Europe Archives - Granite Grok

MACDONALD: Tax Tyranny

September 30, 2025 Steve MacDonald

California, New York, and to some degree, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania all have state exit taxes. When you’ve had it up to here, they make sure to get another piece of you before you try to take your economic toys and find a new home. These apply to high-value sales and high earners, and … Read more

MacDonald: What Heat Wave?

August 1, 2025 Steve MacDonald

We’ve had some hot days in my corner of the world, typically two or three in succession, followed by some (to be honest) unseasonably cooler days and nights in the low to mid seventies. It hardly matters what happens. It’s all your fault. But the blamestormers love a prolonged heat wave. Any sort will do, … Read more

EU flag European Union phot by christian-lue-8Yw6tsB8tnc-unsplash

The Erosion of Democracy in Europe and the Looming Shift Toward Islamic Influence

April 9, 2025 Amil Imani

As of April 2025, a troubling pattern has emerged across Europe and beyond, casting a shadow over the principles of democratic governance. The suppression of political opposition, exemplified by recent events involving figures like Marine Le Pen in France and the ongoing efforts to ban Germany’s Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party, suggests that democracy—once a cornerstone of … Read more

Britain—Like France and Spain—Is Poorer than Mississippi

April 6, 2025 Ryan McMaken

Over the past year, pundits and columnists have been forced to keep asking why Europe’s economy is stagnating and falling behind the US economy. Many of those asking the question are Europeans. One European headline reads “Why Europe is falling behind the USA,” and Le Monde tells us that compared to the United States, “The gap with European … Read more

The Lie That Free Speech Threatens the Soul of Liberty

February 27, 2025 Amil Imani

“Freedom of speech is a virus. Censorship is the vaccine.” This chilling mantra echoed in the corridors of power throughout Europe and the UK has become the unspoken creed of a globalist left eager to maintain control. It serves as a seductive soundbite for those who fear the chaos of open discourse—a justification for silencing … Read more

light-bulb-Man Head Energy Power Solutions

Europe’s Renewable Energy Disaster

January 19, 2025 John Klar

Europe’s zealous embrace of climate change ideology is yielding destructive dividends. State-compelled directives and wasteful subsidies implemented to reduce carbon dioxide have created an economic dependency on renewable energy technologies before they were proven and built. Europe’s economic engines have been shut down along with its nuclear reactors, coal-fired plants, and industrial production. Natural gas … Read more

Candlelight candle flame Photo by Jarl Schmidt on Unsplash

Switzerland’s Power Shortage Plan Looks Like COVID Lockdowns Without TV or Internet

December 2, 2022 Steve MacDonald

Switzerland imports most of its energy from European neighbors. If you’ve been paying attention, the “neighbors” are preparing for shortages and blackouts, so there’s little or nothing left for Switzerland to buy. So, what to do? The Swiss have a plan—COVID-like lockdowns without the internet or television.

Coal Coal Photo by Nick Nice on Unsplash

Why Would Germany Dismantle a Wind Farm to Expand a Coal Mine?

October 28, 2022October 28, 2022 Steve MacDonald

Germany is losing the war on cheap energy. The headlines are everywhere. “Wind farm in Germany is being dismantled to expand coal mine.” The center-right has embraced it as a poster child for failure, and why not. What’s more iconic than pulling down useless wind machines to mine more coal?

Irony Alert: Does the “Wind Drought” Mean the End of ‘Global Warming’?

October 27, 2022 Steve MacDonald

“Who’s trippin’ down the streets of the city, Smilin’ at everybody she sees? Who’s reachin’ out to capture a moment? Everyone knows it’s Windy.” Except when it’s not. Europe went all-in on wind machines to power the future, and now they may not have one.

Europe Committed to Replacing Russian Fossil Fuel Dependence With … Rolling Blackouts in Freezing Temps?

October 21, 2022 Steve MacDonald

There is a narrative percolating through the internet that ‘Europe’ should have enough natural gas this winter. They spent a small fortune to fill storage tanks (infrastructure) built for this sort of thing, much of it with LNG from the US. So why is the BBC prepping scripts to calm folks during blackouts?

solar panel solar farm Photo by American Public Power Association on Unsplash

Irony Alert: Thanks to the High Cost of Renewable Energy, Europe Can’t Afford to Make Renewable Energy

October 10, 2022 Steve MacDonald

Comedian George Carlin had a very old joke that went something like this. Is God so powerful that he can make a rock so large that he himself can’t lift it? It was spun as the sort of question a smart-assed kid would ask in Sunday School, but it has genuine real-world applications for the energy industry.

God Forgive the Americans for Exploding Nord Stream 2

September 29, 2022 Op-Ed

I have entitled this article “God forgive the Americans,” but I don’t really see any basis for forgiveness. They caused an ecological disaster on September 26, 2022, by sabotaging a Russian gas pipeline, known as Nord Stream 2.

snow ice cold original Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Pay Attention America: Winter is Coming and Green Energy Can’t Keep Europe Warm

July 13, 2022July 12, 2022 Steve MacDonald

If ever there was a dead donkey to kick again, it’s this one, especially in the Northeast. Windfarms and solar installations will never keep us warm in the Winter. Absent a nuclear ramp-up with some hydro and natural gas backup, the all-electric future is not one coming soon, but Winter is!

Dependent On Russia

June 10, 2022 Steve Earle

Hungary can’t ban Russian gas and oil because 85% of its natural gas and over 56% of its oil comes from Russia, making it the most dependent of the Euro nations on that source. All of Europe is at some level dependent on Russia, and there is no way around it. Unless of course, Biden unlocks American oil and gas production.

Gas stove LNG Natural Gas Original Image by lovini - Pixaby

Biden Promised Europe “15 Billion Cubic Meters” of Natural Gas This Year … From Where FJB?

March 28, 2022 Steve MacDonald

Biden’s war on the American economy started with his Day One Executive Orders hobbling the oil and gas industry. The plan was to make it so expensive that they’d have an easier time pushing non-green pricier energy solutions. Part of that plan is working.

We Cannot Lose Sight of the Ukrainian People

March 17, 2022 Ray Cardello

Three weeks ago, the people of Ukraine were going about their everyday lives. They went to school, worked, shopped, worshipped, and played. They lived in an independent country caught in the middle. They are not Europeans. They are not Russians.

Fighting for Its Life

March 3, 2022March 3, 2022 Steve Earle

Outnumbered and outgunned but the brave people of Ukraine are still fighting for their freedom and their national life. Massive Russian military forces are meeting heavy resistance, and the people of the world are inspired by their courage and patriotism.

Joe Biden front page NYT original Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

Biden Hands Russia Another Victory

February 18, 2022 Steve MacDonald

One of Russia’s critical pieces of leverage is energy. Europe is dependent on Putin. Trump’s energy policy had begun to kneecap that advantage, but Biden has done everything in his power to give Russia the upper hand.

Paris protest vaccine mandates July 2021

Fighting for Individual Freedom: Europe is more America than… America?

July 28, 2021 Steve MacDonald

Millions? Hundreds of thousands, at the least. Across Europe, people are protesting. No, not for George Floyd (who may have died from COVID). They’ve had it with the political response to SARS CoV2 (again, not George Floyd). No more vaccine mandates or passports.

C’Mon Man, A US President Bans Travel From South Africa and It’s Not Racist?

January 26, 2021 Auntie Vaquser

A sitting US President has just diminished the US in the eyes of the world by expanding his travel ban. A new ‘Africa’ ban “is designed to make it harder for black and brown people to immigrate to the United States.” It’s a disgrace.