Skip, Author at Granite Grok

Notable Quote – Glenn Reynolds

May 7, 2020May 6, 2020 Skip

Time is running out on the shutdowns whether Government likes it or not: IRISH DEMOCRACY: Something that can’t go on forever, won’t. The lockdown can’t go on forever, and it isn’t. In Tennessee, we’re following a reasonably well-thought-out plan for reopening things. But a friend from Manhattan writes that she’s seeing stores, coffee shops, etc., … Read more

Something OTHER than COVID-19 – but it’s still a virus of the Culture kind

May 6, 2020 Skip

We, along with almost all of the other media, have been obsessed with this Chinese Flu for what seems to be forever. Unlike the other media, we do try to put a “Freedom / Liberty” context on it.

Quick Thought – Governors: you can’t govern if people are ignoring you

May 6, 2020 Skip

I was out doing errands on Saturday/Sunday (pharmacy runs). Before this weekend, the roads in the Laconia area had been quiet. Stop signs were almost a formality, nary a car in front, in back, or passing on the other side. Then BOOM! Not the normal load pre-epidemic but a LOT more cars on the road … Read more

Random Thought: Democrats, Coronavirus, and Jail

May 6, 2020May 6, 2020 Skip

At the point of being redundant, there’s a CATCH-22 problem here, right? A lack of priorities, right? In Chicago, for example, they STILL have a large crime and murder rate, right? Yet, in this age with this epidemic problem, why does it seem that things get so cross-wired as to simple be PAST absurd? A … Read more

Quick Thought: IF NH Governor Sununu is a Constitutionalist, why Doesn’t He Talk Like One?

May 6, 2020May 5, 2020 Skip

Background: NH Gov. Chris Sununu: “Public Health Trumps Everything“. As many of us have noted: Constitution, even? Something has been bothering me since his 3pm Presser last Friday at which time he announced his “Stay at Home 2.0”. At one point during the Presser, he was asked a question about Out of Staters coming into … Read more

Notable Quote – Ian Underwood

May 5, 2020 Skip

Yep, Grokster Ian gets a two-fer Day today; this one “Why Liberty?” and gives a perfect answer: Every other organizing principle for society begins by denying this fundamental truth about humans: You don’t know what’s best for me, and I don’t know what’s best for you. And so every other organizing principle is doomed to the kind of failure that … Read more

BlogQuestion of the Day – Why weren’t they hassled?

May 5, 2020 Skip

My wife just asked me an interesting and instructive question: If the police are willing to go around hassling parents and kids at playgrounds, why weren’t they at Saturday’s rally in Concord to tell everyone to go home? Do you suppose it could have anything to do with the fact so many of the people … Read more

Blogline of the Day – See! They were doing it back then, too!

May 4, 2020 Skip

ROMAN AUTHORITIES INVESTIGATING JESUS FOR VIOLATING STAY-IN-TOMB ORDER. (H/T: Instapunit)

You are responsible for me so I can control you (as I like)

May 4, 2020 Skip

Alternative title 1: Community above the Individual

Alternative title 2: the government has made us all our brothers’ keepers.

That is a political philosophy called Communitarianism. The short definition is a feeling of community but on steroids with the control clamps being brought out of the secret drawers.

Don’t behave as I demand: Doc threatens Idaho Rep and his family

May 2, 2020 Skip

Wow, just wow. Just like here in NH, Idaho has skewed rates of infection: urban vs rural. So, there are folks wanting those more rural areas to be freed up as they aren’t under the gun like Boise. However Dr. Robert Burnett feels that for this advocacy, they should be denied medical assistance. Not only … Read more

DISQUS Doodlings – No, bartering never left the economic scene

May 2, 2020May 2, 2020 Skip

Will the pandemic bring back bartering? The short and to the point answer is: it never went away. Our economic systems started with it and it has continued to this day: two people eyeing what the other person has, figuring out the relative values of each thing, and then trying to do a swap of “equal” value.

Quick (and late) Thought: Trump was wrong in this

May 2, 2020 Skip

Trump On Ordering States To Reopen For Business: The Authority Of The President Of The United States Is “Total” REPORTER: In regard to some of your tweets earlier today, what provision in the Constitution gives the president the power to open or close state economies? TRUMP: "Numerous — numerous provisions. We can give you a … Read more

Notable Quote – Goerge Will

May 2, 2020May 2, 2020 Skip

The Declaration is not just chronologically prior to the Constitution, it is logically prior. As Timothy Sandefur writes, the Declaration “sets the framework for reading” the Constitution, so it is the Constitution’s “conscience”: By the terms with which the Declaration articulates the Constitution’s purpose – the purpose is to “secure” unalienable rights – the Declaration intimates … Read more

So, how far down Despot Lane have State Governors gone – Anecdotes, Part 1

May 2, 2020 Skip

Almost as soon as they started to bubble up I’ve been trying to keep all the links portraying how roughshod various Governors have gotten and overstepping their bounds with ignoring Constitutional Values and precepts and, perhaps, what their reactions have been. Trust me, there are a TON of them so it’s going to take a … Read more

Notable Quote – Orrin J. H. Johnson

May 1, 2020 Skip

On Nevada about to open up: emphasis mine: These shutdowns were always meant to be temporary, emergency measures, like a donut spare tire you can only use until you get to the shop. It was to give us time to expand our hospital capacity, which we’ve done, and to spread out the infections so we … Read more

A new poll: Safety & Security vs Freedom

May 1, 2020 Skip

Over at Fosters, the question being asked is: Mandatory or Freedom of choice – what vote you? So you all know what to do – you’ve never failed me before. Go do whatcha gotta do!

Gov. Sununu 3pm Presser – are we open or closed?

May 1, 2020May 1, 2020 Skip

Raw notes. More updates as they go along, Note: “masks” are generally at least cloth face coverings. Note: if an owner doesn’t want to open up, they don’t have to. Dr. Benjamin Chan: 24,349 tested 1200 / people / day 164 positives – 2,310 270 hospitalization at SOME TIME during their illness 81 deaths (up … Read more

Data Point – how long can businesses last?

May 1, 2020 Skip

Americans are optimistic by nature, and the public is right to hope for the best. But policy makers must prepare for the worst. And that means we must consider options for reopening the economy in a world in which we have not completely controlled the Covid-19 pandemic. Time is of the essence. Every week matters. A … Read more

Quick Thought: Well, election time IS coming, right?

May 1, 2020 Skip

I was chatting with a friend in Ohio and she mentioned they are having UFO sightings around Wright-Patterson AFB. I told her we have the same problem here in New Hampshire. Seems to occur in cycles, mainly at election time in even numbered years. We have even coined a name for it:

They just need to tape more arrows to the floor…

May 1, 2020 Skip

I hate shopping. I hate shopping especially in grocery stores. My intent is to get in and get out ASAP. At the local Market Basket, they’ve thrown my game plan all out of whack, even during “Senior hours” at the crack of down.