“The ‘private sector’ of the economy is, in fact, the voluntary sector; and the ‘public sector’ is, in fact, the coercive sector.” (Henry Hazlitt, 20th century American journalist and columnist on business/economics) Hazlitt nailed it. When you say: “Health care … Continue reading
Category: Daily Dose of Reason
Be Real
In a recent article, I stated that being authentic and honest with others stems from a strong sense of self-esteem and self-respect. People with poor views of themselves tend to be phony, and pretend to like people or things they … Continue reading
Pedophilia, Priests and Human Nature
Psychologist Mark Dombeck, writing in an online article entitled “Pedophile Priests: Monstrous But Not Monsters,” claims there are two possible ways to think about the subject. The first is the “monster” hypothesis and the second is the “all too human” … Continue reading
What’s Your Psychological Environment?
Dear Dr. Hurd, We recently bought a nice house here in the resort town where we live, and we occasionally welcome our friends to stay with us. Two of them stayed with us a few weeks ago and they were … Continue reading
Can You Have Your First Amendment and Eat it Too?
U.S. Senator Ed Markey from Massachusetts says yes. From the 4/24/14 Boston Herald: U.S. Sen. Ed Markey wants to empower an obscure federal agency to begin scouring the Internet, TV and radio for speech it finds threatening — a plan … Continue reading
Go East, Young Man (in a Toyota)
After more than three decades in Torrance, CA, the giant car manufacturer Toyota (American division) is moving eastward, to Texas. “When any major corporation is courted by another state, it’s very difficult to combat that,” Torrance CA mayor Frank Scotto … Continue reading
Striving for Dry: Facts and Fantasy about “Recovery”
A recent conversation between Dr. Michael Hurd and a media reporter re: substance abuse and addiction. If you think you know someone who is struggling with addiction, what should you do? If you know them well, ask them, “Can I … Continue reading
Bad Company
It is better to be alone than in bad company. (George Washington) Be sure to “friend” Dr. Hurd on Facebook. Search under “Michael Hurd” (Rehoboth Beach DE). Get up-to-the-minute postings, recommended articles and links, and engage in back-and-forth discussion with … Continue reading
The Only Reason Marijuana Should Be Legal
The most common reason I hear people give for supporting Obama and his party is that he’s not the Republican Party. In other words, “Republicans won’t permit gay marriage, legalization of marijuana or abortion. How can you support them?” I … Continue reading
“Am I My Mother’s Keeper?”
Dear Dr. Hurd, I was wondering if you could provide some advice as to my dilemma: I’m a 25-year-old adult who is still living with his mother, but contrary to most young adults out there, I’m not depending on her … Continue reading
The Futility of Regrets
Dear Dr. Hurd, I can’t stop thinking about past decisions that in the present turned out less-than-good. I wish I had the money that I spent on cars and some vacations. I regret having bought a boat years ago when … Continue reading
Eat It, Doctors
To paraphrase Ayn Rand, in the battle over socialized medicine from 2009-2012, nobody ever stopped to consider the perspective, needs, wants, and rights of … the doctors themselves. Case in point, from a recent story reported by FoxNews.com [4/24/14]: While … Continue reading