What’s interesting in the news today?
Open thread.
1. The Russians are promising some economic sanctions of their own.
From YahooNews “Russia could reduce to zero its economic dependency on the United States if Washington agreed sanctions against Moscow over Ukraine, a Kremlin aide said on Tuesday, warning that the American financial system faced a “crash” if this happened.
“We would find a way not just to reduce our dependency on the United States to zero but to emerge from those sanctions with great benefits for ourselves,” said Kremlin economic aide Sergei Glazyev.
He told the RIA Novosti news agency Russia could stop using dollars for international transactions and create its own payment system using its “wonderful trade and economic relations with our partners in the East and South.”
They also hold a couple hundred billion of American bonds too.
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2. The Imperial President strikes again. And like the last 14 times he’s done this, it’s still illegal by the language of the bill he signed. It’s to provide cover to vulnerable Dems. It won’t work.
From TheHill “The Obama administration is set to announce another major delay in implementing the Affordable Care Act, easing election pressure on Democrats.
As early as this week, according to two sources, the White House will announce a new directive allowing insurers to continue offering health plans that do not meet ObamaCare’s minimum coverage requirements.
Prolonging the “keep your plan” fix will avoid another wave of health policy cancellations otherwise expected this fall.
The cancellations would have created a firestorm for Democratic candidates in the last, crucial weeks before Election Day.”
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3. The President has finally released his budget, which is a joke, and DOA. A nearly 4 trillion dollar budget, with 650 billion in new taxes.
From Politico “President Barack Obama’s $3.901 trillion budget would raise taxes on the rich, expand tax credits for the poor and middle class — though as of now, it merely serves as a White House wish list.
Although very little of it is expected to become law — or even be seriously considered via legislation on Capitol Hill — the president’s budget still serves as a benchmark for congressional Democrats.
It seeks $651 billion in new revenue from the rich, would formalize in the tax code a rule named for billionaire investor — and Obama supporter — Warren Buffett, cuts the size and pay of the military, and expands or creates a series of social programs the president has long touted.
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4. The Labor Force Participation Rate has fallen to a new low.
From CNSNews “The average annual labor force participation rate hit a 35-year-low of 63.2 percent in the United States in 2013, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
The last time the average annual labor force participation rate was that low was in in 1978, when it was also 63.2 percent. Jimmy Carter was president then.”
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5. I don’t know….
I could see why she might be afraid, but it seems an awful convenient excuse.
From TheDailyCaller “Lois Lerner fears for her life if she testifies openly before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Wednesday, according to her attorney.
House oversight committee chairman Rep. Darrell Issa announced Sunday that Lerner will testify at Wednesday’s hearing, but Lerner’s attorney Bill Taylor said that Lerner will seek to continue invoking her Fifth Amendment rights and will also seek a one-week delay of her testimony.
Oversight members are reportedly open to granting Lerner a one-week delay if she petitions for one in person at Wednesday’s hearing. The delay would allow Lerner’s lawyers to continue negotiating for immunity, which they have been doing since at least September.”
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Wandering Views 
5. Who does she say is threatening her?
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Should I expect my eighteen year olds to sue me for their college education?
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Mumsee,
In Idaho?
Go Boise!
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Mumsee,
Thankfully, the judge saw this as the frivolous suit it is. Talk about opening a can of worms….
Every kid out there sick of their parents rules would follow suit. Thankfully the judge realized what a bad precedent this would have set.
http://www.today.com/moms/judge-denies-teens-attempt-sue-parents-money-2D79321954
“A high school student suing her parents for living and school tuition costs has lost her first round in court.
Rachel Canning, 18, sued her parents after claiming they kicked her out of their home last year. Her mom, Elizabeth, and dad, Sean, a former police chief, said their daughter left home because she didn’t want to follow house rules.
On Tuesday, a New Jersey judge denied the teen’s request for emergency financial assistance during a court proceeding that brought her together with her parents for the first time since October. The two sides did not exchange any words, although at times Rachel’s parents wept.
Rachel, an athlete, cheerleader and honor roll student, alleges she was verbally and physically abused by her parents before they kicked her out. She is now living with the family of a close friend. Her lawsuit seeks payment for current living expenses and tuition for the private high school she attends now and for school costs once she attends college this fall.”
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I don’t know Rachel Canning. I don’t know her parents. I don’t have an opinion about either side of this law suit. They could all be nice or mean and nasty. I will observe that on the news clip Rachel, 18, didn’t look very good and her parents, weeping, looked like the wronged parties.
If she is 18, she is an adult before the law.
Does she have a contract, on paper, with her parents? Is it signed?
When we had a child who was not living with us, we chose not to get in touch with him when he was in county care (the last time) until he called us. This was to give him the “power” over his own life. We made sure he would be able to call us if/when he wanted to. He knew our phone #.
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I hope so, that could go really bad for a lot of folk. What an entitlement mindset. I cannot imagine doing that to my parents. Imperfect as they were, parents were held in high regard. I hope they do not take it personally as it appears the other two girls are turning out well.
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Go Boise.
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1. Empty threats. Replacing the US dollar as the international currency has been tried before. The Soviets tried to set up a “ruble zone” but it didn’t work. Venezuela tried to convince OPEC to set oil prices in Euros not dollars. He was turned down.
In the long term, the Euro might progress from a glorified Deutschmark or the Chinese might take over but the ruble is solely a petrocurrency. As a short term threat, its fairly hollow. In addition, as a natural resources economy, Russia is as dependent on its customers as they are on Russia.
In addition, Russia needs China for this to work. As most debt (not just American) is denominated in US dollars and China holds a lot of debt from various countries, they won’t do anything. On the other hand, the third world would be smiling if their dollar debts became worthless.
2. Well Cheney wanted an Imperial Presidency —
3. Tax the rich, reduce taxes on the poor … whats the problem with that. Return to post war taxation rates would be even better.
4. From 1948 to 1970, Labor Force Participation rate was below 60. It began a steady climb from 1973 and topping off in 1998 after which it began a steady decline. If labor force participation rate is an important indicator we should criticize Eisenhower and Kennedy and honor Clinton. However, I think the stats might have more to do with demographics (women of child rearing age) and number of women staying home vs working. If the decline is due to a rise in voluntary single income families (I suspect not), we (or at least the family values crowd) should laud the decline.
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