Don’t make pleasing others your goal. Make pleasing yourself the goal. The people who really matter will be pleased that you did.
If You Please
Category: Daily Dose of Reason
Approach to Life
Life isn’t about the elimination of fear or the eradication of sadness. It’s about the creation of value and purpose — about material and emotional fulfillment. If you eliminate fear without creating value — if that were even possible –you … Continue reading
Freedom and Dictatorship: Equal Partners!?
If we’re going to “reach out” and act as “equal partners” with dictators like Hugo Chavez and Fidel Castro, who enslave, kill and otherwise terrorize their victims, what, exactly will be our common ground? Is it that being nice to … Continue reading
Not-So-Funny Money
Says the President of the United States: “If were going to rebuild our economy on a solid foundation, we need to change the way we do business in Washington. We need to restore the American people’s confidence in their government … Continue reading
Starting Over
Many people who support liberty and individual rights are reacting to current events with depression and even despair. I find this reaction puzzling. Of course I understand that the present course of our government, from both a moral and practical … Continue reading
A Much Better President Than Today
These are Dr. Hurd’s comments on Ronald Reagan, from a review of a book on Reagan found on this site at the Booklist under Society/Culture. These comments seem relevant at a time when the current American President has a set … Continue reading
The American Tea Party
Tea parties to protest government spending and taxation are fine. But be careful. Make sure you’re clear on what you support, and why. An anarchist could support a tea party because he doesn’t want any government. A socialist could support … Continue reading
When They Turn, They Turn
Many Americans are starting to wake up to the idiotic travesty that our government has become. This stirring is reflected in some of the wonderful signs at the rallies held around the country at anti-tax Tea Parties yesterday. Here’s a … Continue reading
The Psychology of Spending in Today’s “Economy”
Many people are cutting back on expenditures because of the current “economy.” In one sense, this is rational behavior, provided that the economic conditions are merely a reminder of what you should have been previously doing. But this isn’t the … Continue reading
Some Perspective on the “Religion of Peace”
The following was not written by Dr. Hurd, but was received from a reliable reader. It is reportedly adapted from Dr. Peter Hammond’s book: Slavery, Terrorism and Islam: The Historical Roots and Contemporary Threat. It illustrates, dramatically well, the concrete … Continue reading
Turning Green
I’m going paperless. Specifically, I’m asking my banks and other financial institutions to stop sending me paper statements I can more easily obtain online. Yes, in a sense I’m “going green.” Am I doing this to save these businesses money? … Continue reading
The Meaning of “Self-Medication”
The biggest problem with “self-medication” is when it takes on a life of its own. Let’s say you drink, to self-medicate over anxiety about aspects of your life. Instead of thinking and doing something about those problems, you simply continue … Continue reading