered injections. Dutch euthanasia practice killed more than 5,500 people last year. Dutch law now includes those enduring social isolation and loneliness. More on Holland
Healthcare groups urge repeal of death panel'(Modern Health Care December 1, 2016) The Independent Payment Advisory Board [IPAB] was created by the Affordable Care Act. It is actually mean to make cuts to Medicare in the case that spending growth exceeds projections The 16 member board has never been appointed. The law stipulates that if the board is not appointed, the HHS Secretary would then be charged with making the cuts. The cuts could then only be overridden by a supermajority of Congress. More on Obamacare
For additional articles and information, see Site Map.
Featured Articles
Physician-assisted suicide is too risky(Albuquerque Journal November 30, 2016) By providing cheap and early deaths, insurance companies can save millions of dollars each year. The elderly, the poor, and minorities are also prone to abuse, especially if younger family members view them as a financial burden instead of an honored elder. The dying person is guilted into their duty to die. More on New Mexico
Everyone should have the right to assisted suicide or no one should (VOX November 21, 2016) Equal rights means equal suicide protection.Are you healthy? Do you think that your health makes your life more valuable that a terminally ill persons? Do you think that his life should get less protection from suicidal desires? If so, the disability rights movement has a bumper sticker for you: I support the right to die. You go first. More on Disability Perspective
A Bad Recipe for D.C. (November 2016) Ingredients and directions for doctor-prescribed suicide. More on District of ColumbiaDoctor-assisted suicide? Neutrality is not an option(Orlando Sentinel November 13, 2016) A medical ethicist says its cowardly to be neutral about doctor-assisted suicide. And as for medical societies if those organizations make even a passing effort to set ethical standards and codes for the medical profession, then they should not tell society that they are neutral on physician-assisted suicide.
Elderly Hospital Patients Arrive Sick, Often Leave Disabled (Kaiser Health News- August 9, 2016) Hospital staff often fail to feed older patients properly, get them out of bed enough or control their pain adequately. More on Medicare
Automatic sign-ups for Medicare Advantage coverage surprise seniors (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review August 1, 2016) Only days after Judy Hanttula came home from the hospital after surgery in November, her doctors office called with bad news: Records showed that instead of traditional Medicare, she had a private Medicare Advantage plan, and her doctor and hospital were not in its network. Neither the plan nor Medicare now would cover her medical costs. More on Medicare
Do patients pay when they leave against medical advice? Patients who are leaving the hospital against medical advice are often told by hospital staff that doing so will leave them liable for the entire bill because insurance will not pay if they leave against medical advice. As described in a study, that is a myth, a medical urban legend, and one which is widespread.
Brain scans reveal hidden consciousness in patients(AP Central Ohio, The Source May 26, 2016) A standard brain scanning technique is showing promise for helping doctors distinguish between patients in a vegetative state and those with hidden signs of consciousness.The researchers checked the patient status again a year later. They found that 8 of the 11 vegetative patients who had scored above the cutoff, which had been associated with minimal consciousness, had in fact recovered consciousness.
Cancer breakthrough: Duke clinical trial destroys SC womans brain tumor(WNCN television CBS May 16, 2016) The FDA is calling a clinical trial that killed a cancerous brain tumor (Stage 4 Glioblastoma) a medical breakthrough. Stephanie Lipscomb, now a nurse has now been cancer free for 4 years and considers herself cured. Dozens of patients responded positively to the trial and because of the success with Stephanie, the FDA has deemed the trial a medical breakthrough. [Note: This was the same type of cancer that Brittany Maynard had.]
Where the prescription for autism can be death (Washington Post February 24, 2016) Thus did a man in his 30s whose only diagnosis was autism become one of 110 people to be euthanized for mental disorders in the Netherlands between 2011 and 2014. Thats the rough equivalent of 2,000 people in the United States. More on Holland
The sole survivor: Fort Lee woman beats the deadliest form of brain cancer(NorthJersey.com December 13, 2015) Nearly a decade after learning she had only three months to live, Sandy Hillburn grabbed a taxi last Sunday to LaGuardia Airport for one of her regular business trips to North Carolina.
Previously Featured ArticlesAlso see site map to access specific topics which include previously featured articles.
Have you heard about VSED? It stands for voluntarily stopping eating and drinking. VSED is being promoted by assisted-suicide activists who are also working to force health care providers to participate in it. Important Questions & Answers about VSED
From the bookshelfTwenty-six years ago, Ann Humphry, the co-founder of the Hemlock Society (now called Compassion and Choices) committed suicide. Her death made headlines worldwide.
Prior to her death, Ann contacted Rita Marker, a staunch euthanasia opponent. Over time, the two became close friends, and Ann asked Rita to make public secrets about the right-to-die movement secrets that had weighed heavily on Ann.
Two years after Anns tragic death, the book, Deadly Compassion: The Death of Ann Humphry and the Truth About Euthanasia was published. It recounts Anns personal story, the founding of the Hemlock Society, and activities of euthanasia and doctor-prescribed suicide advocates. Thousands of copies of the book were sold in the United States, England, Canada and Australia. (Read excerpts from reviews of the book.)
Now, for the first time, you can read Deadly Compassion in its entirety on line in PDF format.
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Pet food company Evangers is recalling five batches of its Hunk of Beef dog food after one batch tested positive for pentobarbital, a drug thats used in euthanasia as well as for other medical purposes.
At least one dog, a pug in Washington state named Talula, died after consuming the food.
Nikki Mael, Talulas owner, told KATU last month that her four dogs all became ill shortly after she fed them the Hunk of Beef canned food on New Years Eve. Talula died at the emergency vet, and a second dog, Tito, continued to suffer from seizures after going back home with Mael.
Evangers launched an investigation into possible food contamination, and ultimately detected pentobarbital a barbiturate used in the euthanasia of animals in one batch of the product. As a result, the company announced on Feb. 3 that they would be recalling all batches produced the same week.
