Sunday • December 29 • 2024
Vol.XVI • No.LII
Manchester, N.H.
Recurrent airline accidents involving Boeing jets have triggered both public alarm and government scrutiny. Despite assurances that manufacturing safeguards would be improved following two high-profile Boeing plane accidents in 2018 and 2019 that caused the deaths of 346 people, recent whistleblower revelations of a “broken safety culture” at the company have prompted ire from federal regulators. They have also attracted the attention of the US Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), which held a June 18 hearing not-so-subtly dubbed “Boeing’s Broken Safety Culture: CEO Dave Calhoun Testifies.”
A Series of AccidentsIn March, a Boeing 777 embarrassingly lost a wheel at takeoff from San Fransico, forcing an emergency landing in Los Angeles. In January, a door flew off a 737 Max-9 mid-air at takeoff in Portland, Oregon; another 737 Max was caught in a “Dutch roll” incident in May that is under FAA investigation. The Senate investigations followed. As ranking PSI member Ron Johnson (R-WI) explained, “Whistleblower allegations coupled with recent incidents of aircraft malfunctions have raised concerns about the safety of Boeing airplanes.” This month, the FAA announced it is investigating Boeing and Airbus for using titanium in their planes that came with paperwork verifying its authenticity that could have been falsified.
In his opening statement at the June 18 hearing, PSI Chairman Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) delivered a scathing rebuke to the company:
Graft and Stonewalling“For a while, some started to believe that Boeing might have changed. But then this past January, the façade literally blew off the hollow shell that had been Boeing’s promises to the world. Once that chasm was exposed, we learned that there was virtually no bottom to the void that lay below. PSI started this investigation after current Boeing Quality Engineer Sam Salehpour came forward to disclose alleged shortcuts in the production of 787 and 777 aircraft that could pose catastrophic safety risks over time. …Our investigation has proceeded since we first heard from him, and we have heard from many others. We have more than a dozen whistleblowers by this point, and we encourage more to come forward.”
The concurrence of jet malfunctions and multiple graft allegations threaten more accidents and a loss of public confidence in the airline industry. Seeking accountability from Boeing, Congress faces a loss of its own: Hundreds of civilians have died, but shoddy safety protocols, fraud, and punishment of whistleblowers persist. Moreover, Boeing is accused by Ron Johnson of recalcitrance in cooperating with the PSI inquiry:
“…While Boeing has produced approximately 1.7 million pages of records, the vast majority of those records consist of raw data that do not appear to be responsive to the Subcommittee’s requests. …The Subcommittee also wrote to FAA requesting its assessments and risk-based reviews of Boeing 777 and 787 aircraft, among other records. FAA continues to fail to provide those documents.”
The integrity of materials, manufacturing, and inspection are vitally important to the airline industry and the human lives, both civilian and military, that rely upon them. Titanium is a very expensive, high-performance steel integral to the airline and aerospace industry. It is manufactured with varying properties and tolerances, as required for particular applications under intense flight stress. Sheet titanium is also precious, making mis-certification of materials a potentially lucrative venture. In one case, a Massachusetts father-and-son duo were sentenced to jail for sandblasting and re-stamping titanium with the manufacturer’s mark of a different titanium mill and fabricating certificates regarding origin and satisfaction of advanced aerospace quality standards.
Boeing CEO GrovelsThe degree and diversity of potential safety flaws alleged against Boeing are troubling. The company denies any safety risks or wrongdoing, while its CEO David L. Calhoun acknowledges the magnitude of its responsibility:
“Nearly every second, a Boeing commercial or defense product takes off and lands somewhere around the world, making us responsible for the safety of millions of passengers and flight crews every day, including our men and women in uniform.”
Chairman Blumenthal argued forcefully for the need to improve safety standards at Boeing, but claimed the company has not done enough:
“Boeing is making some leadership changes, but they look more like management musical chairs, moving the same people to different roles within the company – people who may have been responsible and should be held accountable.”
Blumenthal emphasized that Boeing and the airline industry face “an opportunity to change a broken safety culture.” Sadly, once the public loses trust in the safety of air travel, it may become impossible for Boeing to re-stamp its mark of goodwill on its tarnished jets.
John Klar is an Attorney, farmer, and author. Mostly farmer… And Regular Contributor to GraniteGrok and VermontGrok.
The post Night Cap: Industry Fraud Brings Down Boeing Planes appeared first on Granite Grok.
Everybody, and I mean EVERYBODY, knows that BidenX was kept in private the week before THE debate, on extensive bedrest, and received a drug cocktail prior to the debate. Everyone else, that is, except BidenX. In what is left of his mind—and that obviously is NOT much—BidenX was traveling around the world.
That, and not the fact that he is nonfunctional after 4 PM because he suffers from dementia, is why he spent long stretches of the debate with his mouth wide open, staring vacantly at who knows what.
The post BidenX Blames Debate Disaster On … Being Sleepy From Traveling Around The World appeared first on Granite Grok.
For years, people groused about the high taxes in my town, so the Budget Committee Chair, at the time, asked me (knowing I was a “data guy”) to look into it – so I did. The comparison was against the 30-odd other towns that were “close enough” in size and population to make reasonable estimates for the 25 or so job descriptions.
I posted the results on GilfordGrok at the time so that EVERYONE could see not just the results but all the work and sources that went into it; I basically challenged people to pick it apart. From memory, I think only two points were made, and they were transposed digits.
The results showed that for just about every job description, Gilford paid more than most, placing either first, second, third, or fourth – except for the DPW folks—their union reps were rotten negotiators, and most other towns’ DPWs paid much better. That report circled around the towns surrounding Lake Winnipesaukee for years!
It became clear that the old idea that the private sector paid better for TOTAL compensation had been flipped on its head. Government, by far, was much more expensive than the equivalent private sector jobs sharing the same descriptions. And in the intervening decade and a half, it hasn’t changed much.
At the general level (reformatted, emphasis mine):
Employer Cost Synopsis
- Government Wages Plus Benefits: $61.27
- Private Wages and Benefits: $43.78
- Government Wages: $37.90
- Private Wages: $30.76
Government hourly wages are 23.2 percent more than private workers on average. Benefits are the real killer. Government total compensation is 39.9 percent more than private workers.
Now do teachers:
Teachers make $37.90 per hour in direct wages. But they make a whopping $79.38 per hour in total benefits. Benefits for teachers are a mere 109 percent of wages.
However, while I mentioned my hamlet (and I wish I hadn’t deleted GilfordGrok years ago), they were pikers compared to the socialist Chicago Teachers Union—$50 billion dollars. Now, go ask those teachers how many of their students can read and do math at the Proficient level, and don’t be drinking hot liquids when you find out.
The post You Are Paying Your Public Servants 39.9% More Than You Make To Do the “Same” Job appeared first on Granite Grok.
If you thought the biggest, most brazen political lie from this past week was “Joe Biden is sharp as a tack,” you would be wrong. That prize has to go to Vermont state Representative Mike Mrowicki (D-Putney), who said in an op-ed that he and the Democrat/Progressive supermajority “…lowered property tax rates — with a yield bill that’s fiscally responsible.”
Lowered property tax rates? Um…. No. You raised property taxes by an average of 13.8 percent. And in no way, shape, or form was that fiscally responsible.
