Looking to the Founders: Benjamin Church, Edward Snowden, and Defining Treason

Without a doubt, almost every American knows the name Benedict Arnold. Arnold was the worst form of traitor: one who does the damage, then flees without taking responsibility for their actions.

But another largely unknown traitor was among the highest ranks in the Continental Army, holding the post equivalent to a modern Surgeon General. This unknown traitor tells us a lot about the generation and times of the Founders, the legal system of crime and punishment, but more importantly, how we should see those who commit treason today.

Smart Meters: Hacking Into Your Home or Saving the Environment?

Utility companies throughout the nation are rapidly adopting “

smart meters," devices installed at their customers' locations that enable information about electricity consumption to be tracked and sent to the electricity provider. By aggregating the data from millions of consumers, companies can gain an idea of how people use electricity throughout the day, enabling them to respond quickly and efficiently to changing market conditions.

The Charge of the American Patriots

The Charge of the American Patriots

2016, 2016,

2016 onward,

All on the American stage

Rode the five hundred.

"Forward, the Patriots!"

"Charge to save the Country!" he said:

Onto the American scene

Rode the five hundred.

"Forward, the Patriots!"

No man or woman dismayed

The risks they all knew

For the Country must be saved:

Theirs not to make reply,

Theirs not to reason why,

Theirs but to do and die:

Onto the American stage

Rode the five hundred.

Modifying Public Behavior: The Real Bipartisan Goal of Tax Reform

During every election cycle, Americans are treated to a cacophony of supposedly differing ideologies on tax policy. The two dominating party-powers put on an impressive show, each claiming to want reform to an untenably complex tax system and to pass the rewards on to the public in different ways.

There seems to be no voice in the chorus defending the current system. As it stands, the U.S.

Senate Democrats Take Center Stage in Political Drama over DHS Funding

On Tuesday, Senate Democrats successfully filibustered an appropriations bill that would fund the U.S. Department of Homeland Security until September. The bill, passed by the U.S. House on

January 14, includes provisions that threaten President Barack Obama's executive actions on deferred deportations for certain immigrants who are in the country illegally.

Why Cutting Congressional Pay Will Not Solve Any Problems

Facebook seems to be constantly inundated with memes that have similar themes to this one:

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There are several variations of this meme, from stating that Congress should make what our soldiers make to not paying Congress if they can't do their job.

Independent Party of Oregon Qualifies for Major Party Status

The Independent Party of Oregon claims that it has qualified as a major party in Oregon.

IPO Secretary Sal Peralta reports that he contacted the secretary of state's office on Monday to get a check on the party's registration numbers in preparation for testimony on the Motor Voter bill. The secretary of state's staff informed him that the IPO has 108,744 members as of February 2, 2015. That is 6 members over the 5 percent threshhold for major party status.