People talk about “self-esteem” as if it’s something you purchase at the store, or are lucky enough to win in the lottery. Some people become depressed that they never “get it.” Others look to external agents — healthy things, such … Continue reading
Conclusion of yesterday’s column. Elizabeth’s naivetis staggering and self-evident. She lives off her wealthy parents and demands that ‘society’ give away all its money, by force if necessary. She denies the right of the shoe storeowner to his private property. … Continue reading
Many television viewers are currently enthralled with the series, ‘Downton Abbey.’ Ripples of early 1930s Socialism, reflected in the 1971 British TV period drama, ‘Upstairs, Downstairs,’ the precursor to ‘Downtown Abbey,’ are making waves in modern America. Unfortunately, now we … Continue reading
A DrHurd.com reader comments: Obama makes clear that he has no concept of individual rights. To say that “foremost among [our rights] is freedom of religion” puts religious freedom above life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, which are all … Continue reading
Barack Obama said the following at a recent White House dinner: Of all the freedoms we cherish as Americans, of all the rights that we hold sacred, foremost among them is freedom of religion, the right to worship as we … Continue reading
A new Rasmussen poll shows low American confidence in public schools, with less than a quarter of Americans believing the public education system is good. The poll shows, however, that Americans give higher marks to the school their own child … Continue reading
Vice-presidential candidate Paul Ryan has reportedly had favorable things to say about Ayn Rand, author of Atlas Shrugged and the philosophy of Objectivism, which stresses the absolutism of reason, reality and individual rights (including laissez-faire capitalism). The New Yorker magazine … Continue reading
I ran across a quote recently: ‘Those who know the least, know it the loudest.’ I don’t know the author of the quote. But it says a lot. ‘Loud,’ in this context, means: unthinking, or shrill. It doesn’t mean strong … Continue reading
Mitt Romney’s selection of Representative Paul Ryan as his running mate will likely trigger debate about privatization of Medicare. Ryan did not actually propose privatization; he has proposed a voucher system for future retirees, in which the federal government pays … Continue reading
I ran across the following criticism of Ayn Rand in a Facebook comment: ‘Arguably, no 20th century writer brought more people to libertarianism than Ayn Rand, but never underestimate how much damage her hyperindividualism did to the movement and to … Continue reading
Mitt Romney has been accused by Obama supporters of murdering a woman by “taking away” her health insurance. They’re counting, of course, on nobody asking any critical questions such as, “What does taking away actually mean?” You cannot “take away” … Continue reading
Dear Dr. Hurd,I’m a substitute teacher and I go from school to school. When kids see a sub they think it is a free day. I know there are ways to defuse situations but I’m having a problem with voice … Continue reading