Continued from yesterday’s Daily Dose of Reason What are some antidotes to irrational anger? The most effective, but also the most difficult at times, is simply changing the way you think. Use your irrational angry outbursts—or the threat of one—as … Continue reading
Why are Some People Angrier than Others? According to Jerry Deffenbacher, Ph.D., a psychologist who specializes in anger management, some people really are more ‘hotheaded’ than others, becoming angry more easily and more intensely. There are also those who don’t … Continue reading
Lessons from the Battle of Wisconsin, where the standoff took place between Republicans and Democrats over the alleged rights of public union workers: 1) When the Obama Administration and union officials make threats, including reportedly physical threats, against their political … Continue reading
The bad news I feared is here. Republicans are wobbling, and Republicans are disappointing. This isn’t true everywhere (such as New Jersey), but it’s true in most places. The House leadership has put forth a bill cutting about $60 billion … Continue reading
An email with photographs of pro-Islamic protesters in England displays the following signs and slogans of the protesters: “Freedom Go to Hell” Now that’s interesting. These pro-Iranian and pro-Islamic dictatorship protesters want freedom to do what they please. They want … Continue reading
Principles matter — but so does strategy. In order to avoid a government shutdown, House Republicans keep extending existing big spending budgets every two weeks. These “stopgap” budgets may have some cuts, but not nearly what Republicans are proposing and … Continue reading
1) Call your troubling emotions an “illness.” An illness is something that happens to you independent of your control. While certain behaviors under your control (smoking, for example) may bring on illness, once an illness develops it runs its … Continue reading
Dear Dr. Hurd, We are interested in getting your insights into the latest craze of seeing who can be the trashiest star. Just when we thought that Brittany Spears had gotten enough negative attention and things would settle, Charlie Sheen … Continue reading
Q: Dr. Hurd, I’m in high school. A friend of mine at school keeps complaining that his parents treat him harsher than they treat his older brother. It’s not that they’re abusive or anything. However, they seem to hold him … Continue reading
Everybody knows gas prices are going higher. The worst is probably yet to come this summer, when more people drive greater distances. As demand goes up while supply stays the same or goes down, prices tend to rise. When this … Continue reading
When taking on a major and complex agenda, it’s important to distinguish between goal ‘ and purpose. The Republicans in Congress are strong on goals but, so far, short on purpose. Balancing the budget is a proper goal; limiting the … Continue reading
Imagine if hundreds of anti-ObamaCare protestors camped out in Congress last year, back when Nancy Pelosi was still in charge of the House of Representatives. Imagine if they stayed days on end, dirtying up the halls of Congress and disrupting … Continue reading