As a followup to Skip’s post on the Hillsdale College Constitution 101 class, I wanted to make you aware of some excellent video-lectures called an “Introduction to the Constitution,” that you may want to watch before you proceed to ‘Constitution 101.’ You’ll have access to these if you register for the free Constitution 101 course, (a well as PDF’s of all the related founding documents, and study guides) but I wanted to post them over the next few days to give you a taste of what you can look forward to in Constitution 101.
Besides, like many of you, we plan to do a lot of things at the Grok that we never end up doing because there are only so many hours in the day. By posting these here we encourage ourselves, and hopefully others, to take advantage of these excellent opportunities–opportunities that arm us all with knowledge our progressive friends would rather you not have.
Over at Townhall, Judge Napolitano penned a column that caught my eye:
What if you are only allowed to vote because it doesn’t make a difference? What if no matter how you vote, the elites get to have it their way? What if “one person, one vote” is just a fiction created by the government to induce your compliance?…
A charade, a farce, and the meaning of democracy is no more. This country was built on the foundation of one man, one vote; that this one vote is precious and it should count for something. Casting that vote is the culmination of a sovereign citizen deciding how they will be governed by the elected and that includes guidance to the elected when voting on specific issues. The problem here is that the “elected” (School Board) decided that the citizens don’t know what is best for them (or their families). To start things off, watch Kurt Webber, Chair of the Gilford School Board, reaction to the call out of “arrogance” as a town resident takes him to task for ignoring the will of the voters:
Yes, Webber is not a happy camper and it is obvious that he is not too keen at being taken to task. Yes, it is edited, but the context of the full video can be watched here at my blog, GilfordGrok (“all things Gilford”), Part 4, starting at about 5:20). The event was a joint meeting of the Selectmen and School Board held to ‘listen to public input’ as each is having to deal with citizens having brought forward Petition Warrants that, if implemented, would place tax caps on their budgets.
Why? What the Judge is talking about has happened in my hamlet – the resident is trying to get Webber to understand why people in town are upset with School Board. The topic – full day kindergarten (the local communities in NH can make that decision for themselves) and why did the School Board decide to unilaterally implement it EVEN AS THE TOWN FOLK HAD PREVIOUSLY VOTED IT DOWN? Sounds like elitists telling the proles “we don’t care about your vote”.
At this point, most of us are well aware of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (referred to by most, including the ‘Grok, as Obamacare). But did you know that other than the 26 States and other private entities that are suing to block the complete implementation of Obamacare (for mostly Constitutional overreach by the Federal Government), that there is a nascent movement called the Health Care Compact. Instead of being a top-down, DC-centric, command-and-control, one-size-fits-all monstrosity, this is a voluntary, state-level alternative to the Obamacare tax. The essence of it is:
The Constitution established a federal government, but with limited and enumerated powers, and reserved to the states or to the people those powers not granted to the federal government. One power that properly belongs at the state level is the power to regulate Health Care. However, the federal government has preempted state action in this area.
The Health Care Compact is an interstate compact – which is simply an agreement between two or more states that is consented to by Congress – that restores authority and responsibility for health care regulation to the member states (except for military health care, which will remain federal), and provides the funds to the states to fulfill that responsibility.
The Health Care Compact does not conflict with the efforts by state attorneys general, state legislators and members of congress to repeal or modify the health care bill.
Instead of Washington taking the money from taxpayers, having a maelstrom of unaccountable and unelected boards, committees, and bureaus creating regulation after regulation and forcing compliance upon the States, citizens, and healthcare providers, this simply is having Congress block grant
I had a discussion with Matt Murphy on this – and why it matters to NH and why we should consider it to be important:
Part 1:
Part 2:
The bill to implement the Health Care Compact in NH is HB1560 and is sponsored by NH House Majority LeaderDJ Bettencourt and NH State Senator Chuck Morse. It is currently in the House Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee. It is clear that the Liberals / Progressives / Statists want this to go down in flames to protect Obamacare – they are putting a lot of political pressure both the House Leadership (Speaker O’Brien and NH House Majority LeaderDJ Bettencourt and the committee members. Drop them a line and let them know they have some help behind them!
Hillsdale College is almost alone among colleges and universities in making its students take a course on the U.S. Constitution. Now you can take it as well, via Constitution 101, an online 10-week course:
In this course, you can:
watch lectures from the same Hillsdale faculty who teach on campus;
study the same readings taught in the College course;
submit questions for weekly Q&A sessions with the faculty;
access a course study guide;
test your knowledge through weekly quizzes;
and upon completion of the course, receive a certificate from Hillsdale College.
Well, I clicked on the link, and have signed up for the course. They do ask for a donation, but the course itself is free! A quick syllabus after the jump from the Registration site.