The recall affects Hunk of Beef products with lot numbers starting with 1816E03HB, 1816E04HB, 1816E06HB, 1816E07HB, and 1816E13HB, with a June 2020 expiration date. It applies to products in Washington, California, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. (Read more information about the recallhere.)
Evangers also said they are paying for Maels vet bills are making a donation to a local shelter in honor of Talula the Pug.
The companys statement indicates that they suspect meat from a euthanized animal likely ended up in the food, causing the presence of pentobarbital.
Though pentobarbital has shown up in pet food before, those cases have involved pet food with ingredients sourced from rendering plants that grind up a slew of animal carcasses from a variety of sources. Evangers states that their Hunk of Beef product contains only beef, and does not include any ingredients from rendering plants.
However, the company notes in their statement that while the use of pentobarbital is tightly regulated, there is absolutely no regulation that requires a veterinarian to mark a euthanized animal to prevent it from entering the food chain. As a result of the contamination, Evangers terminated their relationship with the beef supplier that provided the contaminated meat.
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Pug Dies After Eating Dog Food Contaminated With Euthanasia Drug - Huffington Post
My cousin Wayne Konitzer died a few years ago from a very nasty melanoma. Wayne was enough younger than I am that I didnt know him very well, but my mom and dad knew him and loved him, and thats enough evidence for me that he was a good guy, and a good neighbor. After I finished my column about neighbors last week, I went back into my archives because I remembered that I had written about Waynes neighbors and the way some of his friends and neighbors came out to help him.
During his struggle with the disease and the violent chemotherapy he was struggling with, Waynes daughter Jodi had been posting almost daily updates about his battleon a website called Caring Bridge. Then one day, another posting, written by another daughter, Lori, described how a bunch of Wayne and Tooties friends had stepped in to help them get some firewood ready for the winter because Wayne was so debilitated that he couldnt possibly do the work himself. I think this story is worth repeating.
So, heres part of the narration Lori posted: WOW ... what an operation to watch! I got to Mom and Dads a little after 8 a.m. Ronnie and Margaret were already there splitting wood. About 8:45, an army of trucks pulled in with about 14 more guys with six (or more) chainsaws, four log splitters and a Bobcat to help Dad get his wood taken care of before the snow decided to fly; it was like an army invasion.
It was amazing to watch. They got out of their trucks, said hi and immediately started the task without much discussion about who was going to do what or where, they just went. There were three crews, each crew with a couple chainsaws cutting up the logs and three or four people splitting wood and loading up the trailers. The Bobcat was bringing logs to each crew. There were two 4-wheelers with trailers running from the splitters to the eight wood racks. The crew finished cutting and splitting 11 1/2 cords of logs in about 2 1/2 hours! It is extremely reassuring to know Mom and Dad have such awesome friends that keep an eye on them and would do anything to help them out.
I loved that story. Reading it not only brought a lump to my throat, it also made me flash back to my childhood on Konitzer Road when we had neighbors like that. I remembered a time when my mom was very ill and had to have some serious surgeries in a Green Bay hospital. Dad was making daily trips to be with her, and some major harvesting was getting behind schedule. One day, a company of our neighbors (led by Waynes dad, my Uncle George) rolled in with a lot of equipment, and in one day they were able to get the work done. It would have taken Dad a week or more to do it alone. Uncle George Konitzer, his brother Big John, Greg Konitzer, Jack Lutz, Bob Renel, Joe Konitzer, Willard Knaus everybody was there.
My dads credo, the law he lived by, was the golden rule. Dad was firmly convinced that good deeds would always be rewarded. My guess is that my cousin Wayne had lived by that credo, too, and he was certainly rewarded.
Curtain!
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On Monday, Donald Trumps war on the media took a ridiculous turn even by Trump standards when thepetulantpresidentspeculatedin a speech to theU.S. Central Commandthat the press was deliberatelytrying tocoverupreports of Islamic terrorism.
Its gotten to a point where its not even being reported, said Trump, who seems incapable of makinga speech withoutmentioning thedishonest press and touting the latestconspiracy theory he read on InfoWars.com.And in many casesthe very, very dishonest press doesnt want to report it. They have their reasons, and you understand that.
This claim no doubt came as a surprise toanyone who has watched cable news in his or herlife and has seen how extensively the mass media reports Islamic terrorist attacks whenthey occurin the West which they rarely do. Trump, who is reportedly an avidwatcher of cable news, either has a very bad memory or is fibbing once again to take a shot at the media and push his Islamophobicagenda.As Benjamin H. Friedman, a research fellow at the libertarian think tank Cato Institute, remarked to PolitiFact (whichruledTrumps statement pants on fire):
Due to its sensational nature, [Islamic terrorism is] over-reported compared to other forms of violence and causes of death that kill more people. Media has a strong incentive to focus on scary political violence the aphorism if it bleeds, it leads is a sound business principle in news media, especially television.
One would expect Trump a reality TV starwho clearlyunderstandsthe importance ofratings to have a pretty good idea how the mass media works in America. In public, however, the president espouses a simplisticright-wing view of the press, portraying it as an all-powerful monolith that is always out to unfairly smear him and advance a sinister left-wing agenda. (Trump may believe this to a degree, but he has clearly been playing onthe rights ingrained distrust and paranoia.)
And thus, in Trumps mind, the press isthe opposition party, as his chief strategist Steve Bannon put it last month. It deliberatelyunderreports Islamic terrorist attacks whileoverreportingor manufacturingbad press, such as mass protests, hisslipping approval rating orpublic opinion polls that disapprove of his agenda.
In reality, the mainstream media, or the corporate media,is driven primarilyby business rationale and the profit motive, not some left-wing or liberal agenda. This is evidenced by themediasinstitutional structure, and the startling fact that90 percent of the media todayisowned and controlled by justsix multinational corporationscompared to 50 different companiesin 1983. These six corporations function, like all other corporations, to make profit. Journalists working for those companies report to their managers andexecutives, who report to presidents and CEOs, who report to owners or shareholders.
