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Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Deadly pressure cooker bomb - you can be dead before you hear it

Social and political criticisms

From CNN News | April 22, 2013

Outfront investigators and David Mattingly saw how a pressure cooker bomb works.  The shock wave, blast, and sharpnel goes ahead of the sound of the blast, thus you could be dead before you hear it.

The investigators were in a bunker some 1/4 mile away from the bomb and used nuts instead of nails.  The effect was devastating.  While the blast, very similar to the picture on Boston (with white plume) as only 20 ft across, the shock wave and sharpnel moved farther.

Thus for the first responder they should be wary of the danger posed by the sharpnel right after explosion

The bomb costs less than $100 to make yet is very deadly;  it should not inspire local youth to copy this deadly adventure.  

If you have weak personality, and you to US, then you become  a deadly menace to US society.

I hope Americans do not become xenophobic to migrants (arent they yet?)


Boston bombing not work of international territorist

Social and political criticisms

From CNN/Fox News   April 22, 2013

It was reported that the younger Dzokhar Tsarnaev, the one who survived, said the bombing is not the work of international terrorist.   It was his older brother Tamaerlan  who planned the attack (for failing to be a US citizen?






But there is another video that links the elder Tamaerlan that shows his link to Jihad group. (He is a Muslim) His uncle said that this action brought shame not only to the family but to the entire Chenchen nation.  (That is why the Russians want to make an issue out of this event?)


Saturday, April 20, 2013

Boston Marathon bombing suspect killed, second one captured

Social and political criticisms

From Huff Post, April 19, 2013 

There was a series of bombing and shooting in Watertown Massachussetts that resulted in a death of a MIT officer.  The suspect who was killed was Tamaerlan Tsarnaev, 26 an immigrant from Chenchen.  The younger one Dhokhar Tsarnaev, 19 was holed up in a boat hideout was raced to a hospital in police custody.   Tamaerlan was alleged to be unable to become US citizen after he hit his girlfriend.

Boston Mass, finally sighed  a relief after Monday's tragic and bloody bombing

From Huff post 

From Yahoo news 




Friday, April 19, 2013

FBI identifies Boston Marathon bombing suspects; releases photos

Social and political criticisms

From Fox News | April 19, 2013 

The FBI has identified two possible suspects of the Boston Marathon bombing and released their photos and has asked the public in their arrests.  

The suspects looked young and Caucasian and even stayed to watch the carnage afterwards.

The Fox News has said this event is game changing for Americans who have been complacent about their freedom and security

Will they be arrested soon?

Thursday, April 18, 2013

We and chimps are related?

Social and political criticisms

 Do we agree?

Could Al Qaeda Be Behind the Boston Marathon Bombings?

They are because of the use of the pressure cooker bombs published in the Al Qaeda Magazine Inspire published on line.


From: LIGNET <newsmax@reply.newsmax.com>
Date: Tue, Apr 16, 2013 at 11:40 PM
Subject: Could Al Qaeda Be Behind the Boston Marathon Bombings?

Lignet - The Morning Brief
Could Al Qaeda Be Behind the Boston Marathon Bombings?
Although U.S. government officials have given no indications of who was behind the horrific bombings at the Boston Marathon that killed at least three people and injured and maimed over 150, this attack has unmistakable parallels with the smaller scale terrorist attacks that radical Islamist groups based in Yemen and Pakistan have attempted in the United States since 2001.
To continue reading this LIGNET special report, upgrade your account status by clicking here.
Capriles Won the Election, Says Former US Ambassador
Otto Reich, former ambassador to Venezuela under President Ronald Reagan, told LIGNET in an exclusive interview that he thinks Henrique Capriles actually won the Venezuelan presidential election on Sunday, but said the official results, which showed the Socialist candidate Nicolas Maduro as the winner with 50.7 percent of the vote, are unlikely to be overturned given that Chavez loyalists control every branch of government, including the country's electoral commission.
To continue reading this LIGNET special report, upgrade your account status by clicking here.
Sudan-South Sudan: Progress on Fragile Peace Accord
The historic visit of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to meet with South Sudan's President Salva Kiir in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, on April 12 has set the stage for reconciliation and economic recovery for both nations. The recent resumption of South Sudan oil shipments is crucial to both nations but depends on a fragile peace agreement and a precarious security situation.
To continue reading this LIGNET special report, upgrade your account status by clicking here.
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Pressure cooker bombs used for years by terrorists? Why was not it detected at Boston?

Social and political criticisms

From Newsmax | by Ted Beamon | April 16, 2013 

The authorities are said to be going over video to ID the bombing suspects at Boston marathon finish line.  (No arrest has been made despite announcements)  The bombers used pressure cooker bombs placed about 100 feet apart and explosions timed at 12 secs apart. The use of the said type of bomb was published in the Al Qaeda Magazine Inspire on line in 2010.  
 
The pressure cooker bomb is most effective, is easy to prepare and escapes detection.  Dog sniffer cant detect pressure cooker bombs.

This may be the reason why despite huge resources of Homeland Security, and being in a steady state of war, the police/security was unable to prevent such bombing

Monday, April 15, 2013

What hath the Local Govt Law wrought on our society?

Social and political criticisms

Philippines   |  April 15, 2013

I went to an island province last Friday and I met a local businessman and he was complaining about the under table money he had to cough to get the permits:   the barangay asked for several hundred thousand pesos;   a bureaucrat asked for P35t for a signature.

We did away with the single tyrant when we removed the dictator.  But he was replaced by several thousands local government officials.  And now we say we are free?

We are free to demand grease money just like the dictator?  What was improved?

The tong society persisted;  the situation during the time of Noli and Fili did not change.

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Culture of Entitlement is a troubling culture

Social and political criticisms

The late Pres. John F Kennedy, the last of the Camelots, used to say "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."

But watching the TV shows, various citizens of the world, faced with severe economic challenges continue  to:  stage protests and rallies, rantings, ask for more wages (as what food servers did in NY recently.  ) Rather than think of things, or act to dampen the impact of the economic crisis, they continue to outstretch their hands for more crumbs from the govt.   When the Koreans had financial crisis in 1997, many pooled their jewelry to help pay for the Korean govt debt.  Can we do that?  Can we follow the JFK missive?  Or this is just one romantic quote to be shelved in literary archives or book of quotes?

Really, maybe US or Europe get into the mess because they continually ask what their country can do for them, rather than the reverse.

North Korea capable of striking US; US defenses must be prepared

Social and political criticisms

Do you think the Nokors are kidding?  Is the James Bond movie surreal?  Where did the US and its commander in chief go wrong?


From: Newsmax.com ||  Sat, Apr 6, 2013 at 8:57 PM
 NKorea 'Capable' of Striking US; Democrats Blast Obama Plan





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Can the candidates really save the citizens from poverty?

Social and political criticisms

Rizal PHL  |  April 2013

It is election time once again and candidates will woo the votes promising maybe even heaven and earth.  But most of promise "uunlad"  or "aahon sa kahirapan"  (will be progressive or will be saved from poverty)  But really if they are councilors or minor officials, can they do it?

Even Presidents can not do it?  What they can do at most is give food aids or "fish to eat"  But to be saved from poverty, we have teach people how to fish or even innovate the fishing industry.

Most public sector practice would proceed this way:    once elected the public servants would legislate for additional benefits for the populace.   But where to get the funds?  Either they borrow or levy additional taxes (borrowing would be the route if additional taxes are unpalatable)  The local models, and even US or European practices follow this template model. 

At the end of the day, the chicken come to roost and the govt ends up financially hard up and on the verge of collapse asks for aid and rehab, and people lose jobs   and we end up where we started (That is what happening to Cyprus, Greece, Spain, and Portugal.

Can we really believe their campaign promises?

'Iron Lady' Margaret Thatcher Dies at 87; Queen, Gorbachev, Boehner React

 We condole with the English people on the demise of a great leader and mother.

Many leaders should learn from her.  She revived UK from Economic disaster and led UK to war Argentina.

