The Manchester Free Press

Wednesday • February 18 • 2026

Vol.XVIII • No.VIII

Manchester, N.H.

Night Cap: Assange Is Up for Grabs in UK on 21 February 2024

Granite Grok - Tue, 2024-02-20 04:00 +0000

Australia’s Parliament has finally passed a motion saying Assange should be returned to Australia. The vote was 86 Yes, 42 No. Andrew Wilkie, MP was the ringleader. Barnaby Joyce abstained from voting.

Apparently, the London Home Secretary will make the decision. Do you recall when the Home Secretary (Jack Straw) decided that Augusto Pinochet need not be sent to Spain, per extradition, as he was too old or infirm to cope?

Human Rights Watch wrote:

“The House of Lords, in its second decision on March 24, 1999, ruled that the only crimes for which General Pinochet could be extradited were torture and conspiracy to torture after December 8, 1988, when the U.N. torture convention took effect in the U.K. Magistrate Bartle specifically ruled, however, that Pinochet’s conduct before 1988—which would include the creation of the secret police and the establishment of Operation Condor targeting Pinochet’s opponents abroad—could be examined by the Spanish courts in proving the existence of a conspiracy which continued after December 1988. This ruling is in line with the language of the House of Lords decision.”

In other words, Pinochet got off despite a court (House of Lords) saying it was legal to extradite him.

I entitled this article “Where Do I Stand,” meaning “What Does My Americanism Think Should Be Done?”

I enjoy mocking those who say the US would mistreat him. We have a great system of justice in the Great Republic. Really, it’s flawless — if there weren’t a bunch of criminals (e.g., Merrick Garland) running it.

We want to thank Mary Maxwell for this Contribution – Please direct yours to Steve@GraniteGrok.com.
You can review our ‘Op-Ed Guidelines‘ on the FAQ Page.

I suspect that all the lengthy delays in getting Assange to travel across the pond reflect a desire by the Powerful to NOT let him into the US, as his criminal charges would not hold up for a minute here.

The charges are for several counts of espionage and one count of messing with a computer. The original downloading of the classified documents was done by a Private in the army named Bradlee Manning, later Chelsea Manning. She was tried and convicted and served seven years (I think) in jail, but her sentence was then commuted by Obama.

There will be no way for a foreigner, namely Julian Assange, a citizen of Australia (born in Townsville!), to be found guilty of espionage. It would open up the whole subject of extra-territorial jurisdiction. God knows, the US government would not relish that. It would suggest that every country and its dog could bring charges against Americans.

(Help!)

It would also bring Abu Ghraib into the forefront again. You may recall that the late US Sen Diane Feinstein “led” the Senate report on torture, taking 12 years to present the findings, which then got back-burner’d.

Back to Human Rights Watch again

“The conspiracy charge goes to the heart of the case because it alleges that Pinochet used torture as a weapon of intimidation and political persecution. By allowing evidence of conduct that occurred before 1988, Bartle’s ruling clearly permits the Spanish prosecutors to prove that General Pinochet built a state apparatus that relied on torture and that he was fully aware that torture was practiced systematically.”

Wow. Can’t have that!

On the subject of the US, or the cabal, wanting to keep Julian out of sight, recall that the cabal must have been behind the cooked-up sex charges against him in Sweden. Likely, the cabal also oversaw the hospitality of the Ecuadorian embassy in London.

Stella Assange claims in the above interview that Mike Pompeo, a member of the Trump Cabinet, was planning to assassinate her husband. This, too, is quite a reason for the US to wish Julian would go back to Oz, so we don’t have to deal with the Mary Maxwells of this world making a federal case out of Pompeo’s sins.

 

Note to Readers, I have now been excommunicated by Disquis and all the other platforms, so I won’t be able to respond to criticisms of this post, but try anyway! Thanks.

The post Night Cap: Assange Is Up for Grabs in UK on 21 February 2024 appeared first on Granite Grok.

Categories: Blogs, New Hampshire

Letitia James Is The Face Of The Weaponized Government

Granite Grok - Tue, 2024-02-20 02:00 +0000

The fraud case against Donald Trump and the Trump Enterprise by the City of New York will be seen more as a made-for-TV drama than an exercise in American Jurisprudence. The Trump Family and company were found guilty and levied with damages totaling over $375 Million.

What started as a campaign pledge by a bitter and vindictive Democrat lawyer to get herself elected as the Attorney General of New York became one of the many cases designed to prevent former President Donald Trump from a successful campaign to regain the White House. Stopping the MAGA movement is the primary mission of the Democrats, but the destruction of Trump, his family, his company, and his legacy is the icing on the cake.

During her campaign, Letitia James said nothing about what she would do to clean up the crime-ridden city of New York or make the state of New York safer for its residents. The only focus of her campaign was to prosecute and destroy Donald Trump. This personal mission may have had no bearing on her election, as being a Democrat virtually guaranteed her victory. Still, it was a clear message to Trump and Republicans that the Democrat Machine is prepared to attack you at every opportunity.

This case was not litigated in a jury trial, and Judge Arthur F. Engoron was the Judge and Jury. At the beginning of the trial, he went on the record that Trump was guilty, and the only question to be determined was how significant to make the penalty. He unreasonably ruled the courtroom, and this case will probably be overturned on the Judge’s performance. Letitia James, though the Attorney General for the entire state of New York, apparently has little to do as she was present for every minute of the trial and had daily comments for the press. This case was her moment in the spotlight, and she abused that time.

According to most legal and Constitutional experts, this case was brought against Trump with little basis in law. There is no fraud crime if no harmed party or money is lost. None of the many banks that did business with the Trumps claimed damages. This case is purely political theater. It was to destroy Donald Trump and the company that had become synonymous with The Big Apple.

Before Trump came down the Golden Escalator in 2015, every celebrity, businessperson, and politician wanted to be seen with Trump. He was a fixture on TV for over a decade, and being on The Apprentice was a ticket to stardom. Declaring as a Republican presidential candidate and winning made Trump a pariah with the Democrats and the influential people of New York City and the country. He became Enemy #1 for the Liberal/Socialist movement. The New York Billionaire had become the People’s President and pledged to Make America Great Again. These qualities are like fingernails on a chalkboard for Democrats, and they will do anything to keep him out of the White House in 2024.

James and Engoran exposed the Democrats and their monetary penalty, and forbidding Trump and his sons from operating in New York for years will send New York businesses heading for Florida, Texas, and Tennessee. They set out to crush Trump but put another nail in the coffin of what used to be the greatest city on the planet. This fiasco lends fuel to the question of the goal of Democrats as they systematically destroy America. If the destruction of our Republic is their mission, they are on target.

The post Letitia James Is The Face Of The Weaponized Government appeared first on Granite Grok.

Categories: Blogs, New Hampshire

Local School Board Member Busted for Racist, Graphic, Offensive Social Media Posts

Granite Grok - Tue, 2024-02-20 00:00 +0000

Northwood has a School board member named Gary Caron. He is very active on social media, where he spends a lot of time hating Trump and just about everyone else to whom he objects. His content is vile, rude, racist, bigoted, bitter, and angry, and yes, we’re sharing some of that: Content Warning

There is a school board meeting this Wednesday, the 21st, to talk about what you are about to read from Northwood School Board Member Gary Caron.

One more time: content warning.

 

Gary is, of course, entitled to be as offensive as he likes, but you are likewise allowed to find it offensive, and this may or may not be the sort of free speech you’d expect from an elected official. It’s certainly not something we’d tolerate from a straight Republican.

We know Gary would not, so we appreciate the honest expression of a well-known double-standard and the easy and free blog material.

Whether or not this sort of expression is unsuitable for a member of the Northwood School Board is up to the citizens of Northwood and Gary’s fellow board members.

And no, this is not all of the offensive material, but it is more than enough to start a conversation, and the town of Northwood is about to have one.

 

Editors note: the images above are exactly what we’ve been asking citizens to collect on their local elected officials—those who pretend to put people before politics and then can’t help but be themselves online. Not nearly enough of us make time to do it, and we lose seats and elections because the truth is out there, but there isn’t enough bandwidth for us to get it and build a case when elections roll around.

We need your help every day, every year, and every election cycle. We also can’t do any of this without your support.

Thank You!

The post Local School Board Member Busted for Racist, Graphic, Offensive Social Media Posts appeared first on Granite Grok.

Categories: Blogs, New Hampshire

Nikki Haley Says the Next President “Will Either Be Me or It Will Be Kamala Harris”

Granite Grok - Mon, 2024-02-19 23:00 +0000

Politicians like to paint pictures that move the electorate in a direction favorable to them. Nikki Haley has been pitching the idea that Trump was Trump when he was Trump, but America has moved on, and he’s not the right person for this time.

It’s a decent way of framing it, but it’s not working, so the campaign has added a new twist. Or, perhaps Nikki has talked herself into another corner. At the very least, this is one of the daftest, dense, mentally-ill-informed observations in recent memory. Haley has said that the next president will be female and that it will be either her or Kamala Harris.

 I’m not thinking about who I’m going to support in an election. But, you’ve already said it. We are going to have a female president of the United States. It will either be me or it will be Kamala Harris. And if Donald Trump is the nominee for the Republican Party, he will not win. Every poll shows that he will not win, and we will have President Kamala Harris. I’m not going to allow that to happen. I’m not stopping. I’m not going anywhere. We’re going to do this for the long haul, and we’re going to finish it.

