People sometimes ask: “How much do you blame your parents for your problems in the present, arising from childhood?” All I can reply is: Hold your parents accountable for anything wrong they said or did. But hold yourself accountable for … Continue reading
Dear Dr. Hurd: Certain things bug me from time to time, things for which I have no answer. I don’t understand why the left always frames the argument and sets the terms of engagement. I’ve been studying the American Revolution … Continue reading
CNN.com reports: France’s socialist administration wants to raise taxes on citizens earning more than 1 million euros ($1.3 million) annually to 75%. The Russian Federation has a flat income tax rate of 13%, RIA Novosti reported. France’s constitutional council struck … Continue reading
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