It was this business rationale that led the media to excessivelycover Trump during the primaries, and prompted Les Moonves, the CEO of CBS, toremarkin early 2016 thatTrumps campaignmay not be good for America, but its damn good for CBS.
A Harvard Universitystudyconducted last June supported this reality, and found that Trump got the most coverage of any candidate running on either side during the primaries, and that the vast majority of it was favorable in tone. On theother hand, Sen. Bernie Sanders, who wasnt well known when he began his campaign (and thereforewasnt a bigratings draw), received the smallestamount of coverage during the first half of the primariesthough coveragedid increase during the latter half of his campaign, as he became an increasingly popular figure.
Meanwhile,Hillary Clintonreceived the least favorable coverage of any Democratic or Republican candidate, and during the first half of her campaign there were three negative reports about her for every positive one. That was partly because Clinton undeniably came with extensivepolitical baggage, but italso discredits the right-wing narrative that the media was a propaganda machine for Clinton.
Besides reality-TV-style political campaigns, terrorist attacks and other calamities tend to bring inbigratings for news networks, which means Trump hasitcompletely backwards when heclaimsthat those in the media have their reasons for underreporting terrorism. In fact,they have every reason tooverreportand sensationalize terrorismwhich they do. Thissensationalism has resulted ina false perception ofviolence and danger, leaving Americansextremely fearfulofterrorismeven though theyremore likely to befatally crushed by furniturethan to die in a terrorist attack.
The kind of stories that actually go underreported by the mainstream media are usuallythe ones that portraycorporate capitalismor the American governmentin an overly bad light, or stories that may alienate clients who spend millions of dollars on advertising. In 2016, some notable stories that received very little mainstream coverage were the Dakota Access Pipeline protests in North Dakota, thenationwide prison strike last falland the U.S. governments continuedtargeted killing program.
It is clear that the mainstream media has some strong biases but not in the way right-wingers always complainabout. Media companies are generallybiased toward American interests and the economic system under which they operate. And whilethere isan obvious liberal bentonsocial issues such as diversity and LGBT rights (as there is in much of corporate America),there is just as strong a bent toward the right on economic and foreign policy matters.
President Trumps biggest pet peeve with the mainstream media, however, is not that it is politically biased but that it isbiased toward reality (at least on the stories that it chooses to report). Stephen Colbert famously declared back in 2006 that reality has a well-known liberal bias, but the comedian could have hardlypredicted just how pervasive falsehoods would become in the age of Trump. The new president lives in an alternative reality shaped by his colossal ego and his penchant for conspiracytheories. In less than a month, his new administration has peddled some of the most transparent lies in the history of American politics.
Not surprisingly, this has resulted in a lot of fact-checking and debunking by journalists. When the press does its job and calls out the president or one of his servile staffers for lying, Trump criesabout the dishonest, unfair, failing liberal media. Of course, the medias job is not to be fair and balanced when the president of the United States rejects objective truths and regularly embraces conspiracy theories. Climate change, for example, is not an opinion, but a scientific fact; and when someone calls it a Chinese hoax, this should be treated as the ludicrous conspiracy theory that it is, not another opinion that deserves fair treatment from the press.
In Noam Chomskys classic book on media, Manufacturing Consent, the MIT professor describes the American mass media as effective and powerful ideological institutions that carry out a system-supportive propaganda function by reliance on market forces, internalized assumptions and self-censorship, and without significant overt coercion. Since this was written nearly 30 years ago, media ownership has become increasingly concentrated, competition for advertising dollars has intensified (mostly due to the Internet) and the dividing line between commentary newsand old-fashionedreporting has become increasingly blurred with the invention of cable news and blogging. But Chomskys thesis remains highly accurate.
There has been no greater myth over the past four decades than that of the liberal or left-wingmedia,andTrump has benefited from both the myth and the reality. Not only did he receive billions of dollars worth of free publicity from the ratings-obsessed press, but he was able to scapegoat the same press and lie with virtual impunitybecause so many Americans have stopped trusting the liberal media (i.e., the fact-checkers). In a sense, then, the mainstream mediahas been Trumps greatest tooland when the next terrorist attack occurs andthe media amplifies it as usual, they willfurther help the president and his fear-mongering agenda.
See more here:
Trump's attacks on the press and how the liberal media myth has empowered him - Salon
The opportunities were few and far between during the first meeting.
But on Friday night, the Hays High School boys basketball team had enough chances to make a difference.
Only problem was the Indians couldnt convert on those opportunities down the stretch in a 43-42 loss to WAC foe Liberal at the HHS gym.
We had layups and free throws that could have won the game, said HHS coach Rick Keltner. We also made some layups and free throws that put us in position. I think maybe we can get a little more identity of what we can do.
The Indians, coming off a drubbing at the hands of Salina Central a day earlier, were facing a team Friday night in Liberal that had won handily in January on the Redskins home floor, 70-42.
And it looked as though Liberal (14-2 overall, 4-1 WAC) would run away with a victory again in the third quarter as the Redskins lead grew to 11 points on two occasions.
But after trailing 30-19, Hays High (10-5, 3-2) went on a 12-3 spurt that began with five straight points by sophomore Tradgon McCrae.
Missed free throws kept HHS from tying the score at 33 before Liberal would lead 35-31 entering the final period.
Before the game, coach said we needed to play with passion, said McCrae, who scored all seven of his points in the quarter. Thats what we did. We never quit. We just battled the whole time.
Liberal pushed the lead to 39-34 with 5:31 to play when senior Kylan Thomas hit a layup, part of his 13 points.
Hays High senior Tyrese Hill scored seconds later on a putback, and senior Claiborne Kyles hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key to knot the game at 39 with 3:35 remaining.
Senior Cole Evans grabbed a rebound off a Liberal miss at the other end, giving the Redskins a 41-39 advantage with 2:15 to play.
It was just a weird game, said Liberal senior Cade Hinkle, who scored 15 points. In Hays, you never know whats going to happen. You come in here and look to stay close with them throughout the game, and at the end, you make a break for it. Today, we got the W.
After the two teams swapped turnovers, Kyles turnaround jumper rimmed off, and Liberal snagged the rebound.
Hinkle missed the front end of a one-and-one attempt, and Hays Highs rebound was passed out to McCrae who was fouled as the Redskins tried to use time on the clock while only having three teams fouls.
But the Redskins were whistled for an intentional foul, giving McCrae two free throws and the Indians the ball.
McCrae missed both attempts to tie the game, then Kyles missed a layup after HHS inbounded the ball.
Hinkle iced the game with two free throws before Kyles hit a 3 from the left corner as time expired.
Its a really big win for us in the WAC, because both of us were 3-1, Hinkle said. Now, they moved to 3-2 in the WAC and we moved into first. So its a big win for us.
Its been tough for four years, Keltner said about battling Hinkle, who scored eight of his points in the second quarter as Liberal built a 26-17 lead at halftime. Hes a good kid. Weve had battles with him before. This one we just didnt win. They probably got the T-shirt tonight (for the WAC title), but you never know how things are going to play out.
Kyles finished with 16 points to lead all scorers but was the only Indian to score in double figures.
We had opportunities, for sure,McCrae said. We had a layup, I had two free throws myself that I missed. Wed have those shots every other time. Wed have (Claiborne) have the layup every game, and hed make it 99.9 percent of the time. It was the 0.1 percent of the time this time. He missed the layup, and I missed the free throws.
Liberal 43, Hays High 42
Liberal (14-2, 4-1) 12 14 9 8 43
Hays High (10-5, 3-2) 13 4 14 11 42
Liberal King 2, Eatmon 9, Kylan Thomas 13, Cade Hinkle 15, Evans 2, Bingham 2.
Hays High Murphy 6, X. Swayne 2, McCrae 7, Hill 6, Claiborne Kyles 16, Berens 5.
Girls
Liberal 42, Hays High 38
A scoreless span over the final 3:50 of the game left the Hays High girls falling short against Liberal.
The Indians led 38-36 after senior Talyn Kleweno sank a triple from the left wing in the fourth quarter, but it was the final points Hays High (9-7, 2-3) would get.
Liberal freshman Machia Mullens tied the game with 3:26 to play, and the Indians couldnt get a shot to fall as the Redskins (12-4, 4-1) made one of two free throws to take a 39-38 lead with just more than a minute remaining.
We had so many empty possession to start the second half where wed throw the ball away and not get a shot off, said HHS coach Kirk Maska, whose team trailed 15-12 after the first quarter and 21-18 at the break. We kind of fixed that a little bit, and that helped us get back into the game and actually take the lead.
Hays High missed two shots with less than a minute to play, and Liberal junior Ali Lucero sank a 3-pointer from the right corner after an assist from a teammate who fell to the ground and rolled with the ball appearing to travel before finding a wide-open Lucero.
Lucero finished with 19 points to lead Liberal, while Kleweno paced HHS with 12 points.
As good as Liberal is and as good as theyre coached, you cant go four minutes without scoring, Maska said. Maybe we should have tried to run something else, but we stayed with what was working. Im excited about the effort and how we adjusted since we played last night.
Both Hays High teams travel to Abilene on Tuesday for a non-conference battle.
Liberal 42, Hays High 38
Liberal (12-4, 4-1) 15 6 12 9 42
Hays High (9-7, 2-3) 12 6 9 11 38
Liberal Horyna 5, Ali Lucero 19, Mullens 6, Hay 6, Mickens 5, Gonzalez 1.
Hays High Talyn Kleweno 12, Dale 2, Leiker 2, Robben 2, Schneider 6, Hutchison 3, Denning 9, Keller 2.
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ALMOST 70 outdated WA high schools will be revamped in a $560 million spending spree bankrolled by the partial sale of Western Power if the Liberal Party retains power on March 11.
The Sunday Times can today reveal the 69 secondary schools, which were built before 1985, to benefit from its flagged $1 billion next generation education fund and how much each can expect to reap.
The plan would see major upgrades of classrooms and building of new specialist facilities for science, design and technology, sport, media, performing and visual arts and home economics, with each school estimated to receive between $2 million and $34 million.
This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. The partial sale of Western Power will allow us to bring older high schools up to 21st century standards across the board. It will also stimulate the economy by creating 18,480 jobs, Premier Colin Barnett said.
Education Minister Peter Collier denied the funds were being used to pork-barrel marginal seats, saying there were just as many safe and marginal Labor seats included in the list as Liberal seats.
This is not based on a political premise; this is based on an extremely forensic and well- audited appraisal by the Department of Education of whats required in those schools, he said. Schools would be salivating at the prospect of these improvements to their facilities. It would take a very brave person to prosecute an argument that whats been identified for any of those schools is not required.
Of the 11 high schools earmarked to receive $15 million or more, only three are in seats held by a margin of 10 per cent or less two by Labor (Kimberley and Thornlie) and one by the Liberals (Morley).
Regardless of the colour of government after March 11, any incoming government is going to be faced with significant challenges to bring these schools up to standard, Mr Collier said. He added this major spend on the school project backlog would not be possible without the unique opportunity presented by the part sale of Western Power. In a stark choice for voters, Labor is campaigning against selling off the utility.
The list has been around for a long time ... and the whole point of this exercise is that at last we can do it en masse. If not, I want to make it quite clear, these schools will not get these improvements for up to 20 years, Mr Collier said. This funding is above and beyond everything that has been committed thus far.
In December, the Premier said the Liberals would not be using the Western Power funds to bankroll election promises and would not allocate that money to specific schools during the campaign.
Mr Collier yesterday said it was always the intention to spell out the next generation fund during the campaign.
The balance of the $1 billion fund will flow to capital works in primary and district high schools and TAFE colleges.
Late last year, the Barnett Government vowed if re-elected it would sell 51 per cent of Western Power for a forecast $11 billion, $8 billion of which would be used to clear the utilitys debt.
The remaining $3 billion would be used for a next- generation fund for education and training, transport and energy projects.
Mr Collier said he would have more to say later in the campaign on how the remaining $1 billion for education and training would be used.
Education-centric policies have been high on the campaign agenda for both major parties, with the Liberals already promising revamps of Balcatta, Mt Lawley, Kalamunda and Harvey senior high schools as well as South Bunbury Primary School using consolidated revenue.
Labors education blueprint includes Perths first high-rise public school in the CBD. That would see Perth Modern, WAs only academically selective school, relocated to the new city college and the Subiaco site turned into a local intake school for 1500 students to ease pressure on other inner-city high schools.
Mr Collier said he would walk over hot coals if the (Perth Modern) community almost unanimously didnt agree with him Labors plan was ridiculous, misguided and fundamentally flawed.
SCHOOL SPENDING SPREE
(School, earmarked funds, year built)
Albany Senior High School, $10m, 1924
Armadale Senior High School, $4m, 1953
Balga Senior High School, $8m, 1970
Belmont City College, $7m, 1957 (rebuilt in 1990s)
Bridgetown High School, $2m, 1962
Broome Senior High School, $20m, 1972
Bunbury Senior High School, $10m, 1923
Busselton Senior High School, $5m, 1952
Canning College, $5m, 1982
Carine Senior High School, $5m, 1973
Cecil Andrews Senior High School, $5m, 1980
Central Midlands Senior High School, $4m, 1971
Collie Senior High School, $8m, 1946
Como Secondary College, $20m, 1969
Cyril Jackson Senior Campus, $5m, 1962
Darling Range Sports Academy, $10.5m, 1975
Denmark Senior High School, $4m, 1896 (one block is pre-1980s, rest rebuilt in 2000)
Duncraig Senior High School, $5m, 1979
Eastern Hills Senior High School, $5m, 1962
Esperance Senior High School, $20m, 1966
Geraldton Senior College, $3m, 1939
Girrawheen Senior High School, $5m, 1974
Greenwood College, $10m, 1976
Hampton Senior High School, $12m, 1966
Headland Senior High School, $5m, 1971
John Curtin College of the Arts, $25m, 1946
John Forrest Secondary College, $15m, 1961
John Tonkin College (Middle School Campus), $5m, 1980
John Willcock College, $5m, 1975
Kalamunda Senior High School, $2m, 1962
Kalgoorlie-Boulder Community High School, $3m, 1972
Katanning Senior High School, $5m, 1950
Kelmscott Senior High School, $15m, 1973
Kent Street Senior High School, $20m, 1940
Kiara College, $4m, 1974
Leeming Senior High School, $10m, 1985
Lesmurdie Senior High School, $10m, 1981
Lynwood Senior High School, $12m, 1974
Manjimup Senior High School, $5m, 1953
Margaret River Senior High School, $34.4m, 1962
Melville Senior High School, $10m, 1960
Merredin College, $4m, 1950
Mirrabooka Senior High School, $8m, 1965
Morley Senior High School, $12m, 1970
Mount Barker Community College, $4m, 1960
Narrogin Senior High School, $5m, 1950
Newman Senior High School, $5m, 1974
Newton Moore Senior High School, $5m, 1966
North Albany Senior High School, $10m, 1982
North Lake Senior Campus, $5m, 1973
Northam Senior High School, $3m, 1921
Ocean Reef Senior High School, $8m, 1983
Perth Modern School, $5.5m, 1911
Pinjarra Senior High School, $15m, 1921
Rockingham Senior High School, $5m, 1971
Rossmoyne Senior High School, $4m, 1968
Safety Bay Senior High School, $15m, 1978
Sevenoaks Secondary College, $3m, 1965
South Fremantle Senior High School (Fremantle College), $3m, 1967
Southern River College, $12m, 1976
Swan View Senior High School, $3m, 1977
Thornlie Senior High School, $15m, 1971
Tom Price Senior High School, $5m, 1972
Tuart College, $5m, 1982
Wanneroo Secondary College, $5m, 1977
Warwick Senior High School, $4m, 1981
Willetton Senior High School, $3m, 1977
Woodvale Secondary College, $5m, 1985
Yule Brook College, $5m, 1978
TOTAL: 69 schools, $559.4 million
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Liberal pledge: Revamp for 69 outdated schools in $560 million spend - Perth Now
Trumps victory is virtually incomprehensible without a reading on the dynamics of white identity and national formation. Photograph: Scott Olson/Getty Images
The first two weeks of the Trump presidency ought to be engraved in our memories as if in granite. We are witness to three simultaneous crises: a crisis of the working class, which, fractured by race, region, citizenship status and religious belief, lacks political cohesion or organisational representation.
Then we have a crisis of the ruling class, which was bullied and backed into a corner by a megalomaniacal kleptocrat who stole their candy, and who has no respect for the core institutions of class rule or for the stories his class brothers and sisters tell each other about the delights of the prevailing world order.
And a crisis of the state, in which far-right ideologues, autocrats and theocrats, having captured the governing apparatus, are rapidly concentrating power in the executive while bureaucrats scramble toward either dissent and defiance or appeasement and accommodation.
In response to these crises, a highly consequential debate about the direction of the Democratic party rages among academics, pundits and politicians. Sparked by the Columbia University professor Mark Lilla in a New York Times opinion piece, this debate is most active among liberals, but ranges both rightward and leftward as well.
