The ongoing federal budget and national debt crisis reminds me of a bad—and frankly hopeless—marriage. Each side blames the other, without any implied ownership of the problem itself. If the emotions on each side were permitted to speak freely, they’d … Continue reading
Category: Daily Dose of Reason
Turning Teachers into Counselors Makes No Sense
Dear Dr. Hurd: I am a public elementary school teacher. At a recent in-service day an expert speaker was brought in to talk to the elementary school staff about behavior intervention. The speakers’ main thesis was that teachers need to … Continue reading
Law of Diminishing Returns Applied to Thinking
A reader sent in the following quote found somewhere on Facebook: “Funny thing is that social psychology research says that the more you think things through, the less logical your action — gives you too much time to rationalize.” It’s … Continue reading
Why to Find a Therapist Who “Makes You Mad”
Dr. Hurd: How do you (as a psychotherapist/life coach) deal with someone one who wants you to validate their irrational emotions and accuses you of not caring how they feel? Dr. Hurd’s reply: I sometimes say to people: ‘You pay … Continue reading
When Success Feels Like Fraud
Q: You wrote in a recent column: ‘It might be a fear of accomplishing something, and being found out as a fraud.’ I would welcome your thoughts on this type of thinking. I mention this because I have felt this … Continue reading
Stop the Insanity
Dear Dr. Hurd: I lie for reasons other than personal gain or approval. I make up stories about adventures I’ve never had and things like that, and I add shocking things. It’s not in my rational self-interest and it puts … Continue reading
“Can You Help Me?”
Dear Dr. Hurd: I am a 26-year-old girl/woman, living in Europe. From time to time I check in on your website and I often think that what you are saying about lots of things is smart and rational, and I … Continue reading
Dictatorship? Not a Problem, Say Obama and Chuck Hagel
According to The Wall Street Journal, Secretary of Defense nominee Chuck Hagel, during his hearings, had to backtrack on an especially embarrassing assertion that Iran’s rulers are “legitimate” and “elected.” Hagel would never have said these things if he didn’t … Continue reading
I Told You So (The First of Many)
Associated Press reports: Some families could get priced out of health insurance due to what’s being called a glitch in President Barack Obama’s overhaul law. IRS regulations issued Wednesday failed to fix the problem as liberal backers of the president’s … Continue reading
The Sherlock Holmes Fallacy Applied to Psychology
Dr. Hurd: In your recent article, “When Noises Drive You Mad”, [Daily Dose of Reason 1/29/13] the questioner was angered by hearing others eat. Could he be affected by an unconscious memory of people eating (leaving no food for him) … Continue reading
Obama’s Kind of Immigrants
If America were a totally free country — with no entitlement state, no ‘progressive’ taxation, no socialized medicine and no Barack Obama issuing extra-Constitutional executive orders by whim and at gunpoint — immigration would not be a threat. In a … Continue reading
When Noises Drive You Mad
Dear Dr. Hurd: Ever since I was a small child, the noises made by other people while they’re eating (specially loud swallowing) have driven me mad. They make me squirm and feel really uncomfortable and angry. Doing a little bit … Continue reading