From Newsmax.com
Date: Tue, Apr 9, 2013 at 12:48 AM
Subject: 'Iron Lady' Margaret Thatcher Dies at 87; Queen, Gorbachev, Boehner React


Breaking News from Newsmax.com

Margaret Thatcher, the "Iron Lady" who as Britain's prime minister championed a free-market economic revival and allied with President Ronald Reagan against communism, has died at age 87.
Gorbachev: 'Exceptional' Thatcher Helped End Cold War
Queen Expresses Sadness Over Thatcher Death
Boehner, Forbes, Grassley React to Death
Ira Stoll: Thatcher Stopped Socialism, Transformed Britain
For Full Coverage — Go Here Now
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ObamaCare: Massive New Rules Revealed for 2013
ALERT: These 5 Things Activate Cancer In Your Body



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Fwd: Obama 'Miscalculates' on N. Korea; Priebus Hits Democrats for 'Infanticide'



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Date: Fri, Apr 5, 2013 at 4:51 AM
Subject: Obama 'Miscalculates' on N. Korea; Priebus Hits Democrats for 'Infanticide'
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Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Obama's Latest Screw Up May Lead to Impeachment

13 New Taxes under Pres Obama troubling many Americans  Is this ground for impeachment.  We will not be surprised in savings deposits of Americans are sequestered, as what they did in Cyprus.  It happened in Germany and USSR.


From: Bob Livingston
Date: Wed, Apr 3, 2013 at 12:50 AM
Subject: Obama's Latest Screw Up May Lead to Impeachment




Obama's Latest Screw Up May Lead to Impeachment

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Please find below a special message from our friends at
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Editor, The Bob Livingston Letter™



Obama's Latest Screw Up May Lead to Impeachment.

Dear

Fearing the very worst, the nation's super-rich are unloading their stocks at an alarming rate.

Even more troubling, the wealthiest 1% of Americans, who typically know the most, are the ones most anxious to sell.

You see, Obama just allowed 13 new tax increases to further slow the economy, wreck the stock market and make it even harder on the 12 million Americans already looking for work.

The bigger question is this…

Is Obama's Latest Tax
Screw Up Grounds
For Impeachment?


The poll results are likely to shock you.

Cast your vote now to see what America thinks.

Yes, impeach President Obama? Or No, higher taxes were necessary?

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Tension in Korean Peninsula escalates

Social and political criticisms

Many events are escalating in Korean peninsula that may soon escalate into full blown war:

l. US has sent warships to the area;

2.  Sec. of State Kerrry has announced it is ready to defend itself, South Korea, and Japan.

3.  North Korea has closed access to workers to the Kaeson industrial complex, being irked by comments that Nokor can not afford to close it because of hard currency it earns from the complex.  The complex generates $500 million of products a year  and $90, million in wages for North Korea.

PHL govt has readied contingency plans in case war breaks out.

Will the war break out?

Fwd: Report Challenges SEAL’s Story on bin Laden’s Death




From: Newsmax.com <newsmax@reply.newsmax.com>
Date: Mon, Apr 1, 2013 at 4:32 AM
Subject: Report Challenges SEAL's Story on bin Laden's Death


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Insider Report from Newsmax.com

Headlines (Scroll down for complete stories):
1. New Pope, Argentina's President Have 'Frosty' Tie
2. Report Challenges SEAL's Story on bin Laden's Death
3. Phyllis Schlafly: Karl Rove Gave Us 'Bunch of Losers'
4. Need for Less-Skilled Immigrants 'Not Supported by Data'
5. Study: Red States Are the Most Free
6. Washington Called America's 'New Second City'


1. New Pope, Argentina's President Have 'Frosty' Tie

When Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio — now Pope Francis — served as archbishop of Buenos Aires, his relations with Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner "ranged from frosty to hostile," The Economist reports.

In 2008, Bergoglio supported farmers who clashed with Fernandez over a tax increase. He also was critical of the left-wing president's approval of a 2010 law to legalize gay marriage, and he charged that Fernandez was not doing enough to deal with the nation's widespread poverty following the economic collapse of 2001-2002.

When news broke that Bergoglio had been elected as the new pontiff, Fernandez's supporters in Congress refused to interrupt a eulogy to Venezuela's late president, Hugo Chavez, and state-owned television ran children's cartoons instead of footage from the Vatican.

So the uneasy relationship between the new Pope and the Argentine president — termed by The Economist as "the awkward couple" — raised suspicion that allegations of Bergoglio's cooperation with the military dictatorship that ruled between 1976 and 1983 are merely propaganda from the Argentine left.

After the Pope's election, journalist Horacio Verbitsky renewed his earlier assertions that Bergoglio had handed over two Jesuit priests to the Argentine military in 1976. The priests were held for five months and allegedly tortured during Argentina's so-called "dirty war," when upwards of 30,000 suspected dissidents were killed or disappeared at the hands of the ruling junta.

"Critics claim the crime occurred with the complicity of Bergoglio, who was a leader of Argentina's Jesuits at the time," the Los Angeles Times reported. "They say he gave unmistakable signals to the military that the priests were dangerous leftists and no longer worthy of the church's protection."

But Verbitsky, who works for an Argentine daily, has been "chief propagandist" for the Fernandez government, according to The Economist.

Furthermore, the magazine observes, "academics who have studied Argentina's political violence of the 1970s think there is no evidence that Bergoglio helped the dictatorship, and he himself has rejected the allegation," insisting that he lobbied the junta to free the kidnapped priests.

Also, Adolfo Perez Esquivel, who won the 1980 Nobel Peace Prize for documenting the junta's atrocities, told The Associated Press that Bergoglio "never collaborated with the dictatorship."

Now there are signs that the "frosty" relationship between Pope Francis and President Fernandez may be thawing. Fernandez — who had earlier sent a "stiff" letter of congratulation — rushed to Rome for lunch with Pope Francis the day before his inauguration, The Economist also reported.

She asked Francis to intervene in support of Argentina's demand for talks with Britain over Argentina's claim to the Falkland Islands, although it is thought to be highly unlikely that the Pope will get involved in the political situation.

Editor's Note:



2. Report Challenges SEAL's Story on bin Laden's Death

Esquire magazine in February published the article "The Man Who Killed Osama bin Laden," featuring a Navy SEAL identified only as "the Shooter" who claimed he had shot and killed the al-Qaida leader during the raid on his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

But this week CNN National Security Analyst Peter Bergen revealed in an exclusive report that another member of the SEAL team that conducted the May 2011 raid asserts that the Shooter's story is "complete b.s."

The Shooter told Esquire that he encountered bin Laden on the top floor of the compound where he had been hiding. The al-Qaida chief was standing up and had a gun "within reach," so the Shooter fired two shots into bin Laden's forehead and killed him.

That account differed from the one offered by fellow SEAL Matt Bissonette in his book "No Easy Day," which he wrote under the pseudonym Mark Owen.

The first three SEALs to reach the top floor were Bissonette, the Shooter, and a SEAL identified as "the point man," according to Bergen, author of "Manhunt: The Ten-Year Search for Bin Laden — from 9/11 to Abbottabad."

The SEAL member who spoke to Bergen said the "point man" shot bin Laden in the head when he poked his head out of his bedroom door, gravely wounding him. The other two SEALs then entered the bedroom, saw the terrorist leader on the floor, and finished him off with shots to the chest.

That scenario is basically in agreement with Bissonette's account in "No Easy Day."

Bissonette told CBS News that he was tasked with photographing bin Laden's body, and washed blood from his face to get the best photos he could — pictures he said were "pretty gruesome."

Bergen's SEAL contact also said bin Laden could not have had a gun "within reach," since the only weapons found were on a high shelf above the bedroom door.

Stephanie Tuck, a spokeswoman for Esquire, said in an email that the magazine's story was "based on information from numerous sources," and "we stand by our story."

Bergen concludes: "What seems incontrovertible is that the point man, the Shooter and Bissonette were the first three SEALs to assault bin Laden's bedroom. But to determine exactly which of them killed bin Laden may never be possible."

Editor's Note:



3. Phyllis Schlafly: Karl Rove Gave Us 'Bunch of Losers'

Conservative activist and author Phyllis Schlafly says the Republican Party has too often been dominated by the "establishment" instead of by the real conservative "grass-rooters" — thereby producing a "bunch of losers."

Schlafly, 88, is the founder of the pro-family Eagle Forum whose latest book is "No Higher Power: Obama's War on Religion."

She sat down for an interview with Breitbart contributor Warner Todd Huston that was posted on the wizbangblog website.