Harris is obviously the monster under the bed that even Democrats fear. She is a colossal trainwreck of a candidate who has no chance of being Biden’s replacement when they swap him out at or after the convention. Anyone with even a scintilla or political acumen paying even the tiniest bit of attention knows this. Democrats hate her. She will not be back in any capacity. And they fear Joe dropping dead or becoming incapacitated before November, leaving them with Kamala.

As bad as Joe has been for their November fortunes, Harris likely leads to a down-ticket wipeout.

If Haley knows this, there’s no threat in her remarks, and if she doesn’t, she is too daft to hold the office she claims one or the other of them is destined to fill.

Maybe someone should ask His Excellency (Gov. Sununu) if he agrees. Is it going to be Haley or Kamala? Sununu must be tuned into the campaign strategy, and it seems unlikely this reference appeared out of the blue unless Haley has begun to show signs of campaign wear and tear and she’s grasping at paper straws.

The featured image, by the way, is a random screen grab from the ABC News interview. Given how Haley made no effort to do a better job at being informed (or honest), I felt no urge to do a better job screen-grabbing her face for this post.

The post Nikki Haley Says the Next President “Will Either Be Me or It Will Be Kamala Harris” appeared first on Granite Grok.

Categories: Blogs, New Hampshire

Senate Gold Standard – February 21, 2024

N.H. Liberty Alliance - Mon, 2024-02-19 21:03 +0000

(white) goldstandard-02-21-24-S.pdf
(gold) goldstandard-02-21-24-S-y.pdf

The post Senate Gold Standard – February 21, 2024 appeared first on NH Liberty Alliance.

One Thing You Can’t Count On: Your NH Vote Being Counted

Granite Grok - Mon, 2024-02-19 21:00 +0000

For a long time now, the political leaders in this country have been trying to create a paradigm shift by removing the power from the people to make decisions and placing it nearly exclusively into their own hands. These are abuses of power that have for too long gone unchallenged by an apathetic and resigned citizenry.

The time to act is now, and what better place to start than here in New Hampshire, one of the birthplaces of American liberty.

There is a current example of this forced transfer of power from the governed to the governing right here in our own state. It involves our fundamental right to have our vote counted and to determine how that vote gets counted. Everything that happens in government is derived, either directly or indirectly, from a vote. Destroy its integrity, and all else crumbles. Right now, in Concord, we are on the verge of permanently turning over the control of counting our votes from accountable humans to unaccountable machines.

Dating back to the 2020 election in what became a national news story, New Hampshire voters and candidates running for office have expressed concerns and sought redress over the errors and inconsistencies evident in machine-generated vote counting. Windham, New Hampshire, became the first and only municipality to obtain approval for an audit to be done of their locale’s machine-tabulated results. They were fought every step of the way in their efforts to have a simple thorough analysis of the vote performed, forcing them to eventually obtain special legislative approval just to be allowed to have the audit.

The results of that audit? The machines were, in fact, miscounting ballots. Various citizens’ groups formed for the purpose of challenging the use of voting machines across the state, all of those efforts trying to work within established, codified, and recognized New Hampshire state and local law. At every turn their efforts met resistance not from ordinary voters, but from elected and appointed government officials who did not want to alter the status quo; a status quo that had been found to be deficient when it came to counting votes.

The efforts of concerned activist citizens to give regular everyday citizens the right to decide through plebiscite whether or not votes should be counted by hand (reliable and verifiable) versus machine (erratic and open to manipulation) have met with almost inexplicable and certainly inexcusable challenges over the past three years.

————————————–
On February 15, that opposition to the expression of the will of the people launched perhaps its most egregious, and certainly its most irresponsible and even unconstitutional, attack on our liberty with the rushed passage of HB 154 (a grotesque mutation of what started as a 2023 public health ordinance bill in the House, from the Municipal and County Government Committee as a majority vote of OTP (ought to pass) on February 27, 2023, passed the House on March 9, 2023. This bill, if signed into law by the Governor, will codify voting machines permanently into law and will wipe out their “trial basis” status granted under RSA 656:40 back in 2019, without the citizens’ vote. The removal of the temporary status permitted has created waves of concerned citizens to take action to address the many valid and proven concerns related to machine vote tabulation.

If legislation were an asteroid, this would be called a global movement killer.

Let me be crystal clear about what has just happened:

House Bill 154 (originally a public health ordinance bill which would allow only a Select Board to pass public health ordinances at an annual or special meeting), that was presented to and passed the legislative body on March 9, 2023, then crossed over to the Senate and had a public hearing on October 31, 2023. It then was approved by the Senate on December 23, 2023, has suddenly been completely changed and became an Election Bill with an effective (backdate) of February 1. This change is updating RSA:656:40 to eliminate the language “on a trial basis” and then giving the politicians, not the citizen voters, the right to rescind the use of electronic ballot-counting machines.

If you follow this link, HB154 shows up in the October 19 publication of the Senate hearing calendar: 

It is worth noting that the legislator behind the sponsoring of this legislation, Juliet Harvey-Bolia(Belknap-3), is also employed in the digital voting industry by Democracy Live. As comedian George Carlin famously said, “It’s a big club, and you ain’t in it!”

There are laws, there are procedural rules, and then there are simple matters of fair play that indicate that what happened in Concord on Thursday past is just plain wrong, no matter your point of view.  A 1984 NH Supreme Court case, Norton v. Patton, provides a fairly solid set of limitations on what are called “retrospective laws”; those that take effect prior to the law’s passage.  The Supreme Court had good ground upon which to stand in regard to condemning retrospective laws, considering that they are all but prohibited in our State Constitution!

[Art.] 23. [Retrospective Laws Prohibited.] Retrospective laws are highly ​injurious, oppressive, and unjust. No such laws, therefore, should be made, ​either for the decision of civil causes, or the punishment of offenses.

Only the word “should” provides them the wiggle room in which they can ignore intent and hang by their legislating fingernails on a technicality.

We also know that our U.S. Constitution prohibits ex post facto criminal laws.  Clearly, the “spirit of the law” at all levels is to not vaporize the hard work of honest citizens that has been undertaken legally and within the rules over a period of several years by passing time-traveling legislation.  Yet, by selecting the effective date of February 1st for this legislation passed on the 15th, the House has done just that. 

Earlier this month, in the wake of more machine irregularities in the January primary, citizen groups, acting in good faith, had been circulating and submitting petitions, utilizing the provision of warrant articles, to 25 various municipalities that would compel votes on voting machine removal.  Those petitions faced a statutory deadline of February 6thfor submission (a side note: some municipalities were so offended at the idea of their citizens taking action that they decided to surreptitiously close their offices on the 6th, thereby advancing the due date for petitions by a full day).  This new legislation invalidates hundreds upon hundreds of hours of volunteer efforts.

As if the ignoring of precedent in this case by the House isn’t bad enough, they have also egregiously violated their own generally accepted “rules of the road” with their action.  Mason’s Manual(dating to 1935) is the recommended procedural “rulebook” for state legislatures and has been accepted by New Hampshire for decades.  In that manual’s chapter 2, section 7, paragraph 1, it states: “The constitutions stand on a higher plane than statute and, as a rule, are mandatory.” It has been demonstrated above that the Constitution should invalidate the retrospective feature of this Bill.  That, however, is not the only procedural problem the House has.

Section 112 of Mason’s Manual states that neither the House nor the Senate are to “legislate, debate, or discuss a matter awaiting adjudication before a judicial tribunal.”  There is a current case regarding this exact voting machine issue in the NH Supreme Court awaiting a ruling, Dan Richard v. Sununu et. al., In New Hampshire today, our elected officials cite their own rules as the Devils might cite Scripture, and, like the Devil, their purposes are clear:  To replace the will of the people to govern with their own self-will to rule.

To make matters worse, our Secretary of State, David Scanlon, the man in the office charged with ensuring election integrity, has fought efforts of citizens trying to have a say every step of the way. He began his opposition when citizens made their first attempt, through the use of warrant articles, to have the matter of machine vote counting placed before various municipalities’ voters back in 2022.  He did so by misinforming every NH town clerk that the hundreds of qualified citizen signatures submitted to those clerks were invalid because they were submitted electronically.  Scanlon then created the Special Committee on Voter Confidence (Dec. 2022), which resulted in 14 key recommendations being made but not implemented (save for one:  rolling out a new version of the same fallible vote counting machines, supplied by essentially the same company Dominion).  

Scanlon has also expressed his support for making the vote counting machines a permanent fixture in New Hampshire elections.

For anyone who mistakenly thinks that vote counting machines and their attendant problems are the stuff of long-disproven conspiracy theories, I assure you they are not.  The only conspiracy around this issue isn’t a theory. It is a fact, one that had our legislators pass a Bill while we weren’t looking.  Don’t take my word. Look at the results of what came from the Windham audit.  It was determined that up to 28 percent of ballots were misread or rejected due to either folds in the ballots or the machine not properly reading the coloring-in of the voter’s choice.  

The much-maligned company Dominion, the focus of so many 2020 election assertions of impropriety, has, through acquisition, taken control of New Hampshire voting machines.  Our Premier brand of election machines, originally owned by highly-respected Diebold, was purchased by Dominion in 2019. While local company LHS Associates might be involved in managing election systems, the actual software is owned by Dominion.

Is this something we want?  Is this something you want?  Would you like to have a chance to vote on it?

Well, I’m sorry to tell you that your right to vote on how you vote is about to be taken from you with the stroke of a governor’s pen.

You might want to believe your rights are being protected by those who have taken an oath to do so.  But if you are reading this over your morning coffee or from your phone at work, and you have made it this far, you might be starting to wonder if that’s really true.   If you are still reading this, it means you like to be informed and perhaps even LIKE TO THINK that your thoughts as a citizen matter. Your vote is your most fundamental expression of your public thoughts.  Sadly, I must inform you that your vote may or may not have counted in the past elections, and the power of your vote as an NH citizen has most certainly been compromised going forward by this latest move to ensure your vote cannot be hand-counted if it is questioned.   

————————

As citizen activists, our cause to this point has been simple:  We want to give the people of New Hampshire the right to choose how their vote is counted.  If there is any basic issue in a free society that should be subject to a popular vote it is the very idea of how we are to vote!  There has been nothing that has been fringe or radical about our movement, but New Hampshire voters need to wake up and realize that there is something quite radical in the response of our elected and appointed leaders.  They are committing a sort of reverse revolution-standing Thomas Paine’s Common Sense on its head by displaying a lack of such sense.

Paine wrote a pamphlet that triggered a revolution, one that led to the forcible overthrow of a tyrant.  We needn’t use that kind of force for a revolution here in New Hampshire.  All we need to do is wake up, stand up, speak up, and act using the tools available to us as citizens that Paine’s revolution ultimately placed into our hands.  We have been derelict, and our political leaders have exploited that dereliction.  Sloth as an individual is a personal sin.  Sloth as a citizen is ruinous to all.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has a nearly IDENTICAL Constitution to NH. The Founders intended for the votes to be hand counted, as acknowledged by the legislature in neighboring Massachusetts. They crafted a Constitutional Amendment Concurrent Resolution (CACR) outlining the use of electronic voting equipment that went onto ballots for the people who voted for a Constitutional Amendment. That is what needs to happen in NH. Don’t let them steal your self-governance. 

It’s time to write a letter, send an email, make a phone call, join a protest, do something! HB 154 is not constitutional. A motion has been made to reconsider the vote to Concur with the Senate amendment for Thursday, February 22. I implore you to put your coffee down, and immediately email, call, and post on social platforms demanding your Reps vote YES to reconsider, then NO on the Concur motion and then YES on the motion to send to a Committee of Conference. We are not too late to try to preserve what’s left of our liberty. Paine wrote, “The sun never shined on a cause of greater worth.” Our cause today is returning to a hand count of ballots. Every legal vote should count. Every legal vote MUST count!

The post One Thing You Can’t Count On: Your NH Vote Being Counted appeared first on Granite Grok.

Categories: Blogs, New Hampshire

Lawyer Whose Advice Probably Got a County Commission Sued is a Sununu Nominee for Superior Court

Granite Grok - Mon, 2024-02-19 20:00 +0000

This Wednesday, the Executive Council will vote on the nomination of Andrew Livernois to the State Superior Court. Sorry for the short notice. We just heard about it today. Before anyone says yes, perhaps they should consider this.

In the midst of the Gunstock kerfuffle, the County Attorney (Livernois) advised members of the County Delegation regarding the calling of an emergency meeting to address open seats on the Gunstock Area Commission. To quote Skip – it was his length article filled with emails and letters and commentary – his impression of the nominee’s response is that “EVERYTHING in the Law is a “grey area” (so go do what you want). And now the Delegation is getting sued over it.”

I don’t assume to know the details of the law or the Gunstock situation, but the result of that advice was that the Delegation got sued for not following the law.

That might seem like a minor oversight with room for misinterpretation of the advice, but Skip isn’t short on emails, letters, or details, so you can be the judge before anyone makes Livernois a judge.

I’m not saying this is disqualifying, but it might not be the only thing that went sideways while he was a County Attorney.

The nomination will be decided by the EC on Wednesday, first thing.

The post Lawyer Whose Advice Probably Got a County Commission Sued is a Sununu Nominee for Superior Court appeared first on Granite Grok.

Categories: Blogs, New Hampshire

Researchers: No Proof Transitioning a Kid Reduces Suicide, Probably Makes it Worse

Granite Grok - Mon, 2024-02-19 19:00 +0000

Gender warriors like to tell us that if we don’t transition children at the first sign that they might be “in the wrong body” – and they are the judge, jury and chief executive of what the signs are (as opposed to parents) – they will be more likely to try and kill themselves. That’s a lie.

“There are no long-term studies demonstrating benefits nor studies evaluating risks associated with the medical and surgical interventions provided to these adolescents. There is no long-term evidence that mental health concerns are decreased or alleviated after ‘gender affirming therapy.’”

The one study the groomers do quote [University of Washington-Seattle], doesn’t tell us what they claim. A “subsequent reexamination of that study’s data found “slightly higher levels of depression but significantly and substantively meaningful differences in anxiety and self-worth, and with results favoring [children without gender confusion], even when the [gender-confused] children had high levels of parental support for their gender transitioning.”

 

“Both before and after ‘gender affirming therapy’ (GAT), adolescents who have gender-identity incongruence are at higher risk for psychopathology than their peers who identify with their biological sex,” reads the abstract of the review published this month by the American College of Pediatricians (ACPeds). “There are no long-term studies demonstrating benefits nor studies evaluating risks associated with the medical and surgical interventions provided to these adolescents. There is no long-term evidence that mental health concerns are decreased or alleviated after ‘gender affirming therapy.’”

Part of the problem is that there are no stidies “comparing outcomes between those using and not using puberty blockers, so they stated ‘it is unknown whether people with gender dysphoria who use puberty blockers experience more improvement in gender dysphoria, depression, anxiety, and quality of life than those with gender dysphoria who do not use them. There is very low certainty about the effects of puberty blockers on suicidal ideation.’” 

According to the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, which encompassed more than 11,000 children between the ages of nine and 10, gender-confused children “were more likely to experience depression (2.53 OR), anxiety (2.70 OR), conduct problems (3.13 OR), and suicidality (5.79 OR),” even that young. A follow-up with twice as many children who were one year older found “significant relationships” between “mental health symptoms and gender diversity for all dimensions assessed.”

And,

“When transgender-identifying adolescents who were using gender-affirming [sic] pharmaceuticals (963) were evaluated separately, their use of mental health care services did not change but their use of psychotropic medications did increase.”

The evidence increasingly suggests that other issues like ASD, trauma, or sexual abuse trigger gender dysphoria. Convincing children who lack the capacity to grasp the consequences of irreversible hormone or surgical interventions to undergo transition doesn’t address the root mental health issue. It, in fact, makes matters worse and likely increases distress and the likelihood of self-harm.

In other words, the idea that we need to trans kids for their mental health is, at best, a lie and, at worst, just evil.

The post Researchers: No Proof Transitioning a Kid Reduces Suicide, Probably Makes it Worse appeared first on Granite Grok.

Categories: Blogs, New Hampshire

MONDAY MEMES

Granite Grok - Mon, 2024-02-19 17:00 +0000

Another Monday arrives.  Gag me.

Take heart – there will be both a Wednesday and Friday Edition.  Last week’s Friday Edition.

Remember, ridicule and mockery are effective weapons:

  1. Ridicule cannot easily be fought
  2. Ridicule makes the enemy angry, and angry people make mistakes
  3. For those in the “squishy middle” a Thought Splinter (and Part II and Part III and Part IV) can often be hidden inside humor.

Now, let the mockery and mayhem begin.

 

*** Warning, a few possibly off-color ones, in case tender eyes are about ***

 

 

>>>>>=====<<<<<

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My I stopped believing in the goodness of government moments were the combination of WACO and RUBY RIDGE.  And the aftermath where nothing happened to anyone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OK… but how is that actually working out for the town?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And with what spare money?

 

 

 

James Woods going in for the kill.  Epic!

 

 

>>>>>=====<<<<<

 

PSA – PSA – PSA – PSA – PSA

 

 

 

 

How soon before the current requests to help house migrants here in the US (*cough Massachusetts cough*) becomes a demand?

 

>>>>>=====<<<<<

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Excellent point.  Had tofurkey once.  Would rather starve.

 

 

I wonder if there could be a connection between the above and the below.  Hmmm…

 

 

 

Turnabout is fair play.  You’ve been trying to destroy Israel since its founding.  But then… while we’re discussing the UN, let’s take that down too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

>>>>>=====<<<<<

 

Links (some from me, some from my Jarhead friend):

Links blew up.  Sorry.  Next time.

 

>>>>>=====<<<<<

 

Pick of the post:

 

 

 

Islam is an aggressive, supremacist religion.

 

>>>>>=====<<<<<

 

Palate Cleansers:

 

 

>>>>>=====<<<<<

 

Come back Wednesday for another edition.  Same Meme Time.  Same Meme channel.

Please do consider buying me a coffee.

Buy Me a Coffee

 

>>>>>=====<<<<<

 

 

The post MONDAY MEMES appeared first on Granite Grok.

Categories: Blogs, New Hampshire

Dr. Ebner and Reefer Madness

Granite Grok - Mon, 2024-02-19 15:00 +0000

I see via NoScript that GraniteGrok is still on Disqus; otherwise, I would have entered your competition for the weekly prize. Refer to my Grok column of last 21-Apr, in support of legalization and against a new industry created by a government that intends to administer legalization and fight all mishaps.

Dr. Ebner writes “As a parent” and “As a physician”–credentials that imply that merely replying as a functioning mind and a lover of liberty will open criticism on one’s fitness to debate.

As always, the “public” is not a body and does not have a “health.” The collective does have statistics–and people can and do try to manage us by the numbers, with uniformly disastrous effects.

Ebner’s second paragraph, on trends over a generation, implies that the desire for recreational mood alteration has not changed but only the choice of tools.

Of course, marijuana has been bred to increase the THC; that is called “satisfying the customer,” and is irrelevant because you can get nearly pure THC if you want it, as Ebner notes.

Very much of “addiction” is a pleasurable habit that the doctor would like you to abandon, as the doctor’s fees, ratings, and self-worth come from minimizing morbidity and maximizing longevity, not the overall pleasure of the customer’s life.

We have known for decades that nicotine withdrawal causes irritating effects caused by the drug itself. This was not true for THC; perhaps it is in higher doses. But irritability, for example, might be caused by not being allowed to experience the pleasurable high at will.

What is “distressing to [Ebner] as a physician” is irrelevant. That the customer live his life as he sees fit should be paramount. Primum non nocere.

Association (with mental illness) is not causation. It would of course be healthier not to take frequent recourse to mind alteration. But it’s what the customer wants.

Finally, we get to the hoary monster, “opioid epidemic.” There is no epidemic since there is no contagion. Your reefer does not infect me unless I will it. Is this guy really a doctor?

Yes, “there is no safe way to introduce something that is unsafe.” But more basic, there is no safety on planet Earth. We cannot achieve prevention, and we cannot even know how close we have gotten without comparison to an alternate reality. Letting government tout safety is not only letting it dictate our values but writing it a blank check.

What a surprise to find out at the end that Dr. Ebner is on some Committee with a cute acronym and has a Study for us to read.

The post Dr. Ebner and Reefer Madness appeared first on Granite Grok.

Categories: Blogs, New Hampshire

Another Week, Another Comment of the Week Winner

Granite Grok - Mon, 2024-02-19 14:00 +0000

A few of our past winners have been surprised to learn that the recognition is not just honorary. They get free stuff. So, here’s a reminder to the commenters, of which we have many: You can win free Grok stuff.

I have also listened to you about considering the average commenters’ ability to compete with our author’s comments and some other concerns. For example, it’s not much of an incentive if Ian Underwood wins every week, even though he consistently delivers top-notch remarks that stretch the debate into new territory.

An effort is made to spread the recognition and the free stuff.

This Week’s Winner

We got into the weeds this week, or more specifically, weed. Marijuana was one of several contentious ‘hot’ topics that drew a lot of debate, which is why we post these things. It’s not always about what I or any of our authors think; it is about leveraging ideas to grow engagement. You can send me op-eds even if they differ from my public position or anyone else’s here, in print or comment. Submission is no guarantee of publication but as a reminder,

The views and opinions expressed by contributors are those of the author and may not reflect the opinion or position of Grok Media, GraniteGrok.com, its authors, advertisers, donors, or sponsors.

We do have a rebuttal to Dr. Ebner’s piece on marijuana posting this morning, so look for that.

Everyone had great comments, but NHnative Ian, Ken, Pun Salad, bj030644, gramps, Tombstone Gabby, Kat, Still Standing, Jim Gill, and AllyforFreedom got a much closer look this week.

And the winner is:

Think I’ve said this 100x, but nevertheless, I’ll say it again: Before Corona, I never thought I could home school, now I love it! I always wanted to homeschool, because deep down inside, I knew public school was failing my older son – he went through 7th grade in public school in MA. Once they took learning virtual and I saw how terrible the entire thing was, I knew I could serve him better.

I was also, and still am to this day, super offended and upset by the masking, social distancing, the plexiglass and stickers like cattle corralling! It was a straight-up prison camp. I would never allow my sons to be abused in that way and made to believe they have to bow down and go along with lies and a backward society. Homeschooling has allowed me to shelter my two sons from the madness out there while also nurturing and fueling their own personal growth, talents, likes, etc.

They have both flourished so much!

It’s amazing the change in our family and day to day world now in 2024. My oldest will be self-declaring graduation next year, and my younger is in 4th grade.. never having been exposed to public school, except six months of kindergarten in 2019/2020. We learn in such different ways now, but it’s better than ever.

Homeschooling lets you make every learning point natural, you can set any time of schedule and change it up whenever you feel like it. I cannot rant enough about how important centering the learning around the student NOT around a predetermined curriculum that is outdated and nowadays, literally anti-human! Having white sons in the world today… well, I’m sure most people here, reading this type of stuff can understand the level of unjust hate and discrimination they would have to face on a day-to-day basis.

It is lightly edited here for readability but has excellent points and a fantastic story. AllyforFreedom, if you would be so kind as to reach out to me at steve@granitegrok.com, I can get a shipping address from you.

 

And if you are interested, Jim Gill came in a close second with,

Every Republican candidate running for office, should ask their constituents if they would like to hear the story of how books too obscene for the legislature were found appropriate for NH’s school children?

He’s right, so let’s help make that happen.

The post Another Week, Another Comment of the Week Winner appeared first on Granite Grok.

Categories: Blogs, New Hampshire

Remember Rachel Dolezal? Her OnlyFans Page Just got Her Fired from a Grade School in Arizona

Granite Grok - Mon, 2024-02-19 13:00 +0000

What is it about white liberal women that makes them lie about their ethnicity to rob progressive victim-class members of jobs, opportunities, and accolades? It’s always white liberal women, like Lizard Warren.

The University of Wisconsin’s Kay LeClaire, Dartmouth’s Susan Taffe Reed, Arab-Latina Queer Feminist activist Raquel Evita Saraswati, and who can forget Rachel Dolezal (white, black, and American Indian).

We also reported on Heather Rae, an Award-winning producer who served on the Academy of Motion Pictures’ Indigenous Alliance, previously headed up the Sundance Institute’s Native American program.

That’s not all of them, but it is a parade of post-Warren proggy white chicks busted for fake ethnic claims and credentials, ascending in the predictably progressive spaces. It also doesn’t say much for the Liberal gate-keepers eager to pad their resumes with a diversity hire, which might also explain all the plagiarism in Universities and lack of scientific or intellectual rigor just about everywhere else.

But none of them has fallen on harder times than Rachel Dolezal. The former Spokane NAACP president had to resign after her parents outed her with pics of a freckly, blonde, very white teenager. Since Rachel has been unemployable, later changing her name and moving to Arizona, where her habit of bad decision-making has followed.

Race faker Rachel Dolezal has been fired from her job teaching at an elementary school in Arizona after it was discovered she is now working as a OnlyFans model.

Dolezal, who changed her name to Nkechi Diallo, has been listed under payroll records at Sunrise Drive Elementary School as an after school instructor.

She’s not listed there anymore. They let her go, and no, the aging Dolezal, aka Nkechi Diallo, should not rely on her home-porn platform for a sustainable lifestyle unless it is poverty. Reporting suggests she doesn’t make much (about 1020.00 a month).

If I might make a suggestion.

With a name like Nkechi Diallo, you could probably go down to the southern border and catch a bus to just about anywhere, get free hotel accommodation, and a subsistence lifestyle, plus the 1220.00 a month.

Millions have tried it, and they don’t even speak the language.

The post Remember Rachel Dolezal? Her OnlyFans Page Just got Her Fired from a Grade School in Arizona appeared first on Granite Grok.

Categories: Blogs, New Hampshire

Enough With The Navalny Outrage

Granite Grok - Mon, 2024-02-19 11:00 +0000

Jailing your political opponents is bad. Killing your political opponents is bad. Pretending that only Putin does these things … and Zelensky and the Biden regime do not is also bad.

Especially when you are pretending on the very day that a regime-“judge” trying to bankrupt Donald Trump (and his family) in order to prevent Trump from being elected President (for probably the third time) is somehow not a variation on the theme of jailing and killing your political opponents.

Especially when you are pretending on the very day that the corruption and incompetence of a regime-“prosecutor” is … for the second day in a row … is being exposed. And what is also being exposed … through his nonfeasance … is the complicity of NeverTrump Governor Brian Kemp.

Especially when you have spent YEARS pretending that the J6 prisoners are somehow NOT political prisoners and that a Trump supporter can get a fair trial in the District of Columbia, and you also conveniently ignore the different … TOTALLY different … treatment given BLM/Antifa versus the J6 protesters.

And especially when you have pretended that the Regime going after parents who oppose DEI and CRT at school board meetings is normal and that the Regime’s persecution of pro-life demonstrators is also normal.

And especially when you know that the lawfare being waged on Trump is just a continuation of the election-rigging and election interference that we saw in 2020, but you pretend it’s not.

So enough with the Navalny outrage.

The post Enough With The Navalny Outrage appeared first on Granite Grok.

