Dear Dr. Hurd: I notice you live in Delaware, where Christine O’Donnell is running for Joe Biden’s former Senate seat. Do you plan to vote for her? Dr. Hurd’s Answer: Yes. Or more precisely, I plan to vote against Obama … Continue reading
Chicago Mayor Richard Daley — a liberal Democrat, no less — recently commented that “almost 95 percent” of his city’s skyscrapers were private sector constructions. He then said, “I don’t think Democrats realize how important business is to our economy … Continue reading
TV reporter John Stossel recently did a “man on the street” interview of mostly young people (early 20s) in Times Square, New York. He asked people what their ideal political candidate would do. Without exception, the answers all involved receiving … Continue reading
Q: You wrote that guilt and shame are not good motivators. But aren’t they useful if you have, in fact, done something wrong? A: If somebody did something deliberately to harm you, then what kind of person do you think … Continue reading
Patrick Henry might as well have been living today, as one of the better hosts on Fox News. Consider these quotes of his, way back when: ‘The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it … Continue reading
Shame and guilt are never good motivators. When the person is guilty of something bad, he must have lacked a conscience, so it’s too late for motivation by shame and guilt. If a person is guilty of nothing wrong, then … Continue reading
Big Government do-gooderism is justified on the premise that ‘people who are in trouble can and must be helped.’ It started out as, ‘If they’re starving or homeless, a little temporary help will be provided to get them back on … Continue reading
Toxic people are people who are bright and articulate — but deeply wrong. They invite you to think less of yourself, to question yourself for no particular reason. A toxic person does not say, “I don’t follow your reasoning” and … Continue reading
James Madison, father of the American Constitution, had much to say about politics and government in the United States of 2010. Consider some examples. ‘It will be of little avail to the people that the laws are made by men … Continue reading
Dear Dr. Hurd: I feel conflicted about my loneliness, because sometimes I think the people around me, who are seemingly rejecting me, are not worth knowing anyway. On the one hand, I want to know more people and feel less … Continue reading
Dear Dr. Hurd: I have heroes I admire, and I try to live up to the standards of those heroes. But sometimes I make mistakes and I’m disappointed in myself for not living up to my standards. I also become … Continue reading
Today’s political and intellectual leaders are either disappointing or dismal. But don’t lose hope. In early America, there were wise men such as Ben Franklin. Wisdom is not on the scene at present. But its prior dominance means that wisdom … Continue reading