Copyright infringement is serious business and strong laws are already in place to prevent it. Originators of content have every right to protect and use their work as intended and to be paid when that work is used by others. However the unanimous decision to vote out the Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act (COICA) is extreme and draconian.

The bill, which must still be approved by the full Senate and the House before arriving on the President’s desk, is unlikely to become law. But it points to a serious flaw in Sessions armor and a greater flaw in his wisdom.

The federal government is not authorized to act as a private security cop for the recording industry. No such law, which could deprive one of their means of employment, should be predicated on only a simple court order. Only after due process should any business face closure. If the recording industry can make their case and if other, less onerous methods cannot be applied, then let the court order the closure. But we should never entrust government to take the lead and make such decisions apart from due process.

Bad judgment Senator. I don’t think you were well advised.

Obama supporters argue that either way you have deficits. They are correct but incomplete in their analysis.

Some deficits are better than others.

Money that flows to Washington in the form of taxes represents a leakage from the economy. Even though the government will spend that money it will do so inefficiently and that’s the rub. Money spent by business is far more efficient than tax money doled out by Uncle Sam. Money can be spent on needed resources which directly impact the local business owner. This fully decentralized stimulus avoids politics, avoids unneeded handouts, avoids administrative overhead and places the money where it will do the most good.

And that deficit? It will rapidly disappear as revenues and incomes rise. It will also allow businesses to hire the unemployed and underemployed.

So why does the government seem so fixated on taking your money and spending it for you? It’s all about power and politics. Power over your labor and your money and gaining political goodwill by spending money where it buys the most votes.

For a thinking person devoid of political desires, the only answer is to extend the Bush tax cuts.

Politico reports that Congress approved the record $1.9 trillion debt ceiling increase Thursday together with legislation to reinstate “pay-as-you-go” rules credited with helping to rein in deficits during the 1990s. CNN reports that the total U.S. Federal debt now stands at a staggering $12.3 trillion.

Earlier Alabama’s Senators Sessions and Shelby voted against the debt resolution in the upper chamber. Joe Bonner of Alabama’s 1st voted against it in the House.In fact, every single Republican in the House voted against the debt increase – every one. 37 Democrats voted against it.

This isn’t the end either. Remember the Obama budget? It is full of even more red ink and continues to ignore the economic reality that government cannot spend us out of debt. The roost is ready and the chickens are on their way in.

Oh and by the way, only one Alabama Congressman voted to raise the debt ceiling: Artur Davis (D-Birmingham). Davis is a leftist who has introduced a bill to provide federal loans to small businesses. Davis should remember that such loans are the province of banks. If left alone the banks will lend to any credit worthy organization or business. Fortunately Davis is the only Democrat among Alabama’s entire delegation.

Full vote results from the House are here: