GraniteGrok Archives - Page 67 of 85

Yeah, and if I could turn sand into oil, I could replace up to 100% of our needs…..Oh Wait!

September 26, 2018February 26, 2012 Skip

Obama (emphasis mine): “We’re making new investments in the development of gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel that’s actually made from a plant-like substance, algae — you’ve got a bunch of algae out here,” Obama said at the University of Miami [yesterday]. “If we can figure out how to make energy out of that, we’ll be … Read more

GrokTV Special Interview: Cliff Hurst running for NH GOP Vice-Chair (Question 6)

September 26, 2018February 26, 2012 Skip

Questions? We have questions? The only thing of which we have a higher quantity of than questions is opinions (go ahead, try us – I dare you!). So, in talking with Cliff Hurst, I had a few more questions for him than I normally do ask in these kinds of “micro-interviews” (which, with this question, … Read more

GrokTV Event: Ovide Lamontagne House Event Q&A-Q5: How to make healthcare costs more consumer friendly?

September 26, 2018February 26, 2012 Skip

It seemed that healthcare was on the mind of the voters that gathered at the home of NH State Senator Jeanne Forrester who hosted an event for Ovide Lamontagne ( who is running to be the NH GOP nominee to be the next NH Governor). This one, for a change, from ‘Grok friend Henry, asked … Read more

I think this might prove to be troublesome to Ron Paul?

September 26, 2018February 26, 2012 Skip

“Iran’s warriors are ready and willing to wipe Israel off the map,” That from the Iran’s Deputy Defense Minister, Ahmad Vahidi. Now, he is saying this in context of Israel attacking Iran to stop the latter from getting the bomb – a terse warning of “don’t try it”. The real problem is, however, is the … Read more

“What if you are only allowed to vote because it doesn’t make a difference?”

September 26, 2018February 25, 2012 Skip

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”.

Health Care Compact – a talk with Matt Murphy

September 26, 2018February 25, 2012 Skip

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 Leader DJ 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 Leader DJ Bettencourt and the committee members. Drop them a line and let them know they have some help behind them!

Hillsdale College presents “Constitution 101”

September 26, 2018February 25, 2012 Skip

You know, that old dusty document that those old white men wrote that US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg doesn’t seem to like much? Well, we do at the ‘Grok and when this post over at National Review Online showed up, I figured I’d give it a gander:

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.

Data Point – Importance: First Amendment Right or Free Contraceptives?

September 26, 2018February 25, 2012 Skip

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: