Whenever there’s a tragedy like the movie theater shooting in Colorado, reasonable people make the mistake of trying to comprehend the irrational. ‘How could this happen?’ they ask. Or: ‘Why did this happen?’ The premise of the question is wrong. … Continue reading
I wrote this article back in 2008, soon after comedian George Carlin’s death. Many readers of The Daily Dose of Reason have not seen it. Comedians are sometimes philosophers in disguise, and I still miss George Carlin for this reason. … Continue reading
The ideas which now pass for brilliant innovations and advances are in fact mere revivals of ancient errors, and a further proof of the dictum that those who are ignorant of the past are condemned to repeat it. — Henry … Continue reading
Dick Morris, former advisor to President Bill Clinton, said: ‘We have to realize that the United States Congress cut off aid to Egypt. It ruled that there should be no more aid unless Congress released the funds. And then [Secretary … Continue reading
If most Americans paid attention to what goes on in their government and society, Obama’s recent comments in Roanoke VA would have generated much more attention than they have. In these comments, Obama essentially said that if you’re successful, then … Continue reading
People often react badly when you say something they’d rather not hear. But it’s just as bad when you don’t say what they want to hear. The perfect example is an email I received from a reader: “Dear Dr. Hurd: … Continue reading
People who disagree with me on opposing Obamacare have in some cases written to me, “You’re full of hatred.” They throw around the word “hatred” as if it’s supposed to intellectually and morally disarm you. It’s not only Obamacare, but … Continue reading
This is perhaps my favorite line from Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged with regard to doctors who support, or tolerate, socialized medicine: ‘Let them discover, in the operating rooms and hospital wards, that it is not safe to place their lives in … Continue reading
According to the Congressional Budget Office’s figures, extending the Bush tax rates will only increase the deficit by 4 percent. Actually, critics of the way the CBO figures this out are saying the 4 percent number is too high. They … Continue reading
Ayn Rand’s fictional character Dr. Hendricks, from her novel Atlas Shrugged. ‘I quit when medicine was placed under State control some years ago,’ said Dr. Hendricks. ‘Do you know what it takes to perform a brain operation? Do you know … Continue reading
I recently listened to a talk on suicide. The speaker was Jack Klott, a psychologist and “suicidologist,” author of Suicide and Psychological Pain: Prevention that Works. He was asked if children ever wanted to end their lives. He proceeded to give the example of an … Continue reading
Anything bad that happens, in the economy, is Bush’s fault. Anything good that happens, in the economy, is due to Barack. Anything that gets worse would have been EVEN worse had it not been for Barack. And the whole mess … Continue reading