Categories: Blogs, New Hampshire

The Role of China in Luxury Watch Growth

Granite Grok - Mon, 2024-02-19 10:00 +0000

For Swiss watchmakers preoccupied with growth, China is the relationship they cannot afford to ignore. As travel restrictions and duty-free limits limited outbound tourism, Chinese shoppers turned to domestic luxury shopping and boosted in-store sales.

Brands that prioritize digital adaptation and offer a seamless online shopping experience have an edge in this new landscape. But navigating China’s complex digital environment is not without challenges.

China’s Economic Resilience

After a sluggish start in 2021, luxury watch sales rebounded this year, according to data from market research firm Bain. The personal luxury goods sector, which encompasses fine jewelry and watches, recorded double-digit growth for the first three quarters of 2022, and is expected to reach a new record in sales this year. This is partly due to pent-up demand from Chinese consumers, who account for about a fifth of global luxury spend.

Luxury goods companies have adapted to economic uncertainty and volatility over the past few years, including investing in new production facilities closer to consumers to reduce logistics costs. In addition, the industry has a larger consumer base with a concentration of top customers who are less sensitive to recessions. It has also honed customer-centricity and a multi-touchpoint ecosystem.

The rebound in luxury spending by Chinese consumers is helping to drive global luxury markets, but the world’s largest economy has its own domestic challenges. In the wake of President Xi Jinping’s crackdown on “excessive” spending by high-profile individuals, Jefferies analysts Daniel Cereda and David Parker warn that Beijing risks destabilizing markets. But they point out that luxury purchases by China’s middle class are likely to remain resilient, especially if the severing of wealth-related connections between the government and business is limited.

China’s state campaign against luxury gift giving curbed growth in the country’s luxury market, which sank 0.9% in 2014, after averaging a 21.5% annual rate for the three years preceding it. Even prestigious luxury brands like Hermes, which sells the popular Birkin handbag that can cost up to $500,000, saw its China numbers decline that year.

But the slowdown was short-lived and luxury market recovery accelerated in 2016 as the country’s middle class gained financial confidence and became more comfortable with purchasing luxury goods. In addition, millennials and Gen Z — who are more likely to make purchases through digital channels than their older counterparts — continue to fuel luxury market growth. These trends are likely to persist. Nevertheless, the industry’s profitability remains below pre-Covid levels due to price increases and continued investment in digital and omnichannel platforms.

China’s Digital Transformation

For many luxury brands, China is more than a single market. It is the biggest and most important market in the world, one with a growing middle class, a sophisticated aptitude for digital engagement and a powerful role in shaping global trends. This makes it a formidable and challenging market for those who can get it right, but also one that offers greater rewards than anywhere else in the world to those who do.

Despite the recent slowdown, our observers all agree that the long-term outlook is very promising for China. Unlike other emerging markets, it has a much larger population of high- and middle-income consumers. Those consumers will be spending more in the future, not less, as their incomes rise. And they are increasingly willing to spend on high-end luxury products that can be seen and felt in-store as well as online.

While some analysts are cautioning against overstating the size of the Chinese luxury market, it’s worth remembering that it’s huge and still growing rapidly. In 2021, China’s market was estimated to be more than 520 billion RMB (about US$878 million). That’s roughly the same as Italy’s total luxury goods market and nearly half that of Switzerland.

In the short term, however, the economic woes of China have put a dent in demand for luxury watches. This is reflected in trade data from the Federation of Swiss Watch Industry (FHS) and results from publicly listed watchmaking conglomerates such as Richemont.

As China’s economy recovers, demand for luxury goods is expected to return. But the question remains how quickly that will happen, and what effect it will have on the global luxury watch industry.

The Covid-19 lockdown has pushed luxury brands to push their digital boundaries in order to be more engaging with Chinese consumers. This will help them mitigate the impact of potential future lockdowns, and also to weather any slowdowns in China’s economy.

At CEIBS, we are seeing more requests from the China or Asia Pacific HQs of luxury brands to set up training sessions that will showcase their digitalization experiences to their main HQs in North America and Europe. This shows that these HQs are listening and interested in the challenges that their Chinese colleagues are facing. They want to understand the digitalization journey in China and how it can support their overall strategy for growth.

China’s Social Media Culture

Despite China’s comparatively low average income, its consumers hold strong aspirations for luxury products. A key factor contributing to this is the country’s powerful “common prosperity” campaign, a cultural concept rooted in Mao and socialism. According to scholars such as Chris McNally, the “common prosperity” theme has evolved into a political strategy that discourages ostentatious displays of wealth and encourages consumer loyalty.

However, the Chinese luxury market is a complex environment for both domestic and foreign brands. It is critical that marketers understand the country’s culture and nuances when creating marketing campaigns. A misstep could lead to severe consequences for the brand’s reputation and sales.

As a result, it is essential that marketers focus on localizing their marketing campaigns and embracing the social media culture of the country. In doing so, they will be able to leverage the power of Chinese celebrities to increase brand awareness. In addition, they will be able to capitalize on the Chinese consumer’s growing preference for casual fashionable watches that reflect their own style and personality.

Furthermore, Chinese consumers are highly sensitive to brand reputation and storytelling. Hence, it is important for luxury brands to establish engaging official accounts on Weibo and WeChat to communicate their stories to the target audience.

For many international luxury brands, China has become a crucial market for their future growth. Moreover, the country’s recent loosening of strict pandemic control measures has opened up new possibilities for marketing and promotion in the luxury industry.

However, the country’s complexities and rapid change pose significant challenges for luxury brands entering the Chinese market. For example, city- or province-wide lockdowns can disrupt supply chains and slow factory production. Additionally, the government’s ongoing attempts to tame celebrity culture can undermine the credibility of certain marketing campaigns.

In order to succeed in China, luxury watchmakers must be aware of these complexities and keep up with the changing consumer behavior of the country. In doing so, they can ensure their future success in the lucrative Chinese market. Otherwise, they risk being left behind by their competitors in the country’s fast-growing luxury segment.

China’s Luxury Market Revival

While China has been a pillar of support for the luxury industry, it is no longer providing the same level of growth as before. A recent slowdown in China has caused many major luxury goods manufacturers to rethink their strategy and reassess their business plans. The luxury watch sector has also been affected by the weakening Chinese economy and escalating tensions between China and the United States.

However, there are several factors that have contributed to the recent revival in the luxury sector. Economic resilience has been a key driver, especially as high-net-worth individuals found that there were fewer opportunities to shop abroad. This is in addition to the fact that Chinese consumers tend to prioritize local products when making purchase decisions, which is a significant advantage for domestic luxury brands. Meanwhile, digital transformation has played a crucial role, particularly for high-end shoppers that have invested in WeChat and Alibaba platforms as a way to facilitate online purchases.

The recovery in the luxury sector has been fueled by strong growth in fashion, jewelry, leather goods and beauty. Additionally, luxury consumers are repurchasing and replenishing luxury items, while shopping for discounted prices through resale platforms and NFTs. These trends present new opportunities for luxury manufacturers to capture the attention of young consumers who are embracing a more modern lifestyle.

This generation of wealthy Chinese consumers are redefining their notions of luxury, shifting from traditional fine watches to more fashionable styles that fit with their individualized aesthetic and exemplify their social status. Moreover, discerning luxury consumers demand products that align with their ethos and values while meeting their emotional and functional needs. This has given rise to the rise of “soft luxury” and “momentary luxuries” for high-end brands in China.

Amid the resurgence in luxury sales, best-in-class luxury-goods companies have been able to increase product prices and manage cost inflation. They have also been able to reduce expenses through creative pricing strategies and collaborations, which has helped protect gross, operating and net margins. Consequently, they are poised to outperform their Western counterparts in 2023.

The post The Role of China in Luxury Watch Growth appeared first on Granite Grok.

Categories: Blogs, New Hampshire

Bill Hearings for Week of February 19, 2024

N.H. Liberty Alliance - Sun, 2024-02-18 18:06 +0000
  • These are the most liberty-critical hearings for the week
  • Click on the bill number to read the bill.
  • Click on the committee name to email the committee your thoughts.

Of the 52 hearings in the House, we are recommending support of 10 and opposition of 3 with 6 being of interest.
Of the 15 hearings in the Senate, we are recommending support of 0 and opposition of 1 with 1 being of interest.

Position Bill Title Committee Day Time Room State Analysis
Of Interest CACR19 relating to redistricting. Providing that an independent redistricting commission shall be established to draw boundaries for state and federal offices. Election Law Tue 2/20 9:00 AM LOB Room 306-308 This constitutional amendment concurrent resolution establishes an independent redistricting commission to draw the boundaries for state and federal elections.
Of Interest HB1098 relative to ballots delivered to elder care facilities. Election Law Tue 2/20 9:25 AM LOB Room 306-308 This bill enables ballot clerks, assistant clerks, or clerks pro tem to deliver ballots to elder care facilities. This bill is a request of the secretary of state.
Oppose SB538 relative to zoning procedures concerning residential housing. Election Law and Municipal Affairs Tue 2/20 9:15 AM LOB Room 103 This bill establishes a tax relief program for office conversion to residences; enables municipalities to allow its governing body to adopt certain zoning ordinance changes; and adds additional authority in zoning powers for parking requirements and lot size requirements related to sewer infrastructure.
Of Interest SB594 defining state approved processing facility and regulating on farm slaughter of amenable animals. Energy and Natural Resources Tue 2/20 9:15 AM SH Room 103 This bill defines state approved processing facility for slaughtering and processing amenable animals and makes regulations regarding the on-farm slaughter of amenable animals.
Oppose HB1351 prohibiting the sale and use of adhesive-based rodent traps. Environment and Agriculture Tue 2/20 1:00 PM LOB Room 301-303 This bill prohibits the sale and use of adhesive-based rodent traps.
Support HB1325 relative to allowing private ownership of small tailed monkeys, raccoons, foxes, otters, skunks, and kangaroos. Environment and Agriculture Tue 2/20 2:00 PM LOB Room 301-303 This bill allows the private ownership of small tailed monkeys, raccoons, foxes, otters, skunks, and kangaroos.
Oppose HB1505 establishing an animal abuse offender registry. Environment and Agriculture Tue 2/20 2:45 PM LOB Room 301-303 This bill establishes an animal abuse offender registry.
Of Interest HB1190 relative to adopting the interstate social work licensure compact. Executive Departments and Administration Tue 2/20 11:30 AM LOB Room 307 This bill adopts the social work licensure compact.
Support HB1391 allowing new vehicles purchased in the model year or before to be inspected in the second year after purchase. Ways and Means Tue 2/20 10:15 AM LOB Room 202-204 This bill allows new vehicles purchased in the model year or before to be inspected in the second year after purchase.
Support HB1278 relative to qualifying medical conditions for purposes of therapeutic cannabis. Ways and Means Tue 2/20 10:30 AM LOB Room 202-204 This bill adds debilitating or terminal medical conditions to the qualifying medical conditions for therapeutic cannabis if a health care provider certifies the potential benefit to the patient. The bill also removes certain limitations on a qualifying visiting patient’s access to cannabis.
Of Interest HB1204 relative to government agent entries into secured premises. Criminal Justice and Public Safety Wed 2/21 10:00 AM LOB Room 202-204 This bill establishes requirements for when a government agent may enter a secured premises without a warrant.
Support HB1276 relative to repealing the prohibition on the possession or sale of blackjacks, slung shots, and metallic knuckles except by or to minors. Criminal Justice and Public Safety Wed 2/21 10:30 AM LOB Room 202-204 This bill amends the prohibition against carrying or selling a blackjack, slung shot, or metallic knuckles to prohibit sale to or possession of the said items by those under 18 years of age.
Support HB1539 relative to annulling, resentencing, or discontinuing prosecution of certain cannabis offenses. Criminal Justice and Public Safety Wed 2/21 11:00 AM LOB Room 202-204 This bill allows for additional annulments, resentencings, or discontinuations of prosecutions for certain cannabis offenses.
Oppose HB1173 relative to the disposition of vicious dogs. Environment and Agriculture Wed 2/21 1:00 PM LOB Room 301-303 This bill provides for the euthanizing of dogs that attack humans or domestic animals 2 or more times in a 12 month period.
Support HB1501 repealing the requirement to register dogs annually. Environment and Agriculture Wed 2/21 2:00 PM LOB Room 301-303 This bill repeals the requirement that cats and dogs be registered annually.
Support HB1556 relative to exemptions from the rabies vaccine. Environment and Agriculture Wed 2/21 2:30 PM LOB Room 301-303 This bill removes the requirement that dogs exempt from the rabies vaccine be muzzled.
Of Interest HB1328 relative to public safety providers defined as essential services. Executive Departments and Administration Wed 2/21 10:00 AM LOB Room 306-308 This bill deems all first responders as providing essential services.
Support HB1174 relative to plumbing apprentices. Executive Departments and Administration Wed 2/21 11:15 AM LOB Room 306-308 This bill permits a licensed plumber to employ 3 apprentices.
Of Interest HB1335 removing Columbus Day as a holiday. Executive Departments and Administration Wed 2/21 2:00 PM LOB Room 306-308 This bill removes Columbus Day as a holiday.
Support HB1506 relative to required votes to approve issuance of bonds. Municipal and County Government Wed 2/21 1:20 PM LOB Room 307 This bill requires that the approval of bonds issuance, if petitioned by at least 50 registered voters, shall be authorized only by a vote by ballot of 2/3 of all the voters present and voting at an annual or special meeting of the town, district, or city called for the purpose.
Support HB1053 relative to permissible residential units in a commercial zone. Municipal and County Government Wed 2/21 2:30 PM LOB Room 307 This bill requires that for new or rehabilitated buildings in commercial zoned districts in a municipality residential uses shall be allowed as a matter of right.

The post Bill Hearings for Week of February 19, 2024 appeared first on NH Liberty Alliance.

Bill Would Address Violations of Free Speech By Government-Run Colleges

The Liberty Block - Sat, 2024-02-10 23:15 +0000

On Friday, New Hampshire State Representative Mike Belcher (R-Wakefield) posted a press release to X regarding violations of free speech by government-run colleges in New Hampshire. A bill proposed in this session by eight Representatives and three Senators would address the issue by prohibiting the college administrators from discriminating against political speech they oppose. 

The post Bill Would Address Violations of Free Speech By Government-Run Colleges appeared first on The Liberty Block.

The Conservatarian Exchange Podcast #192

The Liberty Block - Thu, 2024-02-08 05:26 +0000

Mother convicted of manslaughter for murders committed by her son; Daniel from UK on the King’s medical issues and conspiracy theories; is the Taylor Swift/Kelce relationship a psyop? How many millennials believe the moon landing was faked? The fiasco of the border bill; the U.S. sec’y of state trying to meet with the Israeli military chief of staff with no one else present; Is Milei (in Argentina) backing down at all?

The post The Conservatarian Exchange Podcast #192 appeared first on The Liberty Block.

Secession Airplane Banner Flying Over Merrimack Valley Saturday

Foundation for N.H. Independence - Thu, 2023-05-25 02:34 +0000

On Wednesday morning, NHexit.US announced that local liberty activists in New Hampshire have hired a chartered airplane pilot to fly a pro-independence banner over the three largest cities in the state. Over the past few years, the calls for serious discussions on peaceful separation of New Hampshire from DC and the union have grown dramatically. New Hampshire is already home to the most influential liberty movement in the world.

Notable events since 2021 include:

  • legislation to place an independence referendum on the ballot which was sponsored by nine lawmakers in the New Hampshire House
  • a poll by SurveyUSA finding that almost 100% of NH residents strongly resent the federal government and 29% are ready to secede immediately
  • increasing demands by lawmakers and the centrist governor telling the DC tyrants to back off 
  • An abundance of pro-independence sentiment, including flags for the Granite Republic, hats, T-shirts, books, articles, and podcasts, and even a national anthem

This Saturday, an airplane banner could be added to that list. The tentative plan is for the banner to fly over Nashua, Manchester, and Concord. If you look up while in one of these cities, you just might be able to snap a photo or record a video of the banner. We encourage our readers to post their photos to social media with the tags #NHexit, #secession, and #NHpolitics. 

Additionally, the question of secession will be asked by another highly reputable pollster. The University of New Hampshire is currently conducting a political survey that includes multiple questions related to New Hampshire independence. The results could be published within days or a few weeks. 

 

 

The post Secession Airplane Banner Flying Over Merrimack Valley Saturday appeared first on Foundation for New Hampshire Independence.

New Hampshire Survey Shows Disdain For DC, Support For Independence

Foundation for N.H. Independence - Fri, 2022-07-22 02:33 +0000

A recent poll conducted by SurveyUSA on behalf of the Foundation for New Hampshire Independence (FNHI) shows that while the peaceful separation of New Hampshire from the federal government has low support among politicians, it has significant support among registered voters.

According to an overwhelming number of respondents, the people of the United States are getting more and more divided over important issues like LGBT rights, guns, abortion, election integrity, race relations, involvement in foreign wars, climate change, immigration, and so on (91%).  Nearly as many fear that if this trend continues, it will lead to increases in political violence (89%).

Large majorities of respondents agreed that the federal government doesn’t have their best interests in mind (67%); that it violates their rights more than it protects those rights (65%); that it produces laws, regulations, and court rulings that are incompatible with New Hampshire’s culture of freedom (63%); and that its financial decisions and economic regulations hurt our livelihoods, and could lead to inflation and bankruptcy (77%).

In short, 63% of respondents feel that their state can be trusted more than the federal government.

One possible way forward would be for New Hampshire to begin ignoring federal laws and regulations regarding matters reserved to the States by the 10th Amendment. Fewer than half of respondents believe that the federal government should be able to force New Hampshire to follow federal mandates and laws regarding cannabis (27%), medicine (37%), public health (42%), education (41%), welfare (42%, firearms (42%), businesses (38%), and abortion (33%).

This approach, also referred to as ‘nullification’ is common, currently being utilized by dozens of states, and is consistent with the recent enactment of New Hampshire HB 1178, ‘prohibiting the state from enforcing any federal statute, regulation, or Presidential Executive Order that restricts or regulates the right of the people to keep and bear arms’. 

However, a more comprehensive way forward would be for New Hampshire to reclaim its sovereignty, peacefully separating from the federal government to govern itself as an independent country, an idea that was supported by 29% of respondents and 52% of Republicans. Only 58% of respondents do not support immediate and full secession from the federal government today. More than 2/5 of respondents agreed that the state should be able to do this without securing permission from the federal government (43%). And only 3% of respondents would support the use of military force by the federal government to interfere with such a separation.

Again, while politicians declined to put the question to the people, more than 2/5 of respondents support the idea of placing independence on the ballot (42%) while only 47% currently oppose it.

History is filled with proposals that seemed at first to be politically impossible, but after serious discussion and evolving circumstances, proved to be politically inevitable. To take just one example, shall-issue laws for concealed carry licenses, once viewed as extreme, are now the law in nearly every state. As the results of this poll show, peaceful separation already has more support now than shall-issue laws had in 1990. Today, not only is shall-issue the norm, but 25 states allow their residents to carry concealed guns without even requiring a permit. If New Hampshire independence follows a similar path, it may only be a few short years away from broad adoption. 

The survey also found strong support for independence and extreme discontent with DC politicians among all 8 states polled. In Texas, 90% of Republicans recently endorsed putting secession on the ballot, officially placing the position in their platform. California progressives have a strong independence movement of their own, and surveys show that around half of Californians support or are open to independence from the union. Progressives in Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington also support independence. States like South Carolina, Florida, and many other states have new independence movements that are rapidly growing, as well. 

The post New Hampshire Survey Shows Disdain For DC, Support For Independence appeared first on Foundation for New Hampshire Independence.

Top 100 Reasons New Hampshire Should Be Independent

Foundation for N.H. Independence - Sat, 2021-11-13 01:28 +0000

Over the past few weeks, a group of pro-freedom activists in New Hampshire has been holding informal meetings to brainstorm how to best promote independence in the next legislative session. Predictably, progressive authoritarians have already begun to attack the concepts of independence and liberty. A few conservatives cling to hope that they can fix DC and all 50 states, convince all Democrats to embrace conservative liberty values, and ‘save America’. 

 

I have written dozens of articles, published three books, and produced hundreds of videos making the case for a national divorce from the authoritarians. Here are just 100 reasons why every New Hampshire citizen who supports freedom should support a bill and a ballot referendum on independence from DC. 

 

