Being “rational” does not mean the absence of feelings. It means knowing what the reasons for your feelings are — and accepting feelings only when there are facts to back them up.
What Most People Don’t Get
Category: Daily Dose of Reason
Tea, Anyone?
Like so many other movements in American politics, the “tea party” movement is hard to endorse — or condemn — because it’s hard to know what it is. As a case in point, look at Sharron Angle, the Republican/Tea Party-favorite … Continue reading
Worry About Worry?
Obsessive anxiety comes from worrying about your anxiety. If you stop trying to fight the anxiety, it will eventually go away. Big caveat here: It won’t go away immediately. So when you tell yourself, ‘Stop fighting it, don’t worry, the … Continue reading
Now They Know…Obama isn’t a “God”
Obama is down in the polls — but for the wrong reasons. Instead of being down in the polls for systematically destroying the economy through nationalization of private industry, devaluation of the currency, punitive taxation and unprecedented debt, he’s down … Continue reading
Why All Employment is Self-Employment
To most people, “working for yourself” means working for an employer or business rather than being self-employed. This is an economic definition, but isn’t the real definition. Properly understood, “working for yourself” is actually redundant. Think about it. The alternative … Continue reading
Is America Now Fascist and Socialist?
Q: Does Obama’s march towards socialism and fascism mean that America is done and over? A: Obama’s march towards socialism and fascism is merely an extension of what government has been doing all along, for decades. It’s nothing new. Yes, it’s … Continue reading
YOU Create Who You Are
Diagnostic labels such as “depression” and “narcissistic personality disorder” and all the rest are of limited value. In some cases, they actually do harm because they imply no personal responsibility on the part of the person with the problem for … Continue reading
Individual-Sized Rights
A reader writes in: “Dr. Hurd, in reference to your article on individual and property rights…don’t forget the airlines that require a ‘person of size’ purchase two tickets for one person to fly. Since the airline is privately owned, it’s … Continue reading
What is a “Soul”?
Your soul is your consciousness — i.e., your mind. “Soul” consists of what you think, feel, perceive, hope for, feel angry about, or appraise in any cognitive, mental way. Your thoughts are the most fundamental part of your soul; all … Continue reading
Why Arrogance is Not Self-Esteem
Arrogance does not refer to self-esteem. Arrogance is a mental and emotional attitude best expressed by the statement, “I’m incapable of error or wrongdoing. If I do, think or say something, it’s automatically right.” Isn’t this an indication of “too … Continue reading
As Rome Burns, a (Brief) Moment of Rationality
Even in a mental hospital filled with psychotics and schizophrenics, you’ll hear an occasional rational, coherent and true statement. So too with Washington D.C. (I mean no insult to the mentally ill when comparing them to the typical Washington politician). … Continue reading
That Elusive Competence
Columnist Peggy Noonan, in writing of Obama’s handling of the Gulf oil spill, got this one right: “But Republicans should beware, and even mute their mischief. We’re in the middle of an actual disaster. When they win back the presidency, … Continue reading