What’s the difference between fear and phobia? Fear is rational when you’re trying to uphold something valid, such as cleanliness or being organized. Fear is irrational when you’re primarily concerned with avoiding problems rather than upholding something positive. For example, … Continue reading
Category: Daily Dose of Reason
Big Government Goes to School
I recently read that the federal government is taking over the college student loan program. Colleges and students are worried about the expected lack of efficiency now that government, rather than private banks operating at a profit, will be responsible … Continue reading
Can Greed be Good?
The notion of “greed” mingles two opposite concepts. One is ambition — and I mean ambition in the widest sense, not solely for financial or career gain. “Ambition” in the widest sense means a zest for life, a commitment to … Continue reading
The Fast Track to Socialized Medicine
People argue about the “public option” aspect of socialized medicine as if it’s the primary point. It’s not. While it is true that the “public option,” if implemented, will wipe out what’s left of the marketplace for health insurance and … Continue reading
Obama Youth
“If you quit on school … you’re quitting on your country.” Excuse me? Is President Obama, by saying this to public school children, implying that the purpose of going to school is to serve the state — i.e., “the country”? … Continue reading
Nobody’s Looking
If it’s true that integrity is what you exhibit when nobody’s looking, it’s also true (by implication) that integrity is something you do for your OWN sake. This means that morality, which integrity serves, ought to be self-interested and rational … Continue reading
Bitter, Party of One
Bitterness is an emotional state of resentment combined with anger. It’s usually chronic, in nature. A bitter person feels entitled to something he or she didn’t get — whether it’s a specific courtesy or something as unspecified as happiness. Bitterness … Continue reading
Educational Concentration Camp
I feel for the parents who don’t want their children in public schools to be “brainwashed” or otherwise exploited by the politician-in-chief, who at least originally planned to give a speech calling on children to support his policies. However, these … Continue reading
Just a Little Unwell
Some people don’t like to be treated well. Why is this? There can be many reasons, depending on the exact psychology of the person who craves mistreatment. One reason is low self-worth, obviously. The form this takes is: “I’m not … Continue reading
Pull the Trigger?
The latest and greatest approach being tried by advocates of socialized medicine? The trigger. It’s an appropriate analogy, because giving government the keys to the entire practice of medicine, forevermore, is the same as pulling the trigger on a gun … Continue reading
Realistic Optimism
Realistic optimism consists of two parts. The first is that you face facts, at all times, and consider all relevant facts. The second is that you assume the positive is more powerful and more relevant than the negative. Even when … Continue reading
Health Care: The Answer is Staring Us in the Face
A government-run health plan is not merely “too extreme” or “overdoing it.” A government-run health plan is precisely the opposite of how it should be. The government “controls costs” by forcing doctors and patients to behave in ways other than … Continue reading