Sorry, dude, but your ludicrous attempt at a Jedi mind trick isn’t going to fool Vermont property owners when we discover this month in hard numbers what this 14 percent property tax INCREASE really means for us. And I’ve got to say that sticking your constituents with an unprecedentedly enormous property tax hike – roughly three to five times the usual annual increases which were bad enough, and over the Governor’s veto by the way — and then patting yourselves on the back because it could have been even higher is nauseating. Especially when you “lowered” (LOL!) the property tax by screwing another $25 million out of us through two new taxes on internet-based software ($14.7 million) and short-term rentals ($11.8 million), which, sad irony, many Vermonters have to resort to pay their freakin’ unaffordable property taxes.
Heaping three tax increases for a total of roughly $200,000,000 on a state with about 240,000 households on top of what is already one of the brutally taxed populations in the nation in a time of high inflation is fiscally responsible? How, for whom, and on what planet? Not the people paying the taxes in Vermont, Earth, that’s for sure!
But some other recent op-eds on this topic (almost as infuriating as Mrowicki’s) do shine some light on those questions.
Don Tinney, writing in Vermont Digger, described the vote to override the governor’s veto and initiate the giant sucking sound emanating from our bank accounts as an act of “political courage.” Of course, Tinney is the president of the Vermont Teachers’ Union (VNTEA), and that wasn’t a soap box he was standing on to deliver his message but a massive, boxcar-sized pallet of cash — ours to be exact – giftwrapped and delivered to his doorstep by Mrowicki and his colleagues. “Courage” indeed! And, no, it’s not an act of political courage by a politician to pay off a powerful special interest group at the expense of his constituents.
Tinney’s pot shot at the Governor is also revealing when he accuses Scott of offering “no plan to find the necessary revenues [emphasis added] to support an education system that meets the needs of young Vermonters and their families. ‘No new taxes’ is neither a plan nor effective public policy.” Well, one could argue that the $2 billion the state already collects from us every year to the tune of nearly $25,000 per student – second highest spending levels in the nation – already amounts to having found the “necessary revenues” for schools, were they competent, to do their job, and that “no new taxes” is quite an appropriate policy under these circumstances. “Cut the taxes” might even be more appropriate! Because what young Vermonters and their families need more than anything is to be able to afford a place to live, and that includes the taxes on that place.
Flor Diaz Smith, president of the Vermont School Boards Association, also put pen to paper to defend the property tax increases, citing as her main reason the creation in the yield bill of a new Commission on the Future of Public Education that will “get to the root causes” of the crisis. Excuse me but BARF!
A more accurate title for this $200,000 waste of time and even more taxpayer money would be Commission on Maintaining an Ever Increasing Flow of Taxpayer Funds to a Failing, Unsustainable Bureaucratic Quagmire Despite the Overwhelming Public Outcry for Tax Relief.
This new thirteen-member panel is a phalanx of tax and spend special interests – the VTNEA, the Principals Association, the Superintendents Association, the School Boards Association… all the people who think taxing Vermonters out of their homes to enrich themselves is an act of “political courage.” Its mission is not to find ways to cut costs and improve outcomes. It is to “…make recommendations for a statewide vision for Vermont’s public education system to ensure that all students are afforded substantially equal educational opportunities in an efficient, sustainable, and stable education system.” Blah, blah, blah. Translation: to use union boss Tinney’s own words, this commission’s job is to “find the necessary revenues” to keep the gravy train running.
If you watched the committee discussions regarding the creation of this farcical body, as your humble writer did, you’d know that its final report on this “vision for Vermont’s public education system” will be nothing more than a wish list for new and increased spending and programs. Someone dressed in a Santa suit should be brought into the statehouse so these lobbyists can sit on his lap when presenting the Commission’s recommendations – in December 2025!
You read that date right. What this bill does is kick the can on any potential meaningful reform (while assuring it won’t be meaningful; belt and suspenders just to be safe) until the 2026 legislative session, which means nothing in effect until 2027 at the earliest. So, if you can’t afford your property taxes this year, you won’t for sure be able to afford them next year, the year after that, or the year after that. And then… we can take bets on what happens.
My guess it will sound an awful lot like Representative Emilie Kornheiser’s (D-Battleboro) admonishment of her Ways & Means Committee this year, “There’s no decision on no taxes here. That’s just not an option.” Or Representative Brian Cina’s (D/P-Burlington) infamous, “Madam Speaker, read my lips. Yes new taxes!” That is if these folks are still around next year and beyond. The voters do have a say in that this November. Rob Roper is a freelance writer with 20 years of experience in Vermont politics, including three years of service as chair of the Vermont Republican Party and nine years as President of the Ethan Allen Institute, Vermont’s free-market think tank. He is also a regular contributor to VermontGrok.
The post No, a 14% Property Tax Increase is Not a Decrease. appeared first on Granite Grok.
The NH Suicide Prevention Council (NHSPC) is lobbying against protecting children from genital mutilation and preserving girls’ sports and private spaces.
At their April meeting, The NHSPC approved a position statement opposing gender-identity bills on Gov. Chris Sununu’s desk:
The Position on Stigmatization of LGBTQ+ Persons in Legislation states:
Specifically, removing supportive spaces including in families, schools, and communities for LGBTQ+ youth increases suicide risk, while supporting LBTQ+ youth and families through access to affirming spaces and necessary health care decreases this risk.
Related: The Trans Suicide Myth and Blackmail Politics
The council’s claims are based on an online survey about suicide ideation solicited by the Trevor Project, an advocacy group pushing the medical transition of children. They support their claim that youth benefit from gender-affirming health care by citing a discredited study by Dianna Tordoff, which tracked subjects receiving hormonal interventions for just a year and based its claims of success on a comparison to a control group that dwindled from 92 to only seven subjects.
Despite the claim that they use a “data-driven approach to inform council decision making,” the statement ignores data from the England Health Service’s Cass Review, as well as the findings of many other countries and medical associations about the dangers of gender-affirming care.
The Cass Review concluded that although the suicide rate is higher for trans-identifying youth it is still rare, and “Suicide risk appears to be comparable to other young people with a similar range of health and psychosocial challenges.”
Contrary to the NHSPC statement, the Cass Review also found that there is no sound evidence that social transitioning and medical interventions improve mental health. “There is not a reliable evidence base upon which to make clinical decisions, or for children and their families to make informed choices.”
Even discussing possible legislation to save girls’ sports and protect children from what every systematic review has concluded are harmful, experimental treatments can cause suicidal ideation, according to the council’s statement:
The introduction of these bills this session has already caused harm to the LGBTQ+ youth in our state. No young person should have to hear conversations that paint their identities as inherently problematic.
The NHSPC ignores warnings from experts that they are endangering youth by teaching them that they are suicidal. A 2017 suicide prevention guide approved by all of the major LGBTQ organizations, including the Trevor Project, states:
Suicide deaths are almost always the result of multiple overlapping causes. Linking suicide directly to external factors like bullying, discrimination, or anti-LGBT laws can normalize suicide by suggesting that it is a natural reaction to such experiences or laws.
The NHSPC was established in 2008. By law, its membership includes representatives from pro child-transing organizations such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the NH Disabilities Rights Center, the Endowment for Health, and New Futures. Dartmouth Health’s Injury Prevention Center also has a seat. Dartmouth Health uses the trans suicide myth to coerce lawmakers and parents to allow them to administer puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to children.
The NHSPC did not respond to a request for comment.
The post NH Youth Will Die if Sununu Signs Bills, Suicide Prevention Council Threatens appeared first on Granite Grok.
Every election year, Norm Sibler invites folks and Republican candidates to his home to meet and speak. (By the way, the views from his home are spectacular.) And there was pretty much a full house, including both gubernatorial candidates and those running for local, state, and federal office.
