The thought that something like “the right to a secure retirement” could destroy us seems a little crazy at first. Who, after all, opposes old people living comfortably? Nonetheless, many rights do destroy, and it recently struck me that I had never seen a clear and dispassionate explanation of why. And so I’ll rectify that. Continue reading “How Rights Destroy”
A Recipe For Heroes And Saints
Rules and obedience have never elevated anyone to heroism and greatness, but I know what does, and I discovered it in the rubble of 9/11.
I was scheduled to be in New York for a convention in early 2002, and sent an email to my old friend Jack, along the lines of “Hey, I’m coming to NYC. Wanna get lunch?” His reply was simple: “Sure, but first I’d like you to see my new project.” Continue reading “A Recipe For Heroes And Saints”
14 Words
Imagine a pretty spring day. You’re standing on your front porch or some other pleasant vantage point and looking out at a sunlit landscape: trees, grass, and singing birds. Then your five-year-old child or grandchild walks up to you and tugs on your hand to get your attention. You turn and the child asks, “What kind of world is this?”
What do you reply? Continue reading “14 Words”
Control Is An Addiction
Lord Acton wrote that power tends to corrupt, but I’m going to say flat out that it does corrupt. I’ll go further and say that it’s an addiction (probably every bit as bad as cocaine), and that the lust for control is one of its primary drivers. Continue reading “Control Is An Addiction”
Fear Is A Mind Hack
Humans are not naturally stupid. Fear, however, distorts them, weakens them, and makes them far less effective than they’d naturally be. Fear, in its many guises, is the great enemy of mankind, and it’s time that we addressed it head on. Continue reading “Fear Is A Mind Hack”
The Gospel of Ignorance
The good news about ignorance? Yes, and emphatically yes.
The good news about ignorance is that it sets us free from mental chains. Now, to be clear, what I’m talking about here is accepting and admitting our ignorance. This is essential if we want to actually know things, as opposed to making a show of knowing things. And I can tell you from personal experience that it really works. I gained the habit of admitting my ignorance (almost advertising it) back in the early 1980s, and that habit has helped me toward more understanding and discovery than I’d be able to itemize. Continue reading “The Gospel of Ignorance”
Social Media Is A Polarization Machine
Sure, we’ve all seen this in practice and people have developed catchy terms for it, like echo chamber, but the polarization effect of social media has been demonstrated scientifically. In fact, some of us were warning about it a long time ago. And while I can no longer find my original documentation on the subject, I can tell you precisely how it works. Continue reading “Social Media Is A Polarization Machine”
Would You Like An Advantage In Business?
I spent a a good deal of my young adulthood searching for business advantages. Ultimately I found mine by reading: While the other guys were talking about nonsense and chugging back brews, I was reading the literature of my business… and it worked.
Things are a bit different nowadays, but I still respect the drive to get ahead, and today I have something for all who are interested: a big advantage, ready for the taking. Most people will turn away from it, but if you’re serious about getting ahead, this is for you. Continue reading “Would You Like An Advantage In Business?”
Why Can’t We Thrive Like 1905?
When writing historical things, I try to include perspective from people who actually lived through the events. And for money issues in the US, I’m able to do that back to about 1905.
So, do you think life was nasty, brutish, and short in 1905? That there were poor and starving people falling dead on every street corner?
The Luxury Of Thinking One’s Own Thoughts
When people think of luxuries, they think of things that rich people can afford but they can’t. And as it happens, the luxury I’m talking about today fits into that category. I’m hearing reports of very rich people enjoying this luxury, while people of lesser means find it unattainable. Continue reading “The Luxury Of Thinking One’s Own Thoughts”