Schlafly, who has attended GOP presidential conventions for decades, said she has witnessed first-hand the fight between the Republican establishment, with "the series of losers they have given us like Thomas Dewey, and the grass-rooters who wanted their own candidate."

Ronald Reagan was the "best president of the 20th century," she opined, but after his two terms "we lost the party again to the establishment, and they've given us a bunch of losers — Bob Dole, John McCain, and then Mitt Romney."

Alluding to the infighting between Karl Rove and the tea party, Schlafly said "now we have the same battle again. It's the establishment against the grass-rooters. The establishment likes a certain type of person who calls himself a moderate, will do what he's told, vote the way he's told, and not talk about certain issues. They don't want him to talk about the social or the moral issues. They don't even want him to talk about the national defense issues. Which is all a terrible mistake because that's where all the money is."

She went on: "The establishment's voice seems to be Karl Rove, and they just gave us a bunch of losers. Rove had at least $300 million to spend on campaigns. And he only won, I think, nine of 31 races where he ran ads. A dismal result."

As for Mitt Romney, she said "he couldn't even run his own staff. So how is he going to run the country?"

Editor's Note:



4. Need for Less-Skilled Immigrants 'Not Supported by Data'

A new report from the Center for Immigration Studies refutes claims that the United States should welcome greater numbers of less-educated immigrants to compensate for a shortage of Americans available for low-wage jobs.

Eight U.S. senators have proposed an immigration reform plan that includes increasing legal immigration in the future, and one member of the group, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., has said there is "a shortage of labor" in the country. "The visas we have available just are not enough," he told a South Carolina newspaper.

Also, labor and business leaders working with the group — known as the Gang of Eight — are promoting a program to bring in more immigrants to fill what they called in a joint statement "lesser-skilled jobs."

But the center asserts that "the idea that there is a general labor shortage in the United States or a shortage of workers to fill lower-wage jobs that require modest levels of education is not supported by the data."

The eight senators from seven states are Democrats Chuck Schumer of New York, Robert Menendez of New Jersey, Michael Bennet of Colorado, and Dick Durbin of Illinois, and Republicans Marco Rubio of Florida, John McCain and Jeff Flake of Arizona, and Graham.

According to the center, the unemployment rate in 2012 for less-educated American citizens — those with no more than a high school education — averaged 11.3 percent over the year. And the broader U-6 unemployment rate, which also includes those who are out of work but have not looked for employment recently or are involuntarily working only part-time, was 19.9 percent.

"Perhaps even more striking, the employment situations in the states represented by the Gang of Eight are among the worse in the country," according to Director of Research Steven A. Camarota and demographer Karen Zeigler at the Center for Immigration Studies.

Unemployment among less-educated people in those states averaged 12.6 percent, compared to 10.2 percent in the other 43 states. The U-6 rate in the seven states averaged 21.7 percent, compared to 18.3 percent in the other states.

"The employment figures do not support the idea that there is a shortage of workers in the United States generally, nor do they support the idea that there is a shortage of less-skilled workers," the authors state.

They point to an "enormous pool of potential workers," noting that last year there were 54.6 million Americans ages 18 to 65 who were not working, including 27.6 million less-educated citizens.

The authors conclude: "If through enforcement a significant fraction of illegal immigrants returned to their home countries, there would seem to be an ample supply of idle workers to replace them.

"Of course, employers might have to pay more and offer better benefits and working conditions in order to attract and retain American citizens. But improving the employment prospects and wages of the least-educated and poorest American workers can be seen as a desirable."

Editor's Note:



5. Study: Red States Are the Most Free

A surprising new study measuring economic and personal freedom finds that conservative red states are freer than more liberal blue states — and attracting more new residents.

George Mason University's Mercatus Center conducted the study, Freedom in the 50 States, calculating rankings according to a wide range of factors.

"We score all 50 states on over 200 policies encompassing fiscal policy, regulatory policy, and personal freedom," the center explained.

"We weight public policies according to the estimated costs that government restrictions on freedom impose on their victims."

Fiscal policy includes tax burden, government employment, government spending, government debt, and fiscal decentralization.

Regulatory policy includes freedom from tort abuse, property rights protection, labor market freedom, health insurance freedom, and several other factors.