  1. Without the federal income tax, we’d each save around $25,000/year right off the bat.
  2. The IRS is corrupt, tyrannical, and about to grow by 80,000 employees and billions of dollars. Years ago, they were caught targeting conservatives. Now, they are surely much more polarized and hateful against us. I could live without them.
  3. The ATF is extremely anti-gun. They have been one of the biggest reasons that federal gun control laws have grown increasingly strict. The ATF passes laws and bypasses Congress. Once the murderous criminal, Dave Chipman is confirmed as the new ATF director, things will get much worse. I could live without the ATF. Once we divorce DC by declaring independence from the union, the ATF will no longer have jurisdiction over us. 
  4. The CDC is out of control, and the agency will only ever grow more tyrannical. This was before corona-fascism made the CDC into the most harmful agency to liberty of all 400 illegal executive agencies. By the way, did you know that the CDC took legal ownership over every rental property in the united states?
  5. I don’t trust Joe Biden to run my life or to do anything that could impact me. I have around 28 trillion reasons for distrusting that corrupt, evil, demented sociopath. 
  6. I don’t trust Congress to run my life. They have proven time and again that they support authoritarian socialism. Even with majorities in the House and the Senate and even with Trump in the White House, Congress did nearly nothing to expand liberty. But they did pass many laws that violated my natural rights. 
  7. The federal government benefits from terribly untrustworthy elections, such as the one in 2020. Once HR1 passes into law, all elections in the united states will be required to abide by the same insane rules that caused us all to doubt the legitimacy of the 2020 election.
  8. Once HR51 passes into law, DC will be a state, complete with two more hardcore socialist Senators. The Democrats will control the Senate forever.
  9. If you aren’t a big fan of sobriety checkpoints, you’ll be happy to learn that they are federally funded. Once we divorce the feds, it’s unlikely that any local police dept. will spend the money on the checkpoints. 
  10. If you aren’t a big fan of immigration checkpoints, you’ll be happy to learn that they are federally funded and/or conducted. Once we divorce the feds, it’s unlikely that any local police dept. will spend the money on the checkpoints. 
  11.  Local cops only use tanks, drones, BEARcats, and other aggressive military gear against us because the feds give them those toys. Once we cut ties with DC, our local cops will return to their proper role as peace officers instead of acting as soldiers against us.
  12. One of the reasons that Dictator Sununu locked us down and derailed our economy involved pressure and money from DC encouraging him to do so. 
  13. If you don’t like being forced to pay for the DC politicians to wage futile endless wars in dozens of countries all over the world while veterans, women, and babies in our own communities starve on the streets, it means you want to separate from DC. 
  14. If you are ready to give up on the war on drugs and stop sending cops to homes to punish people for consuming a plant, separating from DC is the first step you must take. DC politicians STILL consider cannabis a schedule one top-tier dangerous substance that is 100% illegal to possess. 
  15. Do you love it when cops steal your property (car, house, money, guns, etc.) without convicting you of a crime? Well, federal law allows law enforcement to seize any property that could be involved in a past, present, or even future crime. And the feds have ‘extended’ that authority to state and local cops. Once we sever ties with DC, cops in NH lose the power of civil asset forfeiture.
  16. If you ever wondered why bad cops almost never receive any punishment, you should know that ‘qualified immunity’ is a federal doctrine. Without DC, local cops become much more accountable to their neighbors.
  17. The millions of federal regulations cost businesses over 2 trillion dollars each year in lost productivity. Once we divorce DC, our businesses will truly be able to unleash their creativity, making New Hampshire more prosperous than we could ever imagine.
  18. Who should decide whether NH accepts illegal aliens or Afghan refugees? Biden and Pelosi or our governor and legislature?
  19. Are you tired of being ruled by nine lawyers in long black robes who live in DC and have the power of Gods? If five out of the nine rule a certain way, that becomes the law for all 330,000,000 people in the united states.  
  20. The federal reserve and DC politicians have overseen a decline in 99% of the US dollar’s purchasing power over the past century.
  21. DC politicians have run up a debt of 28 trillion dollars and counting. And they claim that you and I are responsible for it. 
  22. Nearly every politician has ambitions and eventually wishes to be sent to DC. This affects nearly every decision they make. Once DC is no longer in their minds, they will focus on what is most important: you.
  23. Federal law enforcement (including the FBI) have shown themselves to be thoroughly corrupt. Even conservative commentators like Dan Bongino have called for their abolition. A few months ago, the FBI and other federal cops came to New Hampshire and violently kidnapped six of my friends. They are charging them with crimes that could result in them spending the remainder of their lives in federal prison. Their excuse? That my friends committed some victimless crimes by using and selling cryptocurrency. Once we leave DC, that will never happen again. 
  24. Want a suppressor so that you can save your hearing? They are only illegal because the feds prohibit them. Without the feds, NH would be totally free, and you could put a suppressor on your SBR without any worries. 
  25. Are you worried about increasingly strict EPA restrictions on vehicles, houses, and everything else? Once we divorce DC, they will have no jurisdiction over us.
  26. Are you sick of random federal judges issuing injunctions that overrule actual laws passed by Congress or state legislatures? An independent NH would not have to worry one bit about federal judges.
  27. The DC politicians are destroying the once-mighty American military. Their current secretary of defense and commander-in-chief continually insist that the #1 priority for their military is pleasing LGBT individuals. An independent New Hampshire could have a military with a top priority of defending us against hostile militaries. As it should be.
  28. Have you accumulated a respectable net worth? Soon, the federal government will tax your net worth each year in addition to all of the other taxes. 
  29. The US Congress literally does not represent you or me.
  30. The federal government hates you. Especially if you are white. 
  31. Multiple federal court rulings have declared that the first amendment does not protect any speech that is insulting, especially towards a government agent. 
  32. Right now, even policies that you think are set by state lawmakers are really controlled by the feds via extortion. 
  33. If the thought of Pelosi’s Capitol Police Force growing worries you …. You might support NH independence from DC. 
  34. If you would rather have your highway taxes spent on highways … You might be a NHexiter.
  35. Do you think that Facebook and Twitter are too powerful and too damaging to liberty? Federal law grants them effective immunity from lawsuits while also granting them the power to manipulate content. They get to act as both a publisher and a platform, whichever suits them at the moment. 
  36. If you support sound, free-market money like gold and silver (and crypto) ….You already support NHexit. It’s only a matter of time before the feds ban them.
  37. If you are afraid that Donald Trump might become President again …. You just might be a NHexiter.
  38. If you are afraid that Kamala Harris might become President…. You just might be a NHexiter.
  39. If you think that Title IX is a major reason that free speech and due process in colleges were destroyed, you support NHexit.
  40. If you believe that boys should not have a free pass to the girls’ bathrooms, locker rooms, and showers, you support NH independence. 
  41. If you can’t count the billions of federal laws….you might support independence.
  42. The FDA hurts and kills patients by stifling innovation and preventing people from using medications until the FDA spends decades of time and billions of dollars approving them.
  43. Cutting ties with DC would immediately and drastically cut prices and improve the availability of drugs like epinephrine, insulin, loperamide, and many others. 
  44. DC politicians use the federal department of education to brainwash your children to hate freedom. Once we are independent, that goes away.
  45. The federal government believes that showing online ads to specific cohorts is a crime.
  46. If you are not comfortable with the REAL ID becoming a dystopian federal identification card, you might be an NHexit supporter.  
  47. Support in Congress for a magazine ban is getting very close to a majority. In a few years, your magazines will be federally illegal. 
  48. Once HR127 passes Congress, every firearm will be effectively illegal. Hope you’re ready to turn in your guns to the feds! You are a patriot and not a criminal, so you’d never violate federal law, right? 
  49. It is very likely that Congress (or federal regulators) ban armor plates for all civilians very soon. Hope you’re ready to turn in your plates!
  50. Even the best ‘conservatives’ in DC are working with Bloomberg to take away your guns.
  51. Technically speaking…the federal government should not exist anymore. 
  52. Federal judges have ruled that police have no legal obligation to protect you. 
  53. The federal government thinks it can take your property by force, as long as it plans to use the property for anything that could benefit the government, including giving your property to companies like Pfizer. Without DC, states and localities have no power of eminent domain (AKA theft of property).
  54. Federal politicians from Biden to McConnell and everyone in between consistently sell us out to oligarchs like Putin and Xi to enrich themselves. 
  55. We can’t take power back from Congress, even with a Convention of States.
  56. The DC politicians incentivize single motherhood and discourage employment. 
  57. If you don’t believe that global warming is the biggest threat to our lives, you should not be in the same union as DC, the federal government, and the other states. 
  58. If you don’t appreciate being spied on by the NSA and other creepy DC agents and politicians, you should consider divorcing them. 
  59. If you don’t want to support the Taliban by providing them with money and military weapons and helicopters, you should leave the union and stop paying federal taxes. 
  60. The federal government considers people guilty until proven innocent – the opposite of how it was supposed to be. Peaceful protesters have been receiving punishments in prison for months despite never being convicted. If you support due process, you support NHexit.
  61. The federal TSA regularly violates our natural rights, despite literally missing 95% of actual threats. 
  62. DC politicians maintain a horrifically managed ‘no-fly list’, which mistakenly puts many people (including babies) onto the list, preventing them from flying. It’s also nearly impossible to get off of the list. 
  63. Conservatives from Candace Owens to Matt Walsh have spoken in support of state independence from DC. 
  64. Federal government leaders believe that if you don’t wear all the masks they recommend and if you don’t get all of the vaccines they recommend, you are just like the Taliban suicide bombers. 
  65. DC politicians prohibit beneficial pipelines that would have been amazing for our national security and economy while simultaneously supporting pipelines for nations that are hostile to us. 
  66. Who is arming the violent Mexican drug cartels? Federal agents from DC!
  67. The federal government has kidnapped innocent Japanese people and put them in concentration camps. New Hampshire has never done that. And they couldn’t ever do that. Because we all have lots of guns. 
  68. The US government banned firearms and ammunition from Russia. New Hampshire would never do that.
  69. The US government puts many kids in cages at the border. New Hampshire would handle immigration in a much more sensible and humane way. 
  70. Things will literally never change for the better. Even with Trump in the White House and Republicans controlling Congress and the SCOTUS, freedom only diminished and tyranny continued to grow.
  71. New Hampshire citizens are the hardest workers and earn the most money, which is demonstrated by our continent-leading median household income. We don’t need DC politicians to be wealthy.
  72. New Hampshire is the freest state. Nearly all of our issues are caused by federal laws. Once we are independent, we will be almost 100% free to live as we please!
  73. New Hampshire is the safest state. We don’t need DC or other states bringing violence to our peaceful paradise. 
  74. Half of the people in the united states believe that Biden was legitimately elected and that Republicans are all traitors, while the other half believes that Biden lost the election and progressives are traitors. How could one country be united if its people hate each other so much? 
  75. The DC politicians now feel so entitled to infinite power that they essentially ban medications that could help treat COVID, such as hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin. 
  76. DC politicians are so arrogant that they no longer feel the need to pass legislation in Congress; they now use executive orders to pass new laws, including the most recent one forcing all private companies in the united states with over 100 employees to vaccinate their employees or test them for COVID weekly. This will affect 80 million employees. If you don’t want DC sociopaths coming between you and your employer (or you and your doctor), you support independence. 
  77. When conservative states began having success treating COVID with monoclonal antibodies Biden and DC politicians began to BLOCK the life-saving treatments from getting to pro-freedom anti-Biden states like Alabama and Florida, potentially causing people to die.
  78. DC politicians have made it clear that they will continue to prioritize foreign nationals and illegal immigrants over American citizens like you and me.
  79. On the other hand, DC politicians have made it very clear that Cuban immigrants are not welcome here (because they tend to vote for freedom and against communism). 
  80. The Biden IRS is now going to monitor every bank account with over $600 in it so that they can tax all people who make any money in any way. Those who receive more than $600 in PayPal transactions in a year will also be subject to taxation, according to experts. Peaceful separation solves this IRS issue because the IRS would no longer have any jurisdiction over us. 
  81. When NH adopted federal food laws, it made selling mushrooms illegal, among many other prohibitions. Now, the only way to make it legal for anyone in NH to sell mushrooms is to create more regulation requiring ‘licenses’, which is somewhat counterproductive. The only other way to make mushrooms legal in NH would be to sever ties with DC. 
  82. Dictator Biden nominated an actual Soviet communist to be the comptroller of the currency. If you don’t want your country’s financial system to be run by an avowed communist, you support separation from DC.  
  83. On 10/8/21, the preliminary deal on a GLOBAL tax on businesses was officially agreed to. A total of 136 countries have signed onto the measure, guaranteeing that they will work together to stomp out businesses seeking to evade taxes by implementing at least a 15% tax on them, no matter where they come from. Once New Hampshire becomes a self-governing state, its low (or absent) tax on business could attract so much business to the state that it could cause the biggest economic boom in world history. 
  84. Dictator Biden’s OSHA implemented a vaccine mandate for nearly every worker in the united states. It is extremely unlikely that an individual could beat this in federal courts or via federal legislation. Separating from the union is actually the more practical way to nullify this mandate. 
  85. A federal law to require all new cars to have passive drunk-driving monitoring technology is about to go into effect, making all cars in the united states more expensive and much more intrusive. The law does not specify, but the new technology may be tantamount to perpetual breathalyzers and/or eye monitoring in every car. 
  86. The medical system and all medical institutions in the united states are becoming increasingly racist towards whites, and it all starts with DC politicians. 
  87. The Supreme Court is composed of 9 judges. The SCOTUS is perhaps the most powerful entity in the united states now. These nine judges are either evil or mentally retarded. They certainly do not believe in freedom. Is that who you want to be ruled by?
  88. The US House of Representatives passed legislation that would take over control of elections, taking the power that always resided with the states and granting it to DC politicians. Among the many measures in the legislative package was a law that prohibited any election in the united states from requiring ID in order to vote. New Hampshire citizens who would like to retain their voter ID law must either support secession or give up voter ID forever once this federal law passes. 
  89. DC politicians just passed a law mandating that all vehicles made after 2026 be equipped with perpetual monitoring systems to detect ‘impaired driving’. The vehicles must also have ‘kill switches’ that allow cops to turn them off at any moment. If you don’t like this policy, secession is the only solution. 
  90. In the summer of 2022, federal government will begin to require facial recognition/uploading pictures of your face in order to access tax/ documents on the IRS website.
  91. The President announced that the next US Supreme Court Judge he nominates will be a black woman. Upon joining the court, she will likely hear a massively important case involving ‘affirmative action’.
  92. DC politicians are literally stealing our organs. In 2021, a policy change at UNOS essentially caused nearly all organs from donors in New Hampshire to be sent to NYC, CT, and MA, harming New Hampshire’s patients who desperately need organs to live. DC is viciously fighting NH legislation that would allow Granite Staters to state their preference that their neighbors be granted priority over foreigners if they pass away with viable organs. 
  93. The brilliant experts in DC are using $30,000,000 in taxpayer funds to give out drug paraphernalia, including crack pipes, to drug users. The statement from the DC politicians specifically mentioned that they are being distributed primarily to minorities and that they are to be used for illegal drugs. 
  94. Our Lords in DC believe that they must force New Hampshire to build more housing projects so that our state could look more like the Bronx.  
  95. Our brilliant Lords in DC are destroying our savings and devaluing our salaries by printing so much money that annual inflation is now at a frightening 9.1% annual rate.
  96. DC politicians have been forcing you and me to pay for dangerous bioweapons labs in Ukraine for years. 
  97. Your federal tax dollars are being used to pay Tik Tok influencers to create and promote propaganda approved by Dictator Biden. If you don’t want to be forced to fund such endeavors, you may want to consider secession. 
  98. If you don’t enjoy paying $6 billion for the annual NIAID budget doled out by Anthony Fauci to fund foreign bioweapons labs and development and approval of ludicrously expensive patented pharmaceuticals and suppress use of cheap off-patent drug, you should consider supporting a vote of NH residents to leave the union.
  99. The federal government violates free speech in numerous ways. Leaving their jurisdiction solves these issues and restores freedom of speech, expression, press, association, and worship. 
  100. The federal government is increasingly racist. Most recently, Dictator Biden nominated a black woman to be a judge on the highest court because of her gender and skin color. Ironically, she will likely soon be ruling on an affirmative action case. 

 

The post Top 100 Reasons New Hampshire Should Be Independent appeared first on Foundation for New Hampshire Independence.

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