And was there a buffet! Despite the overabundance of temptation (I am a diabetic), I managed to keep from going crazy. A small helping of delicious bean casserole and an equally small helping of potato au gratin was the main transgression, but there were two or three cookies during my time there. They were good too.
About those candidates. I was only able to share pleasantries with most as they were in popular demand, as could be expected. Kelly Ayotte allowed me a few moments so I asked about her views on all the anti-Semitism in our schools and colleges. I’m pleased that she was against this and felt nonstudents had no business on school compasses, to which I concurred and suggested those folks need to be arrested. It was quite noisy, but I think she agreed. Do not quote me. My hearing is terrible even with hearing aids and a crowded room, jeesh.
All the various candidates were given time to speak, and all were well received, with each’s supporters loudly making their feelings known. This is, of course, as it should be on this kind of gathering, and then Lily Tang Williams’s turn came. For those who might have harbored any doubts that because of her small physical stature, she couldn’t hold her own, let me tell you, dynamite doesn’t hold a candle to this lady. She brought the house down! The force of her passion to save America from becoming like the China she escaped from was explosive. The side conversations in the room stopped everyone enthralled, amazed fixed on her words, her commanding presence. When she finished, the room erupted in ovation and cheers.
Norm Silber, master of ceremonies of the event, remarked, how would we like to hear her give her speech on the floor of Congress? The crowd erupted again. To say Lily stole the show is an understatement.
People, we need to send this lady to Washington to represent NH District Two. Forget what you’ve heard or thought or been told; Lily Tang Williams is a gift to NH. Do not miss this opportunity. Our State, our Nation, and we all need her to represent our American values down there.
Reminder: Content about or by candidates is not necessarily an endorsement by GraniteGrok.com or its authors. Grok authors are free to endorse whomever they choose.The post Candidates Night in the Lakes Region appeared first on Granite Grok.
Give me another week or so and I should be able to pick up Wednesday again.
Speaking of, from this week, Monday Edition. Also check out my latest Israel-focused meme & commentary post if this is a subject of interest to you.
*** Warning, definitely a few off-color ones, in case tender eyes are about ***
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See “Pick of the Post” too.
Flip it. Imagine if someone put out there – even knowing full well they had no intention, even in pure jest – that they thought killing trans people was “funny and awesome”…
The Shia version of the Messiah cannot come until there is a global war. To them, WW3 is not a bug or something to be avoided; it’s a feature in bringing paradise to earth. Well, their version of, anyway.
Now I know he’s funding a seed bank in general, which IMHO is not a bad thing in general. But with him involved, I don’t trust it.
Has anyone actually seen this?
I was talking to a friend this morning and he agrees that the DS will do “something” to keep Trump from getting in. What, don’t know. But they know they can’t allow him to become President again.
Before the kitchen remodel put us back into debt (dammit!) our property taxes alone cost me almost $800 a month.
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PSA – PSA – PSA – PSA – PSA
Remember, they’re MISSIONARIES filled with Marxianic Zeal. And the Lord their Marx is a jealous deity.
E Marxianic Zeal
Remember, they’re willing to replace you, and have those replacements kill you.
E Big Conspiracy Electing a New Population
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RINO. Showing his true colors.
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Link Section (from my Jarhead friend; I’ll be back on them on Monday):
The US Marines have some good ideas for fighting a war with China (or defending Taiwan from China), but will the Navy give them the ships they need?:
The US Marines: They’ve Got the Answer, but Not the Ships | The Epoch Times
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More on the concentration camps (for American dissidents) that are being set up in all 50 states:
https://americafirstreport.com/large-scale-prisons-being-secretly-erected-in-all-50-states-housing-for-illegals-or-concentration-camps-for-americans/
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Several senior FDA doctors who questioned the Covid-19 “vaccine” (and rightly so, we now know), were let go (fired) so the Biden Administration could ram the vaccine FDA approval through and then mandate it:
https://www.drvinayprasad.com/p/woodcock-and-marks-at-fda-forced
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This is a map of all the food processing plants that have burned, or had some other major disaster happen to them (putting them out of business) in the last 4 years. NOTE: In the past 30 years, we’ve averaged about 4 food plants a year having a major fire. Why the sudden major increase to HUNDREDS?:
https://x.com/DailyNoahNews/status/1752777234706821370
N adds: And what are the odds of two battery-related plants igniting nearly simultaneously (look at the dates)?
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Jeffery Tucker of the Epoch Times writes about the economic lies the government is pushing at us vs. economic reality:
Is the Global Inflationary Depression Already Here? | The Epoch Times
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The WEF now is looking at finding ways to “corporatize” oxygen. Yes, the colorless, odorless gas that helps sustain life on our planet. We can’t have anything that is FREE, you see; because they can’t make a profit (or control) something that is FREE!:
Moonbattery World Economic Forum May Come for Oxygen – Moonbattery
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The Feds are trying to force a huge windmill project in the Gulf of Maine (1000 turbines) which will destroy lobstering, fishing, and whale habitat:
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2024/07/02/feds-say-damn-the-whales-in-the-gulf-of-maine
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A few Antifa members finally get prison sentences. Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg, and we need to see HUNDREDS of these type of convictions:
Common Cents Blog: Antifa Terrorists sentenced to prison time (felonies) for attacking Trump supporters! RePost (commoncts.blogspot.com)
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For my Jewish friends, keep your head on a swivel:
Mob Attacks Jews at North Carolina Public Library – ISRAPUNDIT
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The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is now working to circumvent the laws put in place banning child sex changes. These doctors are NOT helping our children! It’s another reason why I have lost all faith in the medical profession:
https://dailycaller.com/2024/07/01/exclusive-major-pediatric-medical-org-brainstormed-circumvent-child-sex-change-bans-emails-show
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San Francisco really is the Sodom and Gomorrah of the West Coast (warning, some of the links in the article are pretty graphic):
California Cops Stand Idly By As Men Expose Themselves, Pee On Each Other At Event Open To Kids | The Daily Caller
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TL Davis with a good article about how we are already in a war, it just hasn’t gone kinetic yet. Also, pay attention to the comments, they lay out a good method of fighting back.:
Be A Comanche – by T.L. Davis – T.L.’s Posts and Podcasts (substack.com) (bolding added):
We have to worry about ourselves, our families, our land. We might look like a bunch of scattered tribes to them. They might have even been able to tribalize us for this very purpose. What we do know is that they have done everything possible to achieve this over a ninety year period. A homogenous society is a strong society, a fractured society is a weak society. Homogenous does not exclude blacks, some who have been on this land as long as we have, or Hispanics or Indians which have been here longer than we have. It is a love of the land, of home, of history that makes us homogenous against those who have not been here and do not love anything about America anymore than the Vikings loved Britain. That those in charge of the United States, at this point, agree with them is the problem we face.
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Pick of the Post:
Now to just kick out this month-long celebration of debauchery. Entirely. Permanently. Speaking of, this is some IMHO interesting background about the sexualization of kids:
Why Does the Left Insist on Sexualizing Children? – YouTube
I agree with the premise. They go after kids not just to pervert them, but make it harder for children to love G-d. Sins are easy; virtue is hard.
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Palate Cleansers:
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TGIF. I’ll show myself out…
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And don’t forget… come back Monday for another edition. Same Meme Time. Same Meme channel.
Please do consider buying me a coffee.
Buy Me a Coffee
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The post Friday Meme Overflow appeared first on Granite Grok.
Robert B. Reich’s columns are always highly partisan and filled with incomplete information, half-truths, or complete lies. For example, Reich asks how we can conduct a Presidential election when Trump’s supporters claim the 2020 election was fraudulent. Reich doesn’t worry about similar continuing claims by Hillary, Stacy Abrams, and Al Gore.