The personal freedom category focuses on victimless crime freedom, gun control freedom, civil liberties, and freedom relating to a variety of topics including tobacco, alcohol, marriage, and gambling.

The overall freedom ranking was determined by combining scores for the three major categories.

The five states with the highest ranking for freedom are, in order, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, New Hampshire, and Oklahoma. Only New Hampshire voted for President Obama in the 2012 election.

The state with the lowest ranking for freedom is New York, followed by California, New Jersey, Hawaii, and Rhode Island. All five states voted for Obama in 2012.

Alaska scored the highest for personal freedom, South Dakota for economic freedom, Indiana for regulatory freedom, Texas for labor market freedom, and Nevada for civil liberties. California scored lowest in three of those categories.

The study also compared its freedom rankings to population shifts and income growth, and found that the freer states performed better on both fronts than did less-free states.

It found a strong correlation between freedom and migration, "which means that Americans are gravitating toward states that have less-intrusive governments," Investor's Business Daily (IBD) points out in an article about the study.

William Ruger, a political scientist at Texas State University and a co-author of the study, said: "People are voting for places with greater freedom," adding that "if you have economic freedom you will have economic growth."

IBD observes that the study's findings "call into question" assertions Obama made during the 2012 campaign that tax cuts and deregulation won't produce growth and prosperity.

"It doesn't work," he said. "It has never worked."

IBD concludes: "If anything, the data show precisely the opposite."

Editor's Note:



6. Washington Called America's 'New Second City'

The ever-expanding federal government is bringing new economic power to the nation's capital, leading one pundit to suggest that Washington has in fact become America's new Second City.

"The Washington, D.C., region has long been considered recession-proof, thanks to the remorseless expansion of the federal government in good times and bad," writes Aaron M. Renn, publisher of the urban policy website The Urbanophile.

"Yet it's only now, as D.C. booms while most of the country remains in economic doldrums, that the scale of Washington's prosperity is becoming clear."

While America's current and former Second Cities, population-wise — Los Angeles and Chicago — are "battered and fading in significance," he adds, "we're witnessing the start of Washington's emergence as America's new Second City."

During the decade 2001-2010, the Washington metropolitan area ranked fourth in population growth, behind only Atlanta, Dallas, and Houston, and now ranks as the nation's seventh most populous metro area, Renn discloses in an article for City Journal.

The metro area has 5.1 million residents, while the Federal District itself has 632,300, up from 572,000 in 2000.

Washington has the lowest unemployment rate among America's largest cities, and ranked second in job growth during that decade, behind only Houston.

Its per-capita GDP is the country's second highest, after the San Francisco Bay area, and its median household income is the highest of any metro area with more than 1 million people. Seven of the 10 U.S. counties with the highest median income are in metro Washington.

One metro county, Prince George in Maryland, is more than 65 percent black, and its median household income of $70,700 makes it the highest-income majority-black county in America.

Other signs of Washington's emergence abound, Renn discloses. Thanks to the booming economy, the District of Columbia ended the 2011 fiscal year with a budget surplus of $240 million, and ended 2012 with a $140 million surplus. Washington has the nation's lowest office-vacancy rate and has been ranked among the three top cities for foreign investments, along with New York and London.

Companies headquartered in the D.C. metro area that have more than $5 billion in annual revenue include General Dynamics, Geico, Marriott International, and Lockheed Martin.

Total spending on lobbying in Washington rose from $1.6 billion in 2000 to $3.3 billion in 2011.

What's fueling all this growth is "the increasingly intrusive control of the federal government over American life," Renn writes.

"These days, about a third of the Washington-area economy depends on the federal government."

The capital's "ever-expanding regulatory state" has taken regulation to "new levels of intrusiveness," he adds. "Its quintessence is Obamacare, an annexation by the federal government of one-sixth of the American economy via 2,000 pages of byzantine legislation, not counting the thousands of pages of implementing regulations still to come."

Noting that Washington has a "legitimate claim" to be America's Second City, Renn concludes: "The region is prospering because it's becoming something that would have horrified the Founders: an imperial capital on the Potomac."

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Jorge U. Saguinsin

To "be the best, do your best, expect the best" always