The controversy focuses on the role of identity politics in Hillary Clintons presidential defeat. Essentially, the debate turns on whether the Democratic party and Clinton, in their embrace of racial, religious and sexual minorities, forsook working-class white people, who responded to their abandonment by casting their votes for Trump.
According to this perspective, the journey back from the devastation of 2016 requires that the party take an indefinite break from identity politics to concentrate on winning back economically squeezed white workers. Theres a leftish version of this line an economic fundamentalism that posits that bread-and-butter issues trump all others. The classic liberal version, seemingly reasonably, demands the subordination of the part to the whole, the interests of particular groups to the national interest.
Both boil down to the same thing: its time to subordinate the rights claims of various interest groups to an economic agenda that prioritises solving the distress of white workers. Only this adjustment will create the conditions for Democrats to make gains in congressional and state-wide races and retake the White House in 2020. (Or, in the leftish version, only this adjustment will set the foundation for building a successful workers movement.)
Where the Democratic party lands on this issue matters enormously. The traction this analysis gains will impact the flow of attention and resources of the party, liberal thinktanks and liberal philanthropy, as well as the focus of progressive organisations. It is likely to determine how the Democratic party positions itself relative to 2018 and 2020, and whether that positioning has the intended effect of creating a sufficiently broad electoral coalition to roll back Trumpism. With so much at stake, it is worth taking a moment to examine what might be problematic about analyses that lay 2016s rout of the Democratic party at the feet of identity politics.
Its never a good idea to enter willingly into a frame your opponent has constructed to entrap you. The term identity politics is part of a whole vocabulary including thought police, politically correct, and liberal elites, whose main intention is to undermine the legitimacy of liberal and left politics. Uncritically adopting the identity politics language of the right is the equivalent of dropping our guard and waltzing on to their terrain. Masters tools, masters house, anyone? We need to recognise a toxic frame when we see one and refuse to be a party to its proliferation.
Setting aside questions of language and framing, there is in fact an expression of identity politics core to the evolution of our nation and critical to how we understand the current juncture. White identity and nation-building have been bound together since way before the founding fathers and the drafting of our framing documents. The rest of us have had to fight our way into the body politic. Or, in the case of Indian nations, make the best of a spectacularly unequal and uneasy standoff.
The conceptual contrast between white Christians and red savages underwrote relentless territorial expansion and genocide. Between white Christians and black savages, the enslavement of Africans and the appropriation of their bodies, their labour, their progeny; between brown savages and white Christians, the taking of the south-west; between the yellow peril and white patriotic Americans, various exclusions, internments, property appropriations and ghettoisations.
This is not to project the racial sensibilities of today back onto social and political environments that operated on completely different sets of assumptions but to reckon with the degree to which the nation-building project has been, at the same time, a white identity formation project. Until we collectively get this, some will continue to deny the white rights subtext of Make America Great Again, or be surprised at how powerfully it resonated. Trumps victory is virtually incomprehensible without a reading on the dynamics of white identity and national formation. The liberal inquiry into the role of identity politics in Clintons loss is pointed in a direction diametrically opposite to where one might find answers.
This is not an argument against addressing the concerns and economic anxieties of white workers. It is an argument for:
(1) addressing those concerns as a component part of a larger story about the declining fortunes of the class as a whole;
(2) refusing to make concessions to racism, heterosexism, xenophobia, Christian supremacy, or misogyny while addressing those concerns;
(3) being clear that the displacement of white economic anxiety on to black people and immigrants is neither warranted nor wise;
(4) being clear that the postwar deal of expanding economic fortunes for a wide swath of white workers is completely off the table; what is on the table is the search for new forms of multiracial, multiethnic, multigendered worker organising that applies itself to the riddle of how to effectively extract significant concessions from 21st century capital;
(5) understanding that the work of addressing the economic and social concerns of white workers, and winning them away from thoroughly reactionary politics, is not principally an issue of crafting the best messages and communications strategies to produce results in the next election cycle, but a long-term, no-short-cuts proposition to which a battalion of people and organisations will need to devote their lives.
A liberal imagination perversely fixated on the alleged excesses of identity politics forgets that social movements of the marginalised are the spark and spur of democracy. The abolitionist movement and the civil rights movement extended democratic rights to the formerly enslaved and perpetually reviled, removing a deep moral stain from the nation. The womens movement unleashed the potential and talent of half the countrys population.
While the small-minded argue about bathrooms and pronouns, transgender activists, at great risk to themselves, have gifted us with a far more capacious understanding of the evolving spectrum of gender identities and expressions. None of these movements is done. Each has advanced not just the interests of a singular identity group, but also the ambit of freedom for all. Most assuredly, the generation that stepped forward in the wake of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown will not stand down just because some liberals are having a panic attack.
We are all navigating treacherous terrain, seeking a way forward. At least some of us know that not a single development over the past period indicates that the way forward requires that we abandon our freedom dreams. To the contrary.
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Liberals, don't fall into the right's 'identity politics' trap - The Guardian
Networks Swoon Over GOP 'Feeling the Wrath' of Liberal Town Hall Protesters NewsBusters (blog) Friday's big three network evening newscasts showed no remorse when it came to Republican members of Congress being shouting down and blasted by angry, liberal protesters, gushing over how the GOP is feeling the wrath of demonstrators flooding ... |
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Networks Swoon Over GOP 'Feeling the Wrath' of Liberal Town Hall Protesters - NewsBusters (blog)
Read on to find out what you should, or should not, do with your own money
Most of us look to the Budget for new tax breaks to make our life a little easier in the coming year. But the way the government manages its finances can also tell you a lot about what you should, or should not, do with your own money. Here are the key lessons from the 2017 Budget.
Ever wondered why there is so much hand-wringing about the fiscal deficit? Well, its because the fiscal deficit captures the excess of government spending over what it earns. In FY-17, the Government spent 20.14 lakh crore, while it earned only 14.8 lakh crore from taxes and other sources.
