Are Bars, Doctors & Lawyers now credit companies?

Are Bars, Doctors & Lawyers now credit companies?

Waving the Red Flag on "The Red Flag"... The Florida Modern Whigs were tweeting out their concerns of the New Red Flag Requirement from the FTC.  It's a program to "detect, prevent, and mitigate" identity theft.

The FTC says the Red Flags Rules only apply: to “financial institutions” and “creditors” with “covered accounts.”

But, what does that mean?  The Whig Tweets claim: "A bar runs a tab for their regulars; however with the FTC Red Flag Law, the Bar is required to collect photo ID as they are now a credit co." and tweets warn of "if you sign a pledge card 4 a non-profit or charity, they are required to obtain your photo ID and keep it on file."

Analysis from Business Management Daily says small and mid-sized business think this new rule to protect credit fraud does not apply to them, but they could find-out with "audits, fines and class action suits."

The Wisconsin Law Journal points out doctors and lawyers could also be forced to live up to these new rules.

So if you qualify for this rule, what do you have to do?

*Develop a written program that identifies and detects the red flags of identity theft.

*Describe appropriate responses that prevent and mitigate identity theft.

*The program must be managed by the Board of Directors or senior employees. 

SOURCE:

http://twitter.com/FloridaWhig

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/business/alerts/alt050.shtm

http://www.businessmanagementdaily.com/articles/17265/1/The-Red-Flag-rules-Looming-deadline-for-businesses/Page1.html#

http://www.wislawjournal.com/article.cfm/2009/05/11/FTC-delays-enforcing-identity-theft-red-flag-rule

"Stress Test" the bank's bank...

"Stress Test" the bank's bank... that's the word from some Libertarian leaders.

In a story posted on "The Center for Libertarian Press Information" Libertarians are calling on an audit of the Federal Reserve.

They're backing Congressman Ron Paul's HR1207 calling for a public audit of the Fed.

What would we find?

SOURCE:

http://clipr.info/?p=35

http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.1207:

Texas now getting ready for indys...

Texas now getting ready for indys... thanks to Texas House Bill 1193.  On Tuesday the bill was placed on the placed on Local, Consent, and Res. Calendar.  The bill, which passed committee about one month ago, now is rolling along.

The bill is good for both major and minor parties.  The bill keeps the most rules in place, but the big change is allowing filing for Presidential Candidates up until one day after a party's convention.

This was a big concern in the 2008 election.  The old rules said a candidate had to file 70 days before the general election.  With conventions moving later on the calendar a number of parties were in the danger zone of not qualifying for the Texas ballot (and all of those electoral votes).

There was even a lawsuit involving Bob Barr (Lib).

SOURCES:

Representative Kelly Hancock - http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist91/hancock.php

Representative John E. Davis - http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist129/davis.php

Representative Dan Flynn - http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist2/flynn.php

Texas House - http://www.legis.state.tx.us/billlookup/Actions.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=HB1193&Sort=A

DallasNews.com "Libertarian Bob Barr sues to have McCain, Obama cast off Texas' ballot" - http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/politics/state/stories/DN-barr_19pol.ART.State.Edition1.268aa61.html

Constitution & Reform Parties see opportunity...

Constitution & Reform Parties see opportunity... for gain new supporters from unhappy Republicans.  On 5/07/09 the Constitution Party said they are trying to "Romance" unhappy Republicans.  They point to a Rasmussen Poll showing nearly 70% of Republican voters say their own party members in Congress are out of touch.

The Constitution Party National Committee Chairman Jim Clymer said, ""We are seeing an unprecedented shift in party allegiance as those who’ve been disappointed time and again leave the ranks of the Republican Party".  He also said, "(Republican leaders) waved a red flag in front of those of us bullish on liberty. The reason the Republicans lost the White House in 2008 is not because their candidate was too conservative, but because he wasn’t conservative enough." 

The Reform Party also sees the chances to gain voters from both disenchanted Republicans and Democrats.  Their May Newsletter reads, "this financial crisis is the result of years of opportunistic business practices that span both Republican and Democratic administrations.  Unfortunately, both parties turned a blind eye". 

ANALYSIS: What is the plan for both of these parties?  They need to reach-out with a positive message.  The message of anger can get attention, but a positive message is what is needed to gain loyal followers.

http://www.constitutionparty.com/news.php?aid=949

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics2/69_of_gop_voters_say_republicans_in_congress_out_of_touch_with_the_party_base

http://www.rpusa.info/

West Virgina a place for indys...

West Virgina a place for indys... The Libertarian party and bloggers are praising West Virgina Governor Joe Manchin for making it easier for third parties to make it onto the West Virgina ballots.

The Governor signed a bill to make the filing date later and demand fewer signatures to get on the ballot.

SOURCES:
http://www.lp.org/blogs/donny-ferguson/lp-lobbying-pays-off-wv-gov-signs-ballot-access-reform
http://www.legis.state.wv.us/bill_status/Bills_history.cfm?input=2981&year=2009&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill

Single Payer (Government-Run) Health Care…

Single Payer (Government-Run) Health Care… was the topic for talking on Friday for both the Libertarian Party and Ralph Nader.  Their opinions are polar opposites. 

The Libertarians calling President Obama on the carpet for support a Government-Run health care similar to Britain.  The LP writes how rationed health care is hurting people in Britain, even giving people death sentences as handed down by a national medical board.

On the other hand Ralph Nader sends an e-mail focusing on Single Payer health care.  He’s also calling a leader in Washington on the carpet – just the other end of it.  The Nader e-mail is very critical of Nancy Pelosi, asking her to force a vote on what he calls the “taboo” subject of Single Payer heath care.

Nader's pitches for Single Payer heath care included, “20,000 people die every year, according to the Institute of Medicine, because they cannot afford health insurance” and “According to leading researchers in this area, Dr. David Himmelstein and Dr. Stephanie Woolhandler, single payer will save $350 billion annually.”

But, The big point of Nader e-mail, getting people to go to the website singlepayeraction.org

ANALYSIS: “Single Payer” health care or “Government Run” health care (whatever you want to call it) has major warts.  But are the warts worth it?  Who will make the best argument to the American public?

SOURCE: http://www.lp.org/blogs/donny-ferguson/for-katie-brickell-government-run-health-care-was-a-death-sentence

Libertarian's say they're growing...

Libertarian's say they're growing...  Donny Ferguson the Director of Communications for the national Libertarian Party today blogged about good news for the LP.  He says Libertarian membership is growing - an oddity for just after a Presidental election.  

Ferguson wrote, "membership totals... topped themselves three of the last four months."  So, why is this happening?  Are disenchanted Republicans joining the LP or is it the people in the middle ground (the independents) are looking for a non-Republican option to stop the spending from Democrats?  Or is it something else?

But probably the mosting interesting of the entire blog was buried at the end.  He wrote, "While major political direct mail fundraising agencies here in D.C. report a 15% drop in response rates compared to last year, the Libertarian Party has seen a 17.5% INCREASE in direct mail response."

ANALYSIS: Some people are motivated... but what will they do NEXT?  Just a few people can make a big difference.

http://www.lp.org/blogs/donny-ferguson/lp-progress-report-membership-growing-fundraising-beating-trends