People question the integrity of elections not only because there is much evidence of fraud but because Democrats work so hard to prevent efforts to ensure the integrity of elections. They fight Voter ID, they register illegal aliens, they don’t clean up voter rolls as required by law, etc.
Did the irregularities/fraud in the 2020 election make a difference? Democrats say “no”, and Trump says “yes”, both are opinions. Biden is President.
Reich says Republicans make people lose faith in our justice system by complaining about the mistreatment of January 6 protestors. False!
People question our justice system because Biden made it partisan. January 6ers receive stiff sentences, but Democrats who attack police, harm far more people, violate more laws, and do far more damage are rarely prosecuted.
Hillary destroyed thousands of subpoenaed documents, AGs Holder and Garland, and Trump officials Navarro and Bannon were cited for Contempt of Congress; only Republicans Navarro and Bannon were prosecuted and are being imprisoned.
Biden stole classified documents, kept them unsecured for many years, and used them to help get his $8 million book deal; Biden isn’t being prosecuted. Trump was authorized to have classified documents; they were kept securely, but his house was raided, and he is being prosecuted.
Faith has been lost in our Justice System because Biden created a two-tiered Justice System; Democrats mostly escape prosecution, and the book is thrown at Biden’s opponents.
The post Stop Defending Our Partisan Two-Tiered Justice System appeared first on Granite Grok.
One of the justifications for neutering human beings made dysphoric by a relentless cabal of partisans is that it will reduce the odds they might commit suicide. Strangely, these same people never considered how much lower suicidal ideation was in kids before they started inundating them with confusing gender propaganda.
Think about that.
Not long after schools, libraries, and everyone else started badgering children to question a sexuality that many of them barely understood and were not mentally prepared even to recognize, they started killing themselves in increasing numbers because of that. Let’s see. Hey you. You are in the wrong body. This disturbing adult-child cartoon porn will help us think we’re helping you.
And men in clown makeup and skirts aren’t patronizing to womanhood. That’s social justice. That can be you, and as soon as we can, we’ll put you on dangerous drugs you will have to take for the rest of your life.
Why?
The mental and physical distress these “advocates” have inculcated might drive them to attempt to end their lives. It is sinister. Confuse kids about something they barely understand. Affirm the confusion with inappropriate over-sexualized media and affirmation. Claim the dysphoria (you created) can be cured with drugs and surgery. Act like you saved their life.
But there’s never been solid scientific evidence of that – quite the contrary. Even in the most accepting LGBTQ communities, coping is a serious issue. They still have much higher rates of destructive behavior, including suicidal ideation.
Adding confusing narratives and gender surgery has only made matters worse.
From PubMed Care of NIH.Gov
Individuals who underwent gender-affirming surgery had a 12.12-fold higher suicide attempt risk than those who did not (3.47% vs. 0.29%, RR 95% CI 9.20-15.96, p < 0.0001). Compared to the tubal ligation/vasectomy controls, the risk was 5.03-fold higher before propensity matching and remained significant at 4.71-fold after matching (3.50% vs. 0.74%, RR 95% CI 2.46-9.024, p < 0.0001) for the gender affirmation patients with similar results with the pharyngitis controls.
Conclusion
Gender-affirming surgery is significantly associated with elevated suicide attempt risks, underlining the necessity for comprehensive post-procedure psychiatric support.
It is another case of the cure is the disease. You claim to do it to prevent suicide, and you get more of it instead. But the cure isn’t more post-operative support. Stop playing mind games with other people’s children. We know from other research that if you leave the kids alone, nearly all of them will discover how happy they can be living as their birth sex without hormone therapy or gender surgery.
From the UK to France, the WPATH Files to Pediatrician Organizations, 2024 has been rough for the Trans-Cult, and the Netherlands just piled on.
The majority of gender-confused children grow out of that feeling by the time they are fully grown adults, according to a long-term study. …
The researchers concluded: ‘The results of the current study might help adolescents to realize that it is normal to have some doubts about one’s identity and one’s gender identity during this age period and that this is also relatively common.’
You are not a dinosaur or a princess or Batman, nor are you the opposite sex or any variation in between. But the black progressive heart wants what it wants. The Public Education Industrial Complex, with the help of its political meat-puppets, has been pushing for clinics in schools—mental health clinics to help them manage the multitude of distress they have deliberately created.
Talk about a bad idea. A government institution created to educate children that is unable to teach them to read and do math is probably less equipped to handle anything more complex, but here we are. And the clinics aren’t about mental health, they are a foot in the door to do something more.
A healthcare organization that operates clinics inside Seattle public schools says it can now offer “gender-affirming” hormone treatment to children, emails from a health center program manager reveal. …
The change meant that the group could now give hormone treatments to children, it explained. “While our School-based Health Centers have long offered a continuum of gender-affirming care services including supportive student counseling, promotion of social identity, and health education, this step will allow us to begin offering families access to important medical interventions including hormone treatments,” it states.
If you thought teachers hiding how they were all calling your child by a different name at school was creepy, what do you think about them transing your kid on site? It’s happening.
LD227 in Maine turns the state into a child trafficking destination where the state says it will protect adults who bring children there for hormone treatment or gender surgery.
It has already gone too far while resistance to these so-called acts of gender justice is labeled as discriminatory, bigoted, intolerant, and hateful. Even in the face of growing evidence that gender drugs are harmful and neither prevent nor reduce suicides, the culture appears not just obsessed with protecting these lies. They must.
We (Gen-Z) aren’t just identifying with and glamorising our mental illnesses. Now we seem to be competing over who is more mentally ill. Those without autism and ADHD are said to enjoy “neurotypical privilege”. Then there’s competition within mental health communities. Oh you struggle with your gender identity? Well try struggling with mental illness and gender identity issues, like those who are “autigender” or “neuroqueer”! You’re autistic and that’s hard? Have you tried being an autistic person of colour? Sure, you have ADHD, but have you considered how much worse it is to be neurodivergent without pretty privilege, or someone who isn’t “neurotypical passing”? And don’t you dare say you have Asperger’s and still succeed. Sounds like “aspie supremacy”.
In a world like that, adopting gender dysphoria is easier than putting on a skirt (or removing one). It also gets you a higher position on the victim class totem. Oh yeah, well, I have that and was born in the wrong body, so neh!
Mental illness is a badge of honor while daring to call gender dysphoria a mental illness (DSM-5 says it is) gets you branded a heretic. To say we have a problem is an understatement.
Modernity has made life as easy as it has ever been. But if we stay on our current course, it is going to get a lot harder. Significant portions of our younger generations will be unable to cope – they can barely cope now. And maybe that’s what the globalists want. It is, after all, easier to depopulate our supposedly “crowded” planet if people self-execute. If you neuter them and they live, it’s still a win.
I am curious about what we’ll do with all the extra therapists when the culling of those made-mentally-weak-masses is complete.
Maybe they can learn to code.
Steve’s | Substack
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Larry Bird and Bobby Orr gave me sports memories to fill a lifetime. Neither player was blessed with extraordinary physical traits, but both worked harder than others and studied their craft more than anyone. They had the combination of skill and aptitude for their sport that had them performing at a level that few would experience.
I remember being at the Garden the night that Bird stole the inbound pass in the final seconds against the Pistons, dished to Dennis Johnson, and they turned a playoff loss into an incredible win that had the Garden rocking. My first Bruins game was against the Chicago Blackhawks. The Bruins were down with seconds to go when Number 4 took a slapshot from the blue line, the red light went on, and Bobby Orr saved another day. Bird and Orr were legends in their day, but neither will play again. They will not be on an Olympic team now because of what they did years ago. And so it is with every job in life. You are not in a job because you used to be good. You need to excel today.