The gap of 36 per cent (5.3 lakh crore) was met by borrowings. But FY17 wasnt an unusual year. Government expenses have overshot its income by a third for the last many years.
This constant over-spending has led to the government adding to its debt pile each year, leading to a situation where it stood at 59.6 lakh crore in FY17. The Centre now spends 24 out of every 100 it earns in paying off interest alone. To put it another way, it uses up over 90 per cent of its yearly borrowings towards interest payments on old loans.
We often miss this because fiscal deficit and borrowings are usually measured as a percentage of the countrys GDP and not as a percentage of the governments own income. A fiscal deficit expressed as 3.5 per cent of GDP and public debt at 40 per cent, dont appear panic-inducing.
But as a householder, if youre spending more than you earn, the first thing you must do is to quantify your monthly expenses and debt. Sweeping the problem under the carpet will land you in a debt trap.
Between FY12 and FY17, the Indian governments total debt expanded by 75 per cent from 36 lakh crore to 60 lakh crore. But with the GDP racing rapidly too, the debt-to-GDP ratio showed a declining trend. As this metric is much lower for India than some of the nearly broke European and emerging economies, India isnt seen as a nation in crisis.
The government need not worry about its rising debt and can keep borrowing because its income (tax collections) tend to rise with the GDP. Plus, it has the capacity to hike tax rates at will to increase its income. As the sovereign, it also gets to borrow money at the cheapest rate, no matter how indebted it is.
As householders though, we cant be so sanguine. Salary increments often do not keep up with inflation. For us, a higher indebtedness definitely means paying higher interest rates to borrow. Therefore, if you are in debt, prioritise debt repayment over any fresh spending.
As it follows cash accounting, Government accounts dont make much distinction between capital items and revenue items. The Budget counts one-off proceeds from borrowings and sale of assets (such as equity stakes in PSUs or telecom spectrum) as part of its annual income.
The bulk of this income is then splurged on consumption expenditure, with very little re-invested in new assets.
In FY-17, for instance, the exchequer earned 71 per cent of its total income from regular sources such as direct and indirect taxes, interest and dividends. It supplemented this with one-off capital receipts from disinvestment and borrowings to make up 100 per cent. But it spent nearly 86 per cent of this kitty on revenue items such as interest, salaries, defence and subsidy, leaving just 14 per cent for capital spending.
In short, the government routinely kills the golden goose to make omelettes. Asset sales dent its income too. The steady dilution of government equity in cash-rich PSUs reduces its future income by way of dividends from these firms.
This is a lesson to you, to always separate your capital items from revenue. If youve sold a plot of land, or redeemed a bond, make sure you keep the proceeds separate and reinvest it into other assets or investments. Dont go splurging it on a family vacation or groceries! Thats a sure way to destroy wealth.
One reason why the Indian government is always strapped for cash is that it has signed up for one too many fixed commitments.
Out of every 100 it earned in FY-17, it spent 24 on interest, 13 on food and fertiliser subsidies, 6 on pension payouts and 12 on defence.
With 15 to be shared with the States, this leaves very little room for the Centre to rejig its budget.
Increases in support prices of crops lead to rising yearly outlays on food subsidy. Pay Commission awards lead to a regular escalation in the wage bill.
These fixed obligations completely take away the governments flexibility to tighten its belt or repay its debt, even during tough times.
While the government may have little choice but to keep its constituents happy by committing to such splurges, you have much more leeway with your personal money.
Think twice about signing up for any regular payout which ties up your income for a multi-year period be it an EMI (equated monthly instalment), endowment plan or equity SIP. It will take away your flexibility to embrace risky career moves like entrepreneurship.
Inflexible spending will also make it hard for you to weather bad times.
Should it allocate more to rural projects or urban ones? Should it hike outlays on defence or welfare schemes? Should it increase staff salaries or invest in new projects?
The government has myriad demands on its limited resources. And if it makes wrong choices, it can get booted out at the next election.
So, in each budget, the Finance Minister often ends up spreading himself thin across hundreds of schemes, making very little progress on any of them in the long run.
As an investor, you dont have to pander to such populism. Sit down with your family and set out three or four clear financial goals that all of you would like to achieve. Create separate portfolios for each of them. Thats the best way to financial freedom in the long run.
(This article was published on February 11, 2017)
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Personal finance lessons from the Budget - Hindu Business Line
The Concorde moving into the Bristol museum (Photo: Airbus/Neil Phillips)
Aerospace Bristol has finally moved the Concorde G-BOAF to its new 19 million home. The last ever Concorde made, G-BOAF, was built in Bristol in 1978. An additional 2 million is still needed to finalize the last bits and pieces of construction. The very complex and important move has been years in the making and was conducted by engineers from both British Airways and Airbus.
Iain Gary, Chairman of Aerospace Bristol, comments, We couldnt be more delighted to the welcome Concorde 216 to her new purpose-built home. With such enthusiasm for Concorde in this country, and particularly in Bristol where she was designed, built and landed for the final time, it is only fitting that this magnificent aircraft should have a permanent home at Filton. I would like to thank all of our donors for helping to make Aerospace Bristol a reality and look forward to welcoming our first visitors on board this summer.
Mark Stewart, General Manager and HR Director, Airbus commented on the completion of the transportation of Concorde 216 to its new home adding,Airbus has been the proud custodian for Alpha Foxtrot since 2003 and has been keen that we could find a permanent location for such a fantastic historical exhibit of Filton engineering skills. After 13 years of caring for the aircraft we are pleased to deliver her to Aerospace Bristol so that people can visit and admire her for years to come.
