Back in 1999, I wrote an essay (and also gave a talk) entitled, “Violence: Coming Soon To A School Near You?” It was in response to the Columbine school shootings, the biggest such event to date. Here are some excerpts … Continue reading
Category: Daily Dose of Reason
Dear President Trump: Thank You for Calling Nikolas Cruz a “Sicko”
From CNN: The shooter, Nikolas Cruz, struggled with depression, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism, according to a 2016 Florida Department of Children and Families report. But having a mental health diagnosis does not mean he would become violent, many experts … Continue reading
Seven Reasons Not to Get Government Involved in Mental Health
It’s so easy to proclaim, “There is a mental health crisis in America, leading students to shoot up public schools. Something has got to be done about it.” It’s a lot harder to defend the idea that government should be … Continue reading
Why Arming Teachers Is NOT an Insane Idea
During the meeting with Parkland students at the White House on Wednesday President Trump said arming teachers is a step that can be taken to make schools less-attractive targets for attackers. He said that as things stand, attackers have nothing … Continue reading
What Socialism and Seventh-day Adventists Have in Common
Why’s it so hard to get rid of socialism? Consider the history of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The Seventh-day Adventist Church formed out of the movement known today as the Millerites. In 1831, a Baptist convert, William Miller, was asked … Continue reading
Actress Mayim Bialik Has a Dream: Civil Disobedience Against Guns!
Sigh. I really didn’t need to know the gun control positions of Mayim Bialik, who plays Amy on one of my favorite TV shows, The Big Bang Theory. But now I do. And – surprise, surprise – she’s a militant … Continue reading
President Trump’s Tweets About the FBI & the Decline of a Republic
President Trump put it plainly, honestly and accurately last night and this morning: “Very sad that the FBI missed all of the many signals sent out by the Florida school shooter. This is not acceptable. They are spending too much … Continue reading
Bill Maher’s Misdiagnosis of America’s Mental Health Problem
On Friday’s broadcast of HBO’s “Real Time,” host Bill Maher argued that while the US needs improved mental health care, the US is “kind of a sick country” that is “too greedy,” and “built for money.” Maher said, “When I … Continue reading
“Lightning from the Sky, the Scepter From Tyrants” (Turgot)
“He snatched lightning from the sky and the scepter from tyrants.” — French statesman and economist Baron de l’Aulne, commonly known as Turgot, regarding Ben Franklin Follow Dr. Hurd on Facebook. Search under “Michael Hurd” (Rehoboth Beach DE). Get … Continue reading
Why Are Shootings Only at Government-Run Schools?
After the Florida school shooting, all you’re going to read and hear are, “Why haven’t we banned guns yet?” or, “When will the madness stop?” Advocates of gun control relentlessly ask these questions not because they know gun bans will … Continue reading
Feminist Business School Seeks to Eradicate Individualism, Merit and Competition
The Feminist Business School, founded by Evergreen State College graduate Jennifer Armbrust, teaches that capitalism is an “economy that values masculine traits” such as “meritocracy,” “competition,” and “individualism.” Actually, meritocracy, competition and individualism are not valuable because “capitalism” likes them. … Continue reading
What Ever Happened to Fiscal Conservatism?
Republicans used to be the party of fiscal conservatism. In theory, this meant cutting the cost of the federal government and limiting its functions closer to what was specified in the Constitution. In practice, it never got much further than … Continue reading