I think it is insulting to Americans when Karine Jean-Pierre tells how great Joe Biden was or how his past performance should entitle him to sit in the Oval Office when he is obviously unable to do the job today. It is equally insulting when the Democrats, who have been telling us for three years that we were exaggerating Biden’s mental health, are now in panic mode because their lie was exposed to 50 million people who typed into the debate. I want a President who is ready to serve 24/7, not one who hits the snooze button while we await the missiles fired our way by Putin. Don’t tell me he used to be good. He needs to throw that touchdown pass today, or we lose.
Facts about the real Joe Biden are beginning to leak out of the White House, which is not comforting. These inside revelations confirm what we all knew. The people who have been protecting this man are complicit in making America less safe. They tell of Biden as being irrational and unruly to work with. They tell of Biden only working from 10-4 with a nap squeezed in each afternoon. Even Biden tells how he nearly fell asleep during the debate. Biden now has Hunter Biden sitting in on staff meetings as a special consultant. Joe might think Hunter is the most intelligent person he knows, but that is proof of his poor judgment,
Joe Biden’s cognitive condition is not a political issue. It is a national security issue. The team that protected this aging politician was complicit in putting America at peril. Nothing will ever happen to this treasonous group, and I do not say that lightly. This administration has put power over the country, and Joe Biden was the key to that power. That is why they had to hide him, prop him up, drug him, and take whatever measures necessary to keep him alive. Fortunately for us, and not for them, they let him out after dark to debate Donald Trump, and the whole plan came crashing down in prime time. Joe Biden cannot live on yesterday’s glory, for he may have the longest and least consequential career ever in American politics. He has told so many lies and fabricated so many tales he cannot remember why he spent his entire career in Washington.
The post The People Protecting This Man Are Complicit in Making America Less Safe appeared first on Granite Grok.
Celebrating self-love and inner beauty can be expressed through rings, each one encapsulating a unique facet of the wearer’s journey toward self-discovery and acceptance. Rings, often associated with commitment and unity, take on a profound personal significance when used as a celebration of individuality. They become tangible reminders of the strength found within oneself and the journey towards self-love.
In a world that often emphasizes external validation, this celebration of self-love through jewelry underscores the importance of recognizing and cherishing one’s inner beauty, fostering a deep connection with oneself that goes beyond mere appearances. Let’s have a look at some of the latest rings that suit you best and your individuality.
Different Designs and Styles of Rings
Finger rings come in a multitude of designs and styles, each offering a unique way to celebrate individuality and beauty. Here are some diverse options:
Solitaire Rings: Classic and timeless, solitaire finger rings feature a single stone, typically a diamond, set atop a band. They exude elegance and simplicity, allowing the focus to remain on the singular gem.
Vintage Rings: Vintage-inspired rings often feature intricate detailing, filigree work, and antique-style settings. They evoke a sense of romance and nostalgia, perfect for those who appreciate history and craftsmanship.
Stackable Rings: Stackable rings offer versatility and personalization. You can mix and match different bands, metals, and gemstones to create a remarkable combination that reflects your personality and mood.
Nature-Inspired Rings: The latest rings inspired by nature incorporate motifs such as leaves, flowers, vines, or animals. These designs celebrate the beauty of the natural world and are ideal for nature lovers and free spirits.
Art Deco Rings: Characterized by geometric shapes, bold lines, and intricate patterns, Art Deco finger rings are a stylish choice for those who love vintage glamour and architectural influences.
Bohemian Rings: Bohemian-style rings often feature colorful gemstones, tribal motifs, and organic shapes. They embody a laid-back, eclectic aesthetic and are perfect for free-spirited individuals with a love for travel and adventure.
Minimalist Rings: Minimalist finger rings feature clean lines, understated details, and a focus on simplicity. These latest rings are perfect for those who prefer a subtle and refined aesthetic that still makes a statement.
Symbolic Rings: The latest rings with symbolic motifs, such as hearts, infinity symbols, or meaningful engravings, can carry deep personal significance and serve as constant reminders of love, friendship, or personal beliefs.
Artistic Rings: Artistic finger rings showcase creative and unconventional designs, often incorporating unusual materials, asymmetrical shapes, or avant-garde concepts. They are perfect for those who appreciate wearable art and want to make a bold statement.
Tips To Choose the Right Ring
Choosing the right ring is a significant decision, whether it’s for yourself or someone else. Here are some tips to help you select the perfect ring for yourself:
Each ring is not just a piece of jewelry but a reflection of your unique essence, celebrating the beauty that resides within it. As you adorn yourself with these timeless treasures, may you be reminded to cherish and embrace the radiant soul that you are. Discover the perfect ring that resonates with your spirit today at Tanishq and embark on a lifelong journey of self-affirmation and empowerment. Embrace the beauty within, for it is truly the most precious jewel of all.
The post Love Thyself: Rings that Reflect Your Inner Beauty appeared first on Granite Grok.
Reformatted, emphasis mine:
About the Declaration there is a finality that is exceedingly restful. It is often asserted that the world has made a great deal of progress since 1776, that we have had new thoughts and new experiences which have given us a great advance over the people of that day, and that we may therefore very well discard their conclusions for something more modern. But that reasoning can not be applied to this great charter.
- If all men are created equal, that is final.
- If they are endowed with inalienable rights, that is final.
- If governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, that is final.
No advance, no progress can be made beyond these propositions.
If anyone wishes to deny their truth or their soundness, the only direction in which he can proceed historically is not forward, but backward toward the time when there was no equality, no rights of the individual, no rule of the people. Those who wish to proceed in that direction can not lay claim to progress. They are reactionary. Their ideas are not more modern, but more ancient, than those of the Revolutionary fathers.
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When it’s so obvious that the “average Joe” questions “how can this be,” it really must be a humdinger! Consider our right to freely worship from the following, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…” Compare this clearly defined restriction to the Court’s 1947 Everson v. Board of Education ruling; “The First Amendment has erected ‘a wall of separation’ between church and state.
That wall must be kept high and impregnable.”
Such a case finding, depicting a “wall,” its height and its sturdiness was previously assured with four words: ‘shall make no law.’ Having a constitutional amendment as its enforcement, such later-day fine-tuning is of irrelevant and redundant wordage that, even if not intended, might be for another time and purpose. In fact, by identifying and restricting Congress, our Foregathers barred the only recognized law-making body in government. So, how are these later-day Supreme Court findings from individual cases as weighty as a Congressionally enacted law? Obviously, this is a mismatch and more so when confronting a Constitutional Amendment!
As a result, today’s educational product has been adversely affected by the removal of the Bible from the classroom. There are those who would argue this conclusion, but as this removal remains, so do its overall results.
Compare today’s quality of classroom behavior, the degree of learning, common decency, personal attire, and overall respect, not to mention the possibility of violence. All tend to muffle negative commentary. Based upon the generations that have matriculated over the years, this devaluing has negatively affected current parenting quality. Permissiveness and leniency abound in today’s society, directly contributing to these school results, which all tie into that questionable Supreme Court ruling.
However, there is a glimmer arising as today’s times just might be calling for a return to societal normalization, of which the Bible should also return to command its central role. Recently, the Louisiana Governor signed a law approving a fair-sized display of the Ten Commandments in all public classrooms, a move which the Texas Lt. Governor is also expressing similar intentions of sponsoring.
