A Cornell University study asks, ‘Why do teens do stupid things?’ This same study also purports to answer that question. First of all, I have a problem with the premise of the question. Not all teens do stupid things, nor … Continue reading
Category: Daily Dose of Reason
9/11: Ten Years Later, America is Killing Itself
Today marks the tenth anniversary of the attack on the United States known as 9/11. A decade later, America is not at war with an external enemy as much as it is with itself. We live in a mixed economy, … Continue reading
Addicted? Stop Waiting and Help Yourself
Why do most people falsely believe that addiction is a disease? Are they all simply lazy and dishonest? No. While some are, I maintain that most are not. The confusion and error is created, in large part, by superficial similarities … Continue reading
The Milgram Experiment and What it Taught Us About Human Obedience
Back in the 1970s, social psychologist Stanley Milgram published a study that focused on the psychology of obedience. In the study, volunteers were asked to administer shocks to ‘learners’ in an experiment. When the ‘learner’ made an error, the volunteer … Continue reading
The Fallacy of “Capitalism Is Unfair”
‘Oil prices are rising. Health care is too expensive. It’s so unfair! I’m so angry! Obama had better do something about this—and now!’ First of all, we have to get straight what a ‘price’ actually is. There is no such … Continue reading
Cutting the Pay of Legislators: An Act of Justice
Q: Dr. Hurd, I wonder why you think it’s a good idea to drastically cut the pay of members of Congress, as you suggested in a recent article? This is an interesting point. I agree that government officials are public … Continue reading
The Psychology of Forcing Others
What drives a person to be a Big Government statist? Many motives are possible. One of them is to quiet their internal noise. What’s “internal noise”? This refers to the self-talk a person wants to stop. For example, let’s say … Continue reading
Beyond The Stale Platitudes About Love and Marriage (Part II)
You hear about this syndrome of either gender trying to change something (or a lot of things) about their partner (or even their friend). These attitudes and behaviors show a lack of respect. Deep down, the spouse who’s acting this … Continue reading
Beyond The Stale Platitudes About Love and Marriage (Part I)
I hear it every day: ‘A good marriage requires hard work and compromise.’ ‘The secret of our relationship is’sacrifice.’ Blah, blah. Well, I have a different take on the subject. It’s not that I’m against compromise altogether. Life as a … Continue reading
The Zero Growth Economy is What Liberals Want
Jobs growth is now, for the first time in American history, zero. Not a single new job was created in the American economy in the last month. Most people are understandably upset. But how upset is Obama? And how upset … Continue reading
“Help! I’m Bipolar and I Can’t Stop Myself!”
Q: Your post in a recent Daily Dose of Reason (8/31/11 “Bipolar: Valid Label or Excuse?”) is spot on. I have a brother who was diagnosed with this so-called “bipolar disorder.” My father had a massive heart attack last November. … Continue reading
Sick of Democrats and Republicans? Here’s a Plan
Q: Dr. Hurd, I know you’re very critical of Obama and Republicans as well. What do you favor as policies going forward? A: The overriding goal is to privatize the economy as quickly and as thoroughly as possible. I would … Continue reading