Reason Archives - Granite Grok

Socrates a painting by Jacques-Louis David

SHURTLEFF: Come Let Us Reason Together and Learn to Identify Logical Fallacies

May 8, 2026May 5, 2026 Hal Shurtleff

Aristotle is considered the Father of Logic. He gave the world what is known as syllogistic logic or deductive reasoning, with the example: “All men are mortal; Socrates is a man; therefore, Socrates is mortal.” A few hundred years before Aristotle. The Prophet Isiah wrote: “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord, “though … Read more

Government’s Shove to EVs IS About Control – Controlling Us

May 28, 2023May 28, 2023 Skip

Republicans are more prone to advocate for Free Markets, Libertarians more so, and Democrats not at all. Yes, Republicans are sometimes better than Democrats, but they always seem to want Government to have a hand in things. That we are not able to decide for ourselves.

Men women bathroom symbols original Photo by Juan Marin on Unsplash

Palate Cleanser: Men’s Brains vs. Women’s Brains…

November 7, 2021 Skip

Yep, there are differences between men and women and how they think and I have to tell you, even after 40 years of marriage, I still don’t know what that thinking process is all the time.

Why Would NH Voters Vote Republican at Home and Democrat “Abroad?”

December 15, 2020December 15, 2020 Steve MacDonald

The results of this election do not logically make sense. Let’s start at home. In New Hampshire the reports say the electorate has undergone a change. We are to believe we went from a Democrat-majority State House, State Senate, and Executive Council to a Republican majority in each.

Regression is Still Possible … Enlightenment

November 5, 2020November 4, 2020

Black supremacy is the belief black people are inherently superior to others. From it flows the belief blacks should reign supreme. No decent person supports this idea. The same applies if we substitute white for the word black in the first two sentences of this paragraph.

Joe Biden is on the Campaign Trail … Should we Teach Islam in School?

September 27, 2020September 26, 2020

Joe Biden is on the campaign made a campaign speech designed to attract Muslim votes. On July 20, 2020 during an online event hosted by Emgage Action, he said he thinks Islam should be taught in the school system.

Lead a Good Life and Make a Better World

Is it Possible to Make a Moral World with Reason Alone?

March 1, 2020

There are lots of people today who believe reason is all we need to be moral. But is it really possible to make a moral world with reason alone? Does rationality take the place of faith, belief structure?

Colin Kaepernick’s Right to Be Wrong… Loudly

July 11, 2019July 11, 2019

Nike has the right to decorate their shoes any way they desire. Colin Kaepernick has the right to offer marketing advice to any company that will take it. We have the right to purchase whatever brand of tennis shoes we choose. But, how sad is it that political hated has descended into sneaker purchases for … Read more

Jan Schmidt: makes serious lie about GraniteGrok and now makes herself a victim for doing so

June 19, 2019June 18, 2019 Skip

Her as well as her fellow NH State Representative, Debra Altschiller (her alleged assault on Susan Olsen) – trying to turn the tables? More on Altschiller later but now that word is getting out that this elected official has blocked me, I’m getting screenshots from others about her whining. Like this one: A most perfect … Read more

“Spend Your Money On Feel Good Policies That Make No Real Difference”

September 26, 2018July 17, 2018 Steve MacDonald

Would it surprise you to hear that banning plastic drinking straws will accomplish nothing? How about this; that 500 million straws a day “fact” everyone is repeating came from a 9-year old kids’ school project. Or, that U.S. straws in the waste stream are a sliver of a fraction of 1% of all the plastic waste the ends up in the ocean.

Reason and force

September 26, 2018December 19, 2012

A fellow New Hampshire-ite wrote this several years ago and, while it has already been reposted and cross-posted around the blogosphere over the past few days, it is more than worthy of another read:

Human beings only have two ways to deal with one another: reason and force. If you want me to do something for you, you have a choice of either convincing me via argument, or force me to do your bidding under threat of force. Every human interaction falls into one of those two categories, without exception. Reason or force, that’s it.

In a truly moral and civilized society, people exclusively interact through persuasion. Force has no place as a valid method of social interaction, and the only thing that removes force from the menu is the personal firearm, as paradoxical as it may sound to some.

And on the other hand…”Paul Ryan’s plan is not good,” it is “weak tea.”

September 26, 2018August 11, 2012

Okay Paul, you're up: Are you ready to get serious? Or do you just want to continue to nibble around the edges?

Lest we all believe the cries from the insane spending Democrats, or the crafty Republicans who want to keep the government spending binge going while play-acting that they want to cut the size of our bloated governments….read on: