Obama’s forthcoming war in Afghanistan rests on the same flawed foundation as did Bush’s war in Iraq: It’s not winnable. I don’t mean it’s unwinnable militarily; it’s unwinnable conceptually, and therefore military victory is beside the point. The inability of … Continue reading
To be “thankful” means to have something to cheer, or to celebrate. In order to have something to celebrate, you first have to embrace life. Embracing life is not just a wish, but an ongoing rational task requiring effort and … Continue reading
Is America too big to fail? No. America was based on big, sound ideas. These ideas included individual rights, freedom, and private property. They included rationality in the sense of people thinking, and being responsible, for themselves. These big, sound … Continue reading
Anxiety (when it’s not rational) is usually the result of insufficient self-esteem. Self-esteem consists of two parts: Self-efficacy and self-worth. Self-efficacy refers to the view that one is competent, and self-worth refers to the view that one deserves the results of one’s … Continue reading
“Why is he acting this way?” “Why does she do that?” Most people, I find, ask these questions all the time. Therapists get asked this question a lot. My answer is always the same: “He has his reasons.” People do … Continue reading
‘I love this show, this show has been my life — and I love it enough to know when it’s time to say goodbye,” said Oprah Winfrey, proving (even to atheists) that perhaps there is a God, and surely demonstrating … Continue reading
The controversy over how often women should get mammograms illustrates the folly of this administration’s one-size-fits-all approach to medical care. People want guaranteed “universal” coverage, which only the government can enforce. And if government is going to enforce it, government … Continue reading
When in personal conflict, try to remember: The issue isn’t “who’s right?” The issue is “What’s right?” Objective reality, established through the use of facts and reason, is the goal here. Of course we all want to be right. But … Continue reading
Freedom doesn’t happen just because someone else thinks it should. Look at Iraq. Or Afghanistan. Plenty of people think those countries should be free, and are even willing to use the force to back it up — but how well … Continue reading
The release of tension is not the same as the affirmation of values. When you release tension, you’re clearing the way but you’re not creating anything. Often, affirming or experiencing positive values makes tension go away. People constantly looking for … Continue reading
Bringing the 9/11 plotters to New York City for an ordinary criminal trial (no different from a purse snatcher) is a shock to many, but not to myself. Why? Because long before Obama and his parasitic pimps took over the … Continue reading
Honestly speaking, it’s not a person you’re loyal to — it’s your value system. When a person represents something important to you, then you’re loyal to that person because of who he or she is. In this sense, loyalty is … Continue reading