By Bryan Hyde If patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel as Samuel Johnson suggested in 1775, one can’t help but wonder what the first refuge might have been. In our day, the answer to that question would most likely consist of what Gilbert Ryle referred to as the bogus or unspecified predicate as a means of silencing dissent. The … [Read more...]
The Camel’s Nose Under the Tent Flap
By Chris Brady People don't like to be told what to do. Even children are not very receptive to instruction. So when governments set out to take over peoples' freedoms (which means, quite simply, government telling people what to do instead of people making their own choices) they have to get crafty. Some serious skill is required. … [Read more...]
Is America Becoming Like Europe?
By Oliver DeMille For decades, many elite liberals in America have wanted the United States to become more like Europe. During the Cold War the NATO agreement naturally kept Europe and the U.S. in a cooperative relationship. But after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, an Atlantic divide appeared as U.S. and European Union interests … [Read more...]
Our New National Hymn: How Great We Art
By Bryan Hyde "Raise their heads on gilded poles! Roast the fatted calf! We need a rousing song--summon Toby Keith!" - from The Onion on the killing of Usay & Quday Hussein by U.S forces in 2003. The past couple of weeks have revealed a great deal about the character of the average American. It's not exactly good news either. When … [Read more...]
What Type of Government Does America Have Today?
By Oliver DeMille -Free democracies protect the property of all. -Socialist nations protect the property of none. -Monarchies consider all property the estate of the king. -Aristocracies have one set of property and investment laws for the very rich and a different one for the rest.* -Free democracies assess tax money fairly from all … [Read more...]
The Pursuit of Happiness
By Chris Brady "Don't make that face! It might freeze that way!" It's a silly little thing parents say to kids. We've all heard it. Even as children we knew it wasn't true. But now I'm aging and I realize something profound: it was true! There are lines in my face representing the most dominant facial expressions I've been making all these … [Read more...]
Why You Can’t Get No Satisfaction
By Steve D'Annunzio “What everyone wants from life is continuous and genuine happiness.” - Baruch Spinoza Everything that everyone does—without exception—is calculated to bring him or her more satisfaction, fulfillment, and happiness. Everything. From changing jobs to reading books to buying clothes and cars to going to church to … [Read more...]
The Best Leaders Have Fun
By Chris Brady "It's kind of fun to do the impossible," said Walt Disney. "People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing," wrote Dale Carnegie. "I never did a day's work in my life. It was all fun," said Thomas Edison. "If you watch a game, it's fun. If you play it, it's recreation. If you work at it, it's golf," … [Read more...]
Find Success in the Fork in the Road
By Orrin Woodward It’s before 7 AM, on a foggy Saturday morning, and my mind is mulling over the personal development habits that produce champions. Everyone, without exception, can become a champion by changing his daily habits. One of the problems in life, is that bad habits are easy to develop, while good habits are hard to develop. … [Read more...]
Wealth is Created Through Unequal Exchange
By Garrett Gunderson We only make exchanges when we value what we’re receiving more than we value what we’re giving away. Economics is the science of the efficient allocation of resources. Through free exchange, all resources—material and otherwise—end up in the hands of those who value them the most, and those who value them the most will … [Read more...]