There are two schools of thought about ObamaCare’s fate. One is that a minority has no right to force a bill on the majority that a majority do not want. It’s clear that about a third of the country wants … Continue reading
Negative self-talk consists of the belief that reality is basically unfriendly to you personally, while it’s basically friendly to others. But reality doesn’t have a will and consciousness of its own. Reality doesn’t arbitrarily and unjustly pick out some people … Continue reading
William Shatner has a great new talk show called “Raw Nerve.” Unlike Oprah, Shatner is an interviewer, not a flatterer (although Orpah only flatters those she likes). Recently, Shatner interviewed the talk show host Jerry Springer. Jerry Springer is that … Continue reading
To love someone, you must love them as they are. You have to honestly and sincerely love them as they are. If you honestly can’t, then you can’t force it or fake it. Appeals to duty or rationalization (‘Well, I … Continue reading
Q: I know you, like Ayn Rand, write about the “virtue of self-interest” and contend that self-fulfillment is both moral and rationally healthy. Don’t you think there are situations where self-denial is a virtue and is, indeed, psychologically healthy? Can’t … Continue reading
Q: I have friends who are in relationships, but have no qualms about cheating on their partners. Still, they are able to keep their relationships. Me, however, who would be respectful of my partner, and would never lie, does not … Continue reading
Shame is a major fuel of irrational, unnecessary anxiety. Shame is not the same as guilt. The emotion of guilt applies (rightly or wrongly) to remorse over one’s actions; shame refers to remorse over one’s thoughts or even emotions (in … Continue reading
I tend to take the following policy towards anyone who has a lot of money: Assume they made it honestly and through their own efforts unless there’s evidence to the contrary. This is admittedly more complicated and confusing in a … Continue reading
Sometimes — not always, but sometimes — it’s good to defer relaxation. By deferring relaxation, you make the quality of your relaxation time better, even if the quantity is somewhat smaller. By ‘quality’ I mean a feeling of satisfaction while … Continue reading
Clearly, the Democrats and their policies are unpopular. But what is the alternative? For what can you vote, when you go into the ballot box? Republicans are the party of nothing, even now. If Republicans took over tomorrow, most of … Continue reading
Culture does not determine personality. People are people — and people are first and foremost individuals. Individualism is not simply a philosophy of how people should be, but also a description of what they are. The polite word for the … Continue reading
Authority does not reside in someone’s status. It resides in the status of what they say — that is, whether or not what they say corresponds to rational truth and facts, or not. If it does, then you don’t need … Continue reading