A thing moderately good is not so good as it ought to be. Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice. — Thomas Paine
The Thing About Moderation … (Thomas Paine)
Category: Daily Dose of Reason
Church, State and School on the Delaware Football Field
A story from my local newspaper shows how much confusion exists about the separation of church and state. The story [CapeGazette.villagesoup.com 10/21/14] states: The Cape Henlopen School District [Lewes DE] has replied to a complaint that its football coach publicly … Continue reading
Teenagers Will ALWAYS Rebel: Myth or Fact?
Teenage rebellion and obnoxious behavior are considered a normal and universal part of growing up. But is this assumption valid? First of all, we have to distinguish between rebellion and individuation. Individuation refers to the inevitable and necessary psychological (and … Continue reading
Obama’s Grandiose Psychopathology Reveals Itself with Ebola
According to the New York Daily News (10/27/14), The Obama administration has resisted efforts to order isolation or quarantine for people working in West Africa. Officials say they want decisions grounded “in science” and don’t want to discourage volunteer medical … Continue reading
A Brave Ex-Muslim Woman Names the Truth About Terrorism
“We have not seen a single Jew blow himself up in a German restaurant. We have not seen a single Jew destroy a church. We have not seen a single Jew protest by killing people.” “I believe our people [Islamic … Continue reading
Who Cares What Other People Think?
A number of readers ask: Why do I care so much for the opinions of other people? I am profoundly anxious about others’ opinions and judgments about me. What can I do to change this? The reason you want to … Continue reading
All in the Details (William Morris)
The true secret of happiness lies in taking a genuine interest in all the details of daily life. — William Morris
Hillary Clinton: Government Creates Jobs, Not Business
At a Massachusetts political rally, Hillary Clinton (likely first in line to succeed Barack Obama as President), said the following: “Don’t let anybody tell you it’s corporations and businesses that create jobs. You know, that old theory ‘trickle-down economics.’ That … Continue reading
Laughter is Courage (Linda Ellerbee)
I think laughter may be a form of courage. As humans we sometimes stand tall and look into the sun and laugh, and I think we are never more brave than when we do that. — Linda Ellerbee
Terrorism Comes to Canada
Writing about the latest terrorist attacks, this time in Canada, author and journalist Andrew Cohen [cnn.com 10/23/14] commented: This is not supposed to happen in Canada — much less Ottawa, its sleepy, self-absorbed capital. Sentries do not die on duty … Continue reading
“Affordable Care” Means: Medicare or Medicaid Only
Don’t hear much about Obamacare anymore? Here are two stories that suggest why. One is from Associated Press and Newsmax.com, 10/21/14: Ohio Gov. John Kasich doesn’t think the Affordable Care Act, with its Medicaid expansion provisions, will be repealed, even … Continue reading
Why “Ego” — Falsely Defined — Gets Such a Bad Name
“It’s all ego.” “He did it out of ego.” “I don’t want this to be about ego. I want it to be about something better, or higher.” We hear these things all the time. Many of us even say this … Continue reading