Long ago, the fallibility of the Supreme Court was affirmed with its finding in the Dred Scott case, indicating the need to revisit the accounting role of the judicial system’s “good behavior” standard. This mandates black robe loyalty to the meaning and intent of the Constitution at the time of its ratification without exception. Another legal hiccup was the Court’s infamous Roe v. Wade decision. Proper jurisprudence returned when three newly appointed jurists joined with the majority to return the abortion issue to the States. Also, this ‘Roe’ finding illustrates the ability to conjure up a right of “privacy” that did not exist Constitutionally.
Recall the fact that Congress, not the Supreme Court, is the only authorized law-making body in government. While ‘times’ are modern compared to that quip of “those old horse and buggy days,” human nature remains stationary due to its very nature! What is missing, accountability, needs a return, and with an eye towards its effective impact, and this is most pressing within our Court systems. Such a need is expected as each branch is charged to watchdog the other two. In a perfect world, this would have little call or need, but human nature never changes, so the world will never be perfect.
This all connects with today’s need to rebuild our American diligence and appreciation for what She represents and offers to us all. Therefore, the government should begin by adhering to an unwritten tradition within the Congressional chamber, even though it may conflict with one’s running beforehand due to a personal religious decision. As it is, today’s Congressional acquiesce irks since prayer was removed from schools based upon the few offended, yet now, the many in Congress agree to conform to the religious traditions of a few new and loudly defiant arrivals?
The title Supreme Court infers that those appointed and confirmed are well versed and qualified as to their Constitutional allegiance rather than from a personal bias. Therefore, when the latest one facing confirmation refused or was unable to define ‘what a woman is,’ this act of defiance reflected upon a possible future jurist’s judicial approach being swayed by a similar personal preference. This should have nullified that confirmation. Having ignored such an indication, the probability of more ‘dreadful’ decision-making or mythical structures being included as a judicial matter of fact just increased!
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Joe Biden claims he believes in the rule of law, but he has no respect for a Supreme Court that currently leans to the Right thanks to the three justices submitted by Donald Trump. As the Democrats like to say, “Elections have consequences,” and in the case of Donald Trump, his election returned the Supreme Court to a Center-Right position.
Our suggestion to you, Joe, is to accept every decision from the Court with grace. The ones you agree with and those you don’t. The Supreme Court arrives at its decisions based on the text of the Constitution, something you have proven you know little about.
You came to the podium on Monday night to whine about the Court’s decision on Presidential immunity. It would be best if you were thankful to the Court, for without this decision, you would face arrest, indictment, and trial for many of your decisions over the last few years. You talk about the sins of Trump, but most people think you are referring to yourself. Joe, you have to take a minute to look in the mirror. You are either in denial, or your mental acuity is worse than we think. You are in Projection Mode, and unfortunately for you, more people are seeing through your facade. It has been painful for three-plus years as we have watched you gaslight the American people. Trump is not the liar, Joe, but you and your entire staff are the masters of misdirection.
I will admit that I admire the organization that is the Democrat Socialist Party. From top to bottom, and by bottom, I mean the media, is consistent in delivering the message. There is nothing substantive in the message, and no look down the road at how you are going to make things better. No, the message is about fear. It is about controlling people by telling them how unable they are to accomplish anything without the government and how the Dems are waiting to help them with open arms. How is that for an unhealthy remark? The government is here to help you. That is precisely what Ronald Reagan warned us about and why no true Republican should ever get into bed with the Executive branch.
When you spoke on Monday, you immediately blamed the January 6 run on the Capital on Trump and his MAGA supporters. You blamed all the deaths from that day on Trump. You do realize, I hope, that you will clarify your claims on this lie. The only people who died were an unarmed woman killed by a Capital Police Officer and four Capital Police who committed suicide after the fact. As a matter of fact, none of the protestors were carrying weapons, and no weapons were confiscated.
You say that this country will be in grave danger if Donald Trump were to be reelected. But haven’t there been far more Fentanyl deaths during your term than Trump’s? Wasn’t the border closed and secure under Trump, and how dangerous you have made America when you cut off the padlocks at the border and made us a porous state? Isn’t Biden Inflation stretching every American household budget? You have made quite a mess of a good situation, which you inherited from Trump. But you bank on every American having a poor memory, and if you gaslight them enough with your lies, you can convince them you are the man for the job. Well, with a 36% approval rating, I don’t think you are convincing too many people. Actually, with that rating, you are almost guaranteed to lose in November. Then, we will see how quickly you accept the word of the people.
The post Somebody Tell Joe He Is Everything He Claims Trump To Be appeared first on Granite Grok.
Remember this headline from a while ago? “BAZINGA! We’ve Made The Big Leagues! GraniteGrok Has Been Flagged By The Southern Poverty Law Center.” In their role as the mouthpiece for the Left (e.g., anything that isn’t Leftist is a HATE GROUP), they labeled The ‘Grok as “Anti-Government.”
I drolly pointed out that they forgot to put “Big” in front of “Government” and brought up the observation that they think that “government distrust” is one of the worst aspects of humanity ever:
Umm, if you read our Founders of our Government, THEY were distrustful of all governments, including the one they were designing. So I’m betting that the SPLC doesn’t like them either (just can’t hoover up money from others over them – I think).
This really is hilarious! Would any of you Normal readers (as opposed to the lunatics on the Left that would give their firstborn to Big Government to keep Big Government big and bigger and some do- it’s called murdering the unborn but I guess that’s why we’re listed by them) agree with them that “distrust” should be banned from our Citizens’ minds? Or do you think we should have no minds at all and just obey what they tell us to think or say?
Steve also pointed out, in support of that bit of history, that “the Southern Poverty Law Center Has Labeled us as … Americans.” So, with that, you can imagine my chagrin at this news: MELTDOWN: SPLC Terminates a Quarter of Staff, ‘Decimates’ 3 Departments, Union Claims. Dontcha love it when a Lefty organization does the dirty to another one? Shades of “Women, children, and Unions hit hardest” ring in my ears!
Emphasis mine, reformatted:
The far-left smear factory the Southern Poverty Law Center reportedly terminated a quarter of its staff Wednesday, weakening and perhaps eliminating two of its departments amid a restructure that heavily hit its union members. The SPLC “gutted its staff by a quarter,” the organization’s union posted on X. (Yes, this nonprofit organization has its own labor union. If staff get tired of protesting Alliance Defending Freedom, they can protest management, instead.) The SPLC told more than 60 union members, including five union stewards and the union’s chair, that they would be losing their jobs.
To be perfectly honest and blunt, I have absolutely NO empathy for a bunch of thugs who decided to smear us simply because we want the Government to do its job, and only its job, and to do it with excellence. But it doesn’t do just its Constitutional jobs. It has given itself much more to do outside of its Constitutional mandates and Congressional statutory authorizations. That’s why most of us here are rejoicing over the US Supreme Court decisions over the last two years and ESPECIALLY this past two weeks!
“We announced internally the consolidation of certain programs and activities as well as the elimination of others, resulting in staff reductions,” the center said. The SPLC aims “streamline our activities and operations to strengthen our ability to advance a multiracial, inclusive democracy and ground our work in the perspectives and priorities of communities most affected by human rights violations.”
And one of those programs is one that indoctrinates little kids into as pernicious a scheme as the KKK did. Imagine that the organization that bankrupted the KKK for its hatred has come full circle and created its own haters but just “masks” them using Social Justice verbiage (did you see what I just did there – heh!).