Bristol Filton has a sizable history in aviation which showed in the earliest days of aviation when the Bristol Boxkite biplanes flew from Filton Airport over the Clifton suspension bridge. Aerospace Bristol said that customers will be transported through more than 100 years of aviation history at Filton Airport, depicting how it first opened in 1910 to when it shut down 5 years ago in 2012. The journey takescustomers through both World Wars, the space race and all the way up to when the airfield closed. Hopefully,this will help inspire a new generation of engineers and aircraft designers by showing people the amazing technological achievements that have been made in aviation from Bristol in the 100 years of its life.
G-BOAF, also known as Concorde 216, was built in 1978 and made its maiden flight in 1979. When it was first built it was registered to British Aerospace under the registration G-BFKX, but when a deal for Singapore Airlines to buy it fell through British Airways had the aircraft re-registered under its current number G-BOAF in June 1980.
Concorde 216 had a troubling start to its career in commercial aviation. It was the first ever Concorde to suffer a rudder separation failure, where a part of the upper rudder detached from the aircraft in flight. Over the following years, similar incidents would take place on all British Airways and Air France Concordes. All aircraft were fitted with new upper and lower rudders, which cost both companies millions of pounds in maintenance.
Concorde 216 was also the first Concorde to receive the new design upgrades following the Air France Concorde crash in July 2000.These new upgrades featured the use of fitting out fuel tanks with kevlar and strengthening the electric cables on the aircrafts gear.
After completing these upgrades on all Concorde aircraft, Concorde 216 was used by British Airways to restart the flying initiative. This, however, did not last. In 2003, Concorde made its last commercial service flight from New York John F Kennedy International Airport to London Heathrow, bringing an end to the era of supersonic commercial travel. The last ever flight of a Concordeaircraft was operated by G-BOAF when the aircraft flew for the last time on Nov. 26, 2003 to its final resting place of Filton Airfield, where it has remained since.
G-BOAF was the first British Airways aircraft to be repainted in the then new British Airways Utopia livery and wears the Union Flag scheme, which is officially called the Chatham Historic Dockyard. This new livery was initially only destined to be used on British Airways fleet of Concordes, but would later become the standard livery for all British Airways aircraft. Since Concorde 216 was the first aircraft in this livery, it has been at the forefront of British Airways publicity and air to air photos.
Tomos has had a keen interest in aviation for over 10 years and 4 years ago he decided to take it to the next level. He currently holds a private pilot's license and is working towards his commercial license.
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British Airways Concorde 'Alpha Foxtrot' Arrives at New Bristol Home - AirlineGeeks.com (blog)
Seychelles News Agency | A fern named Kati: Small plant in Seychelles named after conservationist Seychelles News Agency The new fern is called "fouzer Kati" (Katy's fern in English) in honour of Katy Beaver for her extensive contribution toward the study of plants in Seychelles, popularising scientific research and developing educational material for children and young ... |
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A fern named Kati: Small plant in Seychelles named after conservationist - Seychelles News Agency
Four foreigners suspected to be drug dealers were arrested in Mombasa and an unknown quantity of narcotics seized.
Detectives from various agencies apprehended two South Africans and two Seychellois at an apartment near Nyali Beach hotel yesterday morning.
They were identified as Dominguez and Nedy Micock from Seychelles and Barend Nolte and Marc Faivelewitz from South Africa.
The suspects were taken to Port Police Station.
Regional police boss Philip Tuimur said the Government Chemist will confirm the quantity and type of narcotics police found.
But lawyer Cliff Ombeta told The Standard on Sunday that the South Africans had come to work as bodyguards of Vicky Goswami, an Indian who was extradited recently.
ALSO READ: Mombasa Deputy Governor and officials in row over Sh4m county cash
Goswami, brothers Baktash and Ibrahim Akasha, and Gulam Hussein (Pakistani) were extradited to the US to face drug trafficking charges.
The arrests came as police hunt for two other foreign nationals wanted for serious crimes.
Muhammad Nadeem Iqbal and Waseem Iqbal from Pakistan are wanted by the Government of Pakistan for serious crimes.
The Pakistan embassy in Kenya has twice written to the Kenyan authorities on the issue.
The High Commission of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan presents its compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Republic of Kenya and has the honour to forward herewith extradition documents in respect of Mr Muhammed Nadeem Iqbal and Waseem Iqbal received from the Federal Investigation Agency Islamabad. The extradition documents were requested by Interpol Kenya. The esteemed ministry is requested to kindly forward the extradition documents to Interpol Kenya.
Muhammad Nadeem Iqbal and Waseem Iqbal from Pakistan had been deported by the National Security Intelligence (NIS) four years ago.
It is not clear how the duo re-entered Kenya.
ALSO READ: Governor Joho kicks out security officers reassigned to him
On July 29 and August 16, last year, Interpol published on their website fugitive wanted for prosecution control number: A-6929/7-2016 IQBAL Waseem and Muhammad Iqbal control number A-7490/8-2016.
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SA, Seychelles nationals held in narcotics crackdown - The Standard (press release)
Seychelles News Agency | Seychelles' former President launches James Michel Foundation to continue promoting the blue economy Seychelles News Agency (Seychelles News Agency) - The former president of the Seychelles, James Michel, has launched his foundation earlier this week. The James Michel Foundation aims to promote and fund projects that are related to the blue economy, climate change and the ... |
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Seychelles News Agency | Central Bank of Seychelles warns of temporary interruption to online banking platform Seychelles News Agency (Seychelles News Agency) - The Central Bank of Seychelles (CBS) said on Friday that the online banking platform linked to the Seychelles Electronic Fund Transfer (SEFT) system may experience interruptions this weekend following an upgrade. |
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Seychelles News Agency | 2 Russian nationals in Seychelles illegally are deported Seychelles News Agency (Seychelles News Agency) - Seychelles' immigration officials have deported two Russian women who were in the island nation illegally. According to the spokesperson of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Evgeniva Sorodina and Viktura Gorbunova were both ... |
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2 Russian nationals in Seychelles illegally are deported - Seychelles News Agency