Illusions commend themselves to us because they save us pain and allow us to enjoy pleasure instead. We must therefore accept it without complaint when they sometimes collide with a bit of reality against which they are dashed to pieces. … Continue reading
Category: Daily Dose of Reason
Should the “Rich” Stop Getting Social Security?
Is sending Social Security checks to millionaires a “waste” of government money? Heritage Foundation budget economist Romina Boccia thinks so. “Any Social Security check going to a millionaire, I call that government waste,” Boccia told dailycaller.com [10/18/14]. “If we decide … Continue reading
What Americans Still Haven’t Learned from the Ebola Crisis
In just 18 months, with the deadly Ebola crisis raging in West Africa and inching its way into the United States, the reputation of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has plunged. A CBS News poll found that public confidence … Continue reading
Left or Right: Fascism is Still Fascism
Merging religion and state can take different forms. The most obvious is a church body or authority taking over the state (as in fundamentalist Iran). A less obvious example is when secular authorities reach into private church organizations to intimidate, … Continue reading
Should Children Be Told They Can “Do Anything”, “Be Anything”?
Dr. Hurd, here is a related issue to what makes people succeed. I take issue with parents/teachers who tell their young children/students: “You can be anything you want to be in life.” Some of these adults add: “ … as … Continue reading
Let Fact and Dreams Meet (Victor Hugo)
Each man should frame life so that at some future hour fact and his dreaming meet. — Victor Hugo
Are “Budget Cuts” Responsible for the Ebola Outbreak?
Politicians are blaming each other for the Ebola virus. All of them assume that government — and only government — can solve such problems. Sure, they agree that ultimately solutions come from science; but without government, there would be no … Continue reading
“Yes Means Yes”: Feminist Sexual Puritanism?
Nobody reasonable would ever suggest that rape — nonconsensual sex — should not be against the law. But should the burden of proof be on the accused or the accuser? With other crimes, the accused is innocent until proven guilty. … Continue reading
How to Solve the Problem of Religious Conservatives
Former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, a religious and social conservative, is threatening to leave the GOP if they don’t take a strong stand on gay marriage and other social issues. “They’re hostile to religious liberty and a lot of our … Continue reading
What Really Causes Success?
What causes success? According to a recent survey of highly successful people, hard work and education were the most important factors. Also, investing money intelligently was described as crucial. Interestingly, they ranked the “silver spoon” factor — being born into … Continue reading
The # 1 Way (Not) to Ruin Your Life
A lot of people wonder what causes depression. One of the major contributing factors is a certain way of thinking. If I had to boil it down to a single phrase, I’d call it: victim-think. Another term, more popular in … Continue reading
Leon Panetta’s Criticism of Former Boss: Why is He Surprised?
Leon Panetta is Barack Obama’s former CIA chief and Secretary of Defense. The Washington Post [10-6-14] reports that Panetta: … criticized Obama in harsh terms that would have been dismissed as partisan sniping — if Panetta weren’t a Democrat who … Continue reading