“If you quit on school … you’re quitting on your country.” Excuse me? Is President Obama, by saying this to public school children, implying that the purpose of going to school is to serve the state — i.e., “the country”? … Continue reading
If it’s true that integrity is what you exhibit when nobody’s looking, it’s also true (by implication) that integrity is something you do for your OWN sake. This means that morality, which integrity serves, ought to be self-interested and rational … Continue reading
Bitterness is an emotional state of resentment combined with anger. It’s usually chronic, in nature. A bitter person feels entitled to something he or she didn’t get — whether it’s a specific courtesy or something as unspecified as happiness. Bitterness … Continue reading
I feel for the parents who don’t want their children in public schools to be “brainwashed” or otherwise exploited by the politician-in-chief, who at least originally planned to give a speech calling on children to support his policies. However, these … Continue reading
Some people don’t like to be treated well. Why is this? There can be many reasons, depending on the exact psychology of the person who craves mistreatment. One reason is low self-worth, obviously. The form this takes is: “I’m not … Continue reading
The latest and greatest approach being tried by advocates of socialized medicine? The trigger. It’s an appropriate analogy, because giving government the keys to the entire practice of medicine, forevermore, is the same as pulling the trigger on a gun … Continue reading
Realistic optimism consists of two parts. The first is that you face facts, at all times, and consider all relevant facts. The second is that you assume the positive is more powerful and more relevant than the negative. Even when … Continue reading
A government-run health plan is not merely “too extreme” or “overdoing it.” A government-run health plan is precisely the opposite of how it should be. The government “controls costs” by forcing doctors and patients to behave in ways other than … Continue reading
You can try to escape choice, but you still cannot escape deciding. To decide not to make a choice is still to decide. So you might as well face it–and choose.
Manners are primarily for the sake of the person who practices them. They enable the person with manners to have a respect for human association, which means to make his or her own associations more comfortable and satisfying. You show … Continue reading
The issue isn’t whether to “get help” or to be independent. That’s a false choice. The issue is whether to help yourself, or to find someone to help you help yourself. Helping yourself is fine. But there’s nothing wrong with … Continue reading
Do you define your work–or does your work define you? Your work is supposed to “work” for you. Ideally, it fulfills you and provides meaning and purpose for you, along with a good income. Worst case, it enables you to … Continue reading