“He’s trying to get something for nothing.” It’s usually said with an air of disapproval — and not without good reason. However, people who seek something for nothing are naive and foolish, more than anything else. They’re at war with … Continue reading
Category: Daily Dose of Reason
“Religious Liberty” Comes to Tennessee
The moment you ignore, or do away with, individual liberty, you start developing all kinds of nonexistent liberty. There is no liberty without the individual. The moment you express the concept “liberty,” you’re implying that someone enjoys this condition, or … Continue reading
Celebrate-Life-on-Earth Hour
If you do what you’re told, you will celebrate Earth Hour on Saturday, March 29 from 8:30 pm – 9:30 pm (in your local time zone). Earth Hour advocates describe it as “a global movement uniting people to protect the … Continue reading
High Unemployment, Low Growth: America’s New Normal?
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Why Deadlines Are Good Things
“I can only work under a deadline.” Is this a good thing, or a bad thing? It’s actually a good thing. A deadline implies a goal, or a purpose. Purpose-driven activity is the only kind that can sustain itself. A … Continue reading
Hillary’s Next
“I am very much concerned about the direction of our country. And it’s not just who runs for office, but what they do when they get there and how we bring people together and, particularly, empower young people so we … Continue reading
“Too Pretty” or “Too Handsome” — Acts of Intimidation?
Is it an act of “intimidation” against others if they find you too attractive? Consider a story reported at pjmedia.com on 3/20/14: In her first workout since being injured in a car accident, Tiffany Austin said she couldn’t wait to … Continue reading
“I’m Not Motivated” … What to Do?
One of the most common things people ask a psychotherapist like me about is motivation. “I should be doing such-and-such. But I’m not. I don’t feel motivated. Am I depressed?” Right there, in asking such a question, you’re revealing that … Continue reading
Two Options for Dealing With Other People
We basically have two ways of dealing with other human beings: reason, or force. This fact has social-political implications. But it also has implications for daily life in families, business or other personal relationships. To most of us, force is … Continue reading
America: More European than Europe?
Many who oppose the mushrooming welfare/entitlement/debt-deficit state of America warn, “If you don’t get your act together, America, you’re going to wind up like bankrupt socialist welfare states in Europe.” Columnist Mark Steyn [steynonline.com 3/18/14] cites figures suggesting that America … Continue reading
“Affordable Care Act” Forgot About Doctors
Barack Obama has declared the “Affordable Care Act” a success. Success — by what standard? By what criteria? “Well, at this point, enough people are signing up that the Affordable Care Act is going to work,” Obama said before the … Continue reading
In the Age of Texting, We Still Need Boundaries
Dear Dr. Hurd, My partner and I are good friends with another couple. (We’re both in lesbian relationships.) Recently, one of the women in that relationship started paying (what I believe to be) inappropriate attention to my girlfriend; sending personal … Continue reading