My outdoor reading expedition reminded me of the stark difference between today’s experience and a day spent reading inside on my couch. I almost always feel better when I’m reading outside.
Tag: climate
Climate Change, Biases, Nukes, & Class Warfare (39m) – Editor’s Break 046
Editor’s Break 046 has Skyler giving his commentary on the following topics: what, if anything, government can do about so-called climate change, the reasons for his biases against government solutions, why the possession of nuclear weapons are a violation of the non-aggression principle, his new website, UnschoolingDads.com, the incessant nature of class warfare, and more.
Liars First
This morning, I heard a BBC report, wherein an American journalist was being interviewed about the weather in New York City. This was a fever pitch affair, for there has never before been snow and cold in NYC — right?
Authorities They Are Not
Political discourse is an open-access activity. Anyone can have a say. Among those whose opinions and allegations receive the most notice are celebrities — especially entertainers, actors, TV news figure and pundits, athletes, and people who are famous only for being famous — and politicians. The prominent attention that these persons’ statements garner is unfortunate, to say the least.
Optimality—the Mainstream Economist’s Holy Grail
Politicians are not philosopher kings, not dedicated social engineers selflessly focused on the public interest (itself an elusive concept). They know how to gain election or appointment to public office, and hardly anything else.
Left and Right are Bad, Left is Much Worse
I’m finding that many moderates, libertarians and independents have lost perspective on left/right cultural dynamics. I think, sometimes, their desire to not take sides (good for them), has made them equate both sides to being equal in effect and harm.
Statist Stockholm Syndrome
Stockholm syndrome is a psychological condition of traumatic bonding in which a victim comes to empathize with an abuser so much that they will identify with and defend them. It is evident in many who consider themselves compassionate and patriotic, as evidenced by the following statist hogwash I recently saw going around social media.
Voluntary Law and Order
People are not all the same, and they make different choices because they have different values, circumstances, and levels of understanding. Sometimes those choices are peaceful and wise; sometimes they are not. So what are the best ways to promote good choices and cooperation while preventing and providing resolution for conflict?
Cognitive Bias #4 — Overconfidence
Self-appointed experts, aka politicians, seem to be the worst. Here’s an example: Everybody I talk to, and I talk to a lot of people, say that there is climate change. So, I have educated myself about it.
“Food Insecurity” and Who’s to Blame
Individual action, motivated by self-interest, would solve the problem. Only when the Grand Designs of Central Planners get in the way, with their “laws” and other one-size-fits-all nonsense, does individual action run into roadblocks.