The SPLC is “functionally eliminating the Learning for Justice department,” the union noted. SPLC co-founder Morris Dees established an education program, then called “Teaching Tolerance,” in 1991. The program rebranded as “Learning for Justice” in 2021, apparently because “tolerance” wasn’t woke enough. The program has advocated for teaching kids as young as 2 years old about transgender identity, and it has heartily embraced critical race theory, a lens by which teachers tell kids that whites are oppressors and blacks oppressed in a “systemically racist” America.
So, instead of the KKK hating Blacks, the SPLC hates Whites. It’s a different shade but the same modus operandi. And I bet that none of those SPLCers have ever grasped that notion – how can that be “inclusive”? I also dryly note not even ONE word of “excellence” in doing their work but hey, if all you do is to slime Normal people, do it badly, eh? And just for the record, do we all have to be reminded that American Society IS multiracial already? And that much of what you are doing is NOT being “inclusive” but exclusionary?
But Irony escapes these evil people who are only out for the grift. And obviously, given their 25% canning, they aren’t even doing that right. So they are, like many on the Left, resorting to making crap up about others to aggrandize themselves and to self-justify their existence.
And just like some of the large corporations that reap large profits but still lay people off and the Left goes nuts, look at this bit of hypocrisy:
The union noted that the SPLC has “nearly a billion dollars in reserves” and received an “F” rating from nonprofit watchdog CharityWatch, in part for hoarding donations. CharityWatch warned that the SPLC may not use donors’ money for 7.3 years, because its reserves can keep the center running for that long.
And I remind you why we have to ask for donations. The SPLC, by sliming us, is one reason why ad revenue is down (Big Tech throttling us as well). Their purpose is to silence us and dry up donors that otherwise would help us but don’t realize that the SPLC that beat the KKK now has the mission to beat up anyone that the Left considers to be a threat to Dem-Progressive-Socialist Totalitarian-wannabees.
If you can, thank you. If you can’t, I can still thank you for spending your most valuable asset—your time —reading GraniteGrok!
More on this here, here, and I note that ABC memory-holed its article.
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Consider a potential client searching for financial advice in New York. They type “financial advisor in NY” into Google. The results pop up, and they click on one of the top links. Is it your firm? If not, you’re missing out on valuable leads.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) ensures your firm appears at the top of search results. Being easily found online is crucial in a city as competitive as New York. With the right SEO services in New York, finance firms can:
Investing in SEO services in New York is needed to stay current and ahead in a changing market. We’ll cover how SEO can help finance firms stand out, the benefits of a solid online presence, and practical steps to implement effective SEO strategies.
The Challenge: Standing Out in New York
Imagine John, a busy New Yorker, searching for a financial advisor. He types “best financial advisor in New York” into Google. Hundreds of results appear, but John only looks at the first few. John will only find you if your firm is among the top results. This is the challenge many finance firms face in New York – standing out in a crowded market.
Did you know that 75% of people never scroll past the first page of search results? Being on that first page can make or break your business in New York. Your online presence is often the first impression potential clients get. If your website is buried on the second or third page, it might not exist. And here, SEO services in New York can help.
Why SEO Matters for Finance Firms
SEO includes using the correct keywords, creating quality content, and making technical improvements to your site. When done correctly, SEO services in New York make it easier for people to find your business online.
For finance firms, SEO is especially important. Here’s why:
In a city like New York, the competition is fierce. There are many finance firms, and standing out is non-questionable. SEO is needed to help your website appear at the top of search responses when potential clients seek financial services. This increased visibility means more people will see your firm and consider your services.
When your firm is at the top of search responses, it gives the impression that you are a leader in your field. People tend to rely on websites that rank higher on Google. Investing in SEO can build trust and credibility with potential clients. A well-optimized website also ensures a better user experience, further boosting your reputation.
The goal of SEO is to get more clients to your business. Targeting specific keywords related to your services helps draw visitors who are actively searching for your offer. This means more suitable leads and a better chance of converting those leads into clients. This can translate to significant growth and a more substantial client base for finance firms.
How Local SEO Makes a Difference
Local SEO helps your business show up in local searches. It involves ensuring your online information is accurate and using keywords that include your location. The aim is to make your business easy to find for people nearby who need your services.
When people search for financial services, they often add “near me” or the name of a neighborhood. Local SEO helps your firm appear in these local searches, making it easier for clients to find you.
One essential part of local SEO is your Google My Business profile. This profile shows your address, phone number, business hours, and client reviews. An accurate profile full of the required details can improve your ranking and get more clients. Positive reviews also build trust and encourage people to choose your firm.
Local SEO also lets you focus on specific areas or neighborhoods in New York. With SEO services in New York, you can boost your visibility, build trust, and attract local clients.
Steps to Implement Effective SEO Strategies
Implementing effective SEO strategies involves several key steps. Here’s how finance firms can get started with the help of professional SEO services in New York:
Measuring SEO Success
To assess if your SEO efforts are effective, track the following key metrics:
Tools like Google Analytics, SEMrush, and Ahrefs can help monitor these metrics and provide detailed insights into your SEO performance. A professional company for SEO services in New York can be hired to assist with this.
Take the Next Step with Expert SEO Services in New York
Boost your finance firm’s online presence and stay ahead of competitors with SEO services in New York. For expert help, consider the professional services of companies like AdLift. Take action to improve your visibility and attract more clients. Get started today.
The post Maximizing Client Acquisition for Finance Firms with SEO Services in New York appeared first on Granite Grok.
On the Fourth of July we celebrate the day upon which the members of the Continental Congress signed The Declaration of Independence. In fact, independence in New Hampshire began six months earlier January 5, 1776, when our Legislature issued our first Constitution, thus creating the first independent State, established by a written Constitution, and without a king, in which the people ruled through their elected Representatives.
Contemplating these events, it is important to know what drove Americans to this point; it was not what they wanted. It is also important to know that this is not the first such document in the world. Not a hundred years earlier, Parliament had separated itself from King James II, in issuing The English Bill of Rights. There was no great statement principle, but like The Declaration of Independence, there is a list of indictments against the King. Then there is an enumeration of Rights generally addressing the indictments:
Note the prohibition against standing armies, the basic right to keep and bear arms, and the protection against cruel and unusual punishment. The right of debate in the Parliament is nearly identical to our Bill of Rights, Article 22. Most memorable is that only Parliament can levy taxes.
Now we must look to the complaint made in our Constitution of 1776. After a brief indictment of King George, they wrote the following:
“The sudden and abrupt departure of his Excellency John Wentworth, Esq., our late Governor, and several of the Council, leaving us destitute of legislation, and no executive courts being open to punish criminal offenders; whereby the lives and properties of the honest people of this colony are liable to the machinations and evil designs of wicked men, Therefore, for the preservation of peace and good order, and for the security of the lives and properties of the inhabitants of this colony, we conceive ourselves reduced to the necessity of establishing A FORM OF GOVERNMENT to continue during the present unhappy and unnatural contest with Great Britain; PROTESTING and DECLARING that we neaver sought to throw off our dependence upon Great Britain, but felt ourselves happy under her protection, while we could enjoy our constitutional rights and privileges.”
Their chief complaint was that the were being denied their constitutional rights and privileges. They believed that as British citizens they had the rights of all Englishmen. That those rights were enumerated in the English Bill of rights and in the rights enumerated in the Magna Carta. The Magna Carta includes rights against illegal search and seizure. However, it was not the opinion of England that they enjoyed these right.
