As Rome collapsed, the people demanded more violence and more handouts. Today in America, State violence is outsourced to the States and swipe cards with baby milk formula are available at midnight at Wal-Mart.

• There’s An Active Gunman On The Campus At The University Of Texas

In 2008, few of the Congressional incumbents who ran for re-election were held accountable for voting “yes” on TARP. Fast forward two years and that TARP vote is the most toxic asset they own. More

Irish-German 10-year bond spreads have hit a record spread of 455

Luckily investors are now all too aware that holding a stock, any stock, is dangerous to one’s sanity, not to mention stop loss orders. More

• FORBES: Think Israel Is Going To Bomb Iran? Then This Is The Fund For You

• Some amazing s***

• Attorneys for homeowners in Florida say Ally Financial’s GMAC mortgage unit has begun to withdraw affidavits submitted in support of foreclosures that were signed by a second employee.

• US Treasury stumbles selling Citi shares

• AIG READY FOR RINSE CYCLE – Treasury Said to Prepare AIG Exit, Repayment Plan

You know a country is really feeling the hit, when its media starts printing the name of investors who are believed to bet betting against it. More

ZeroHedge: JPMorgan Chase & Co. faces a legal challenge next month that could cast doubt on thousands of foreclosures after a mortgage executive at the bank said she didn’t verify documents used to justify home seizures. More

Speaking of home building (and demolishing) . . .

• China: Proudly Demolishing Buildings Before Completed In Pursuit Of The Glorious Housing Bubble Perpetual Engine

On a white screen behind him, the large black numbers of a digital clock flashed down to zero. More

The Declaration was ahead of its time as it sets out that the king (previously regarded as appointed by God) could be driven out if he did not uphold the freedom of the country. It later became a model for the American Declaration of Independence.

It sets out the long history of Scotland as an independent state and cleverly tries to persuade the Pope of the legitimacy of Scotland’s case. It’s most famous and most quoted passage is:

“For so long as there shall but one hundred of us remain alive we will never give consent to subject ourselves to the dominion of the English. For it is not glory, it is not riches, neither is it honours, but it is liberty alone that we fight and contend for, which no honest man will lose but with his life.” More