In reading about the Great Depression of the 1930s, it’s fascinating to learn how responsible Republican President Herbert Hoover was for the economic disasters that took place. He pushed for the biggest tariff in history, effectively shutting down trade between … Continue reading
Category: Daily Dose of Reason
Happiness: Not Just for Holidays
The purpose of a holiday is not to be rational and kind to yourself, and your loved ones, while not being this way the rest of the time. Happiness is not, or should not be, reserved for holidays. I view … Continue reading
Some Words Are Meaningless
Here’s what a friend of mine (familiar with my writing) said to another friend when told by a therapist that her cheating husband is “depressed.” Note that when a therapist uses the word “depressed,” it’s most often code for: “I … Continue reading
Fly The Government Skies
There have been awful incidents where airplanes sit on the tarmac for hours and hours on end. The government’s solution? Simply issue an order to cap the limit to 3 hours. Gee, that’s brilliant. Why didn’t the airlines think of … Continue reading
Doctors and Patients: Start Over
There’s no difference of any importance between the House and Senate versions of “health care reform.” The House bill openly considers doctors, patients and medical care the property of the government, and legislates accordingly. The Senate bill engages in the … Continue reading
Adaptive Equals Strong
Some people find it hard to adapt to change. For example, there’s a weather event or something else unexpected, and you have to change your plans. I have found that emotionally healthy people handle this sort of thing well. They … Continue reading
Restraint of Life
The environmentalist movement is not concerned with bettering human life. It’s concerned with restraining human life. Anyone who values human life and human progress would not look to restricting carbon usage for the next hundred years, causing a decline in … Continue reading
Is Morality Subjective?
Q: Dr. Hurd, Do you think all morality is subjective or personal? Or do you think there is objective right and wrong? A: The only thing I really understand to be truly immoral is evasion—that is, refusing to acknowledge as … Continue reading
A Comment on Self-Centeredness
A self-centered person is not guilty of too much concern with self. We all are, or at least should be, the most important thing in our lives. Get real. Is a stranger more important to you than yourself? Of course … Continue reading
“Going There”
Even though I disagree with so many people, my attitude is not one of, “Never discuss philosophy or politics.” Instead my attitude is one of, “If you want to go there — I’ll go there.” I’m not afraid to acknowledge … Continue reading
On the Precipice
Free-market economist Ludwig von Mises wrote: “With a few exceptions contemporary commentators on economic problems are advocating economic intervention. This unanimity does not necessarily mean that they approve of interventionistic measures by government or other coercive powers. Authors of economics … Continue reading
The Premise Behind the Gloomy Gus
There’s a type of person who delights in bad news or negativity. What causes this? In most cases, it affirms for the person a sense that life is futile and hopeless. Such people don’t get inspired by the heroic or … Continue reading