Q: Dr. Hurd, what’s so bad about the welfare state? A compassionate society takes care of its own. Conservatives and liberals agree on this point, morally speaking. When I see a homeless person, I hardly think of such a terrible … Continue reading
Don’t reward the wrong behavior–and don’t reward the wrong attitudes, either. To “reward” means to respond to something wrong or unhealthy by saying or doing something positive for the person who’s wrong. Don’t do it. Try to pay attention to … Continue reading
Self-discipline, self-esteem, and mental health all require a basic love of life. You either love life, or you don’t. If you do, you will take life seriously–and you will exhibit characteristics of self-discipline and good mental habits. If you don’t … Continue reading
It used to be that parental influences were thought to be all determining in an individual’s personality. Freud, and his successors, focused on such factors as the mother-child relationship and alleged infantile sexuality as the determining factor in human nature. … Continue reading
If someone important to you—a spouse, for example—becomes defensive or hostile, then she’s probably starting to lose touch with the facts. You will do your relationship, the person with whom you’re in temporary conflict, and even yourself no service by … Continue reading
Facts are nothing to fear.
People seeking help, even people with emotional problems, usually understand the issues at stake better than a lot of mental health professionals. They understand that what they need are ideas, suggestions, perspective and solutions. They don’t need a relationship with … Continue reading
America is about ready to elect a rock star as President. By “rock star” I mean America is about to elect a celebrity–because he’s a celebrity. This is the main reason for Barack Obama’s surprising rise. Liberals could have done … Continue reading
Wishing is planning with no intention of ever acting. Thinking is conceptualizing and visualizing with the full intention of action. Reason puts the thoughts into place so that action can begin.
“Obama has got my back.” So says a campaign shirt worn by someone I saw out on the boardwalk recently. The more accurate and objective way of phrasing this would be: “Obama has MY back–by reaching into YOUR wallet and … Continue reading
Honesty is a consequence of wanting the truth. One refuses to lie because one doesn’t want to dishonor the truth. Most are confused about this, and think that the purpose of honesty is to be fair to others. It is … Continue reading
Here’s a question: If it will take 10 or 15 years for newly drilled oil to reach the American market, as liberals and environmentalists claim, then why wasn’t action taken 10 or 15 years ago–when President Clinton could have easily … Continue reading