Gallup has the latest on the views concerning those who believe that the enumerated First Amendment Right to Religious Freedom should reign supreme, or Obamacare forcing religious institutions to provide “free” contraceptives, abortifacients, sterilization, or abortion services to those they cover. First chart is broken out by sex:
Next is support shown by the religious vs non-religious:
Continuing with our series with questions with Cliff, GraniteGrok presents Question 4: In your estimation, what are the biggest problems facing the NH GOP, and how would you fix them? Question 1, Question 2, and Question 3
Last week, the ‘Grok also went to the home of NH State Senator Jeanne Forrester who held a home event for Ovide Lamontagne (running to be the NH GOP nominee to be the next NH Governor). A full house listened to him first speak, and then answer question. This was asked: “Are you in favor … Read more
Look at the rate of increase that Federal Govt spending took starting in 2009: It is bad enough that spending, percentage wise, rose 52% in 8 years. Let me put it this way: I don’t know about you, but my family income is sufficient to pay for my family’s needs (and some wants) but is … Read more
One has to wonder why some of these folks wish to serve in a political party structure? Well, given what Diane brings to the table, she does have history (short, but rich) of being active in Republican politics. A true grassrooter, she makes things happen – listen: Question 1, Question 2 and Question 3.
As with Diane, we have a couple more questions for Cliff Hurst as he seeks the Vice-Chair position at the upcoming Annual NH GOP meeting. Given the current controversy that Obama’s Administration unleashed (the unconstitutional mandate, from the ‘Grok’s perspective, that a simple HHS regulation trumps the First Amendment protected and specifically enumerated Freedom of … Read more
Last week, the ‘Grok also went to the home of NH State Senator Jeanne Forrester who held a home event for Ovide Lamontagne (running to be the NH GOP nominee to be the next NH Governor). A full house listened to him first speak, and then answer question. This was asked: “What would you do … Read more
It is now Town Meeting / Deliberative Session time here in NH where town budgets are being proposed and voted upon by town citizens (no, not just City Councilors, select boards, Town Councils, aldermen, and the like – I really do mean ALL the registered taxpayers in a given town). My hamlet just did their Deliberative Sessions (Town and School Board) where each Warrant Article on the ballot is discussed, perhaps amended, and voted upon to put it on the official ballot for March’s actual vote. Apparently, Ms. Jenkins was none too happy with my actions to vote on these Articles in a secret ballot as opposed a voice vote, a hand raised vote, or a stand up vote. Nor is she all that keen that some of us want to start spending less in town (that’s considered to be “not supportive”). Of COURSE, I had a response that I sent in as a Letter to the Editor:
Consider it settled. Debating at the grown-ups table, at least for the remainder of the 2012 session of the New Hampshire House, will not be misconstrued as “bullying.” HB 1533, an Act to turn heated State House debate you disagree with into a crime punishable with up to a $2500.00 fine, was killed 224-78. (That’s right cry-babies, I said Killed!)
While the biggest goof with the Boo-Hoo Towel bill should have been Rep. Susan Emerson (:-( – Rindge) using the legislative process to get even after “somewun hurt her feewings,” there are two greater embarrassments that I believe must take precedence.
Now that our technical problems are behind us (fingers crossed, knock on wood!), let’s continue with our interviews that we did last week. Diane Bitter is running to be the next NH GOP Assistant Secretary because she sees a lacking in the structure – a lack of communication to the membership of the NH GOP. … Read more
This is from the commentary to today’s Union Leader article about crime-stopping hero Dennis Fleming…who was arrested and will be charged with a “crime” by a clueless (elected) county attorney, Thomas Velardi.
First, a comment from a retired police officer, Graham Baynes, as follows:
“As a man is said to have a right to his property, he may be equally said to have a property in his rights.” —James Madison
Granite Grok Writer Rick Olson during Pheasant Season 2011 with his Hunting Dog "Chloe" a six year-old German Shorthaired Pointer
On Tuesday a Union Leader editorial called House Bill 1339, “preposterous”. In the UL Editorial entitled, “Contract Hunting,” The UL aptly describes why the bill is problematic. HB 1339, sponsored by Representative Paul Mirski, Joe Duarte and Gary Hopper, is an effort to keep access to hunting, fishing and trapping accessible to all, irrespective of economic and social strata.
As a followup to Skip’s post on the Hillsdale College Constitution 101 class, I wanted to make you aware of some excellent video-lectures called an “Introduction to the Constitution,” that you may want to watch before you proceed to ‘Constitution 101.’ You’ll have access to these if you register for the free Constitution 101 course, (a well as PDF’s of all the related founding documents, and study guides) but I wanted to post them over the next few days to give you a taste of what you can look forward to in Constitution 101.
