Barack Obama wants to appoint an anti-gay former U.S. Senator, Chuck Hagel, as the next Defense Secretary. Back in the Clinton Administration, Hagel opposed the appointment of an openly gay man to be ambassador to Luxembourg. At the time, Hagel … Continue reading
The arguments for gun control or gun confiscation basically boil down to this: “If guns were illegal, they would not be available. If they weren’t available, people like that crazy killer in [fill-in-the-blank-with-location-of-latest-shooting-here] would not be able to use them.” This … Continue reading
Dear Dr. Hurd: I agree with today’s Daily Dose of Reason (see 1/1/13), but–because we have no choice in being born with an inborn fear, there always has been and always will be religion/supernaturalism. Dr. Hurd’s reply: Actually, there is … Continue reading
Politicians of both parties are doing what they do best: Congratulating themselves on their achievement (at least temporarily) to break ‘gridlock’ in the Senate and move a fiscal bill forward that satisfies both parties. The nation’s court jester, Joe Biden, … Continue reading
Q: Dear Dr. Hurd: Is it true, as some people believe, that you don’t need religion to know right from wrong, that all you need is empathy? A: Religion is faith-based and refers to the supernatural. How is one to … Continue reading
Conclusion of yesterday’s column: Reporter: I think lots of people confuse happiness with fun, and the dangers there are obvious. People who are always looking for that moment-to-moment ‘high’ are, it seems to me, far less likely to find long-term … Continue reading
Dr. Hurd recently engaged in a discussion with a journalist about issues related to happiness, self-esteem, psychology, self-help, and much more. What follows are some excerpts from that discussion: Reporter: It seems to me that we have a fundamental confusion … Continue reading
All the talk of a ‘fiscal cliff’ come January 1 is misleading. It implies that there’s something politicians can do to avert disaster in the new year — and that if they do it, all will be well. The fact … Continue reading
One of the most annoying qualities a person can display is smugness. Smugness distinguishes itself from confidence in that it’s based on the unearned and undeserved, rather than the honestly achieved. As a result, smugness is pretentious and self-conscious, while … Continue reading
‘Christmas is always a wonderful time of the year because it’s a time when people instinctively, intuitively turn to family,’ Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington, DC. said. ‘They also turn to the whole experience of love in their lives. … Continue reading
The fact that there’s even a debate among Republicans about replacing their House Speaker, John Boehner, shows just how deeply conflicted and troubled this party is. Let’s review the facts. Speaker John Boehner, after two years of promising to never … Continue reading
Conclusion of yesterday’s columnHow to Act During a Breakup Learn—or relearn—the value of scheduling your personal life. When you were married or coupled, you defaulted to the relationship. You did what you wanted to do together, sometimes scheduled and sometimes … Continue reading