“President Obama” is the result of people recognizing, correctly, that they need a leader — and incorrectly assuming that ANY leader will do. Obama looks, talks and speaks like a leader, if you pay absolutely no attention whatsoever to any … Continue reading
Category: Daily Dose of Reason
The USA Goes Postal
The President and Congress are proposing elimination of the mortgage deduction on “rich” homeowners. In exchange, they’re going to essentially nationalize the banks and the entire mortgage market. They also propose elimination of tax deductions on those who pay for … Continue reading
Do What You Say, Not What They Say
Do what makes most sense to you. Try to base it on the facts, and on reason. Don’t be swayed by others–even family and friends. When influenced by them, try to examine their reasoning. Do their conclusions and recommendations follow … Continue reading
Ayn Rand Was Right: America Goes Fascist
Much has been written lately about whether America is becoming a socialist country. Socialism refers to the economic and social system in which everything is owned by the government. Nobody has been writing about whether the United States has become … Continue reading
What Rationalizing Is and Isn’t
It’s not rationalizing when you have rational facts to back up your conclusion — and when you haven’t deliberately left any facts out. I sometimes hear people say, “I have to rationalize my decision.” They say it as if this … Continue reading
Health Care Underground
Did you know that the Canadian government spends over $1 billion each year for Canadians to receive medical treatment in the United States? If national health insurance is so great, then why must the Canadian government, which provides national health … Continue reading
Leave it to “Them”
Q: Why is it that people believe that the government can never be wrong, but business will always be guilty? A: Most people don’t have a philosophy of government as either “good” or “bad.” In most people’s minds, government simply … Continue reading
Quick Question
If customers benefit because airlines count on profits, and because manufacturers of iPods, automobiles and televisions count on profits to motivate them–then why is it better to remove profit from medical care, and pharmaceuticals, as government is presently doing?
Cutting Govt. Spending Sets People Free
Q: Dr. Hurd, I read with interest your opposition to Obama’s economic program, and government intervention in the economy more generally. My question is this: If you don’t want Obama’s plan, what would you do–what would you support? A: I … Continue reading
The Futility of “Nationalization”
New York University undergraduate and economics student Zachary Caceres wrote the following in response to his college newspaper’s sympathy to government intervention in the economy. To Jessie Yoh: I enjoyed your column on Nationalization in today’s WSN. However, I think … Continue reading
Why To Go On
A crisis–even a catastrophe–does not necessarily mean the end. It can mean the end, but it doesn’t have to mean the end. For an individual, or a society, so long as you are still alive, and so long as you … Continue reading
The Essence of Freedom–And Sanity
Q: Dr. Hurd, I hate being told that I HAVE to do something. Is this an indication of immaturity, as some in my life have told me? A: No. Hating to be told what to do is an indication of … Continue reading