In the decade before The Declaration of Independence, William Blackstone wrote extensively on the laws of England. He had been commissioned to head a school of law, so accordingly he wrote a text book. His chief complaint was that being ignorant of the common law, legislators often wrote statutes destructive of that common law. The common law, he explained, is a body of judicial opinion accumulated over the previous 1500 years with its beginning in Roman times, and written and compiled since about 1100 AD They are the legal custom of western civilization. Having read a compilation of the maxims of the common law, they have nothing to do with crime and punishment, except that the punishment must be proportional to the crime, and everything to do with due process.
It amazes me how pervasive the common law is in our society, just to name a few:
Common law, due process, is the beginning of law. It is called unwritten law because it is the stuff of judicial opinions, and not written by a Legislature. Blackstone further writes that statutory law declares (describes in detail), and amends the common law. For example, unlike the common law of the 18th century, a women’s property does not convert to her husband upon marriage, and women can hold public office.
Now comes the wrinkle. Blackstone, the foremost authority on English law, declared unequivocally, that because America was taken by conquest and treaty, American do not enjoy English common law. Instead, they were subject to the common law of the native Americans. Furthermore, they were subject only subject to those Acts of Parliament that specifically refer to them. As such, they were not protected by the Magna Carta, nor the English Bill of Rights.
Now you see the problem; the English did not believe that the Americans had the constitutional rights and privileges that the Americans believed they had. The purpose of the War for Independence was fundamentally to establish English common law, and then some, in America.
In 1776, the Constitutions, declaring and amending common law and form of government, were written by the Legislatures in the English tradition. By 1779, first in New Hampshire and then in Massachusetts, Constitutions were being proposed in Conventions and ratified directly. Though I have not found it written expressly, in American tradition, common law is only amended by Constitution. Which makes sense only that the society as a whole can change the customs of society. Constitutions and statutes are both used to declare the common law.
For example, man’s home is his castle. Constitutions tell us that warrants are required for search or seizure. Statutes tell us who applies for a warrant, who issues a warrant, and who enforces a warrant.
Today the common law is under assault. Locally, we see it in venues like the Family Court and other special courts, like Drug Court. We see it in cases like child protection, and domestic violence, where the State bypasses the protections of criminal law, by prosecuting these offenses as civil cases. Finally, we are seeing in the prosecution of President Trump. If the deprivation of common law by Great Britain caused the founding of the United States of America, what will the deprivation of the common law by the United States of America cause?
Dan Itse is a former NH State Representative and considered by many to be an expert in Constitutions, their history, and their practical applications today.
The post Independence Day appeared first on Granite Grok.
It is stating the obvious to say that when the Woke-Communists (Democrats, if you insist on letting the Left control your speech) say “democracy,” they do NOT mean democracy in the sense of a government elected by a majority of voters in free and fair elections.
They mean a permanent ruling class composed of them. The same goes for the term “diversity” … especially the phrase “diversity is our strength.”
Woke-Communists believe America is evil and illegitimate. They seek to “transform” America … the word “transform” is another lovely euphemism that means to eradicate and undo the American system of government and replace it with an oligarchy. One of the means to this end is to replace American citizens with “migrants” … yet another lovely euphemism for ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION via OPEN BORDERS.
This is what America’s future looks like if the Woke-Communists succeed:
The post “Diversity” In The Democrat (Woke-Communist) Sense … Will Be Our Demise appeared first on Granite Grok.
The smell of fresh Australian air in Julian Assange’s nostrils is a liberty neither he nor most of the rest of the world thought would ever be afforded a man who so tenaciously defied the planet’s strongest superpower. Credited with having exposed US military actions through the publication of documents leaked by whistleblower Chelsea (Bradley) Manning, Assange has endured a long ordeal. So has the First Amendment.
The Assange OdysseyFor 14 years, various governments have pursued the harried Assange as retribution for whistleblower journalism alleged by the United States to have been a conspiracy to disclose classified national defense documents. Both Manning and Assange have claimed that the former’s identity was unknown to the WikiLeaks founder at the time of the document transfer.
Sweden issued an arrest warrant for Assange in November 2011 for sexual assault charges, prompting him to jump bail and seek asylum in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, where he holed up for nearly seven years. His odyssey continued when friction with his hosts led to his arrest and transfer to Britain’s infamous HM Prison Belmarsh in April 2019. Belmarsh (aka Hellmarsh, notorious for the harsh treatment of prisoners) is home to many violent serial killers, terrorists, and rapists.
This week, a bargain with the United States reduced the original 18 criminal counts of conspiracy to a single guilty plea under the US Espionage Act for conspiring to obtain and disclose classified government documents. In exchange for his plea, Assange received credit for time served in Belmarsh and was immediately released to his native Australia, where his wife and two sons anxiously await him. Assange did not travel to the United States for sentencing, instead appearing before a US judge in the Northern Mariana Islands.
A Free Speech BattleIt is a relief to many who view Assange as a free-speech icon that he will not rot in prison. Yet after seven years of isolation in a London embassy and then five more in a London prison (mostly in solitary confinement), the 52-year-old is enduring health struggles. He has, arguably, already rotted.
Assange had no choice but to accept this plea: It was a bird-in-hand for him and a face-saver for the US government and Biden administration. Had he rejected the deal, he would have embraced a dice roll before a judge or jury, where he may have been convicted: He is now on his way home.
It might be that the victories for both sides of this battle have been Pyrrhic. Assange succeeded in exposing US lies and perfidy, resisted extradition to the United States, and controlled many aspects of his ordeal, but he did not avoid prison or familial separation. The US government may have secured a conviction, but the mighty American giant was resisted by a single Australian who kept slipping away like a 21st-century Houdini.
In the end, Assange was released due to a confluence of pressures. A UK court ruling in May paved the way for him to interpose the US Constitution’s First Amendment protections as defense, which threatened a dangerous precedent for the federal government. The Biden administration has long signaled a desire to close the matter under strong and persistent pressure from Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Some have suggested the November election also hung over the deal.
Free speech and journalistic integrity may have suffered more than Assange. Open political and religious speech are the foundations of the First Amendment. The international witch hunt for a young hacker who pioneered using the internet against those in power chills critical journalism, especially for those working on national security issues. Government officials counter that recklessly releasing information places foreign agents and US military personnel at risk.
The Assange saga held a mirror up to a mainstream media that has co-opted its journalistic integrity to curry favor with the powerful. Where was the call from the journalism community to protect Assange from prosecution? Where was the press of the Watergate and Vietnam eras?
Hero or Rogue?Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been a consistent supporter of Assange. Following news of the plea deal, Kennedy called for a monument to be erected to celebrate Assange and Edward Snowden “as a civics lesson to the American public about the importance of free speech.” Kennedy focused on the importance of Assange’s efforts for the free distribution of information:
“A transparent government is the essence of democracy. That’s what Julian Assange did for us,” he said, noting that the government will “constantly try to increase its power by reducing transparency.” He continued:
“One of the things that’s happened with the press is that they no longer do that job. They’ve become propagandists for government, rather than speaking truth to power. They’ve become stenographers and propagandists for government.
“We saw this during COVID. We saw it during the Iraq War. It almost always is a bad idea for the press to keep the government secrets.”
The lengthy ordeal of Assange’s defiance has extended through several presidential administrations and various dramatic chapters of near-capture and clever evasion. Was Assange a purposeful pioneer with a digital pen or a dangerous troublemaker with no loyalty? The answer to that question depends on whether one believes governments should conceal their machinations from the public in the interest of the common good, or be held liable for their every action.
John Klar is an Attorney, farmer, and author. Mostly farmer… And Regular Contributor to GraniteGrok and VermontGrok.The post The First Amendment Odyssey of Julian Assange appeared first on Granite Grok.