Although the public choice school of political economy has been demonized in a new work of putatively progressive fiction masquerading as intellectual history, good-faith leftists (if they don’t already regard themselves as libertarians) may be surprised by how their cause could benefit from the insights of James Buchanan, et al.
Tag: honor
Meaningful Learning Is Just-in-Time, Not Just-in-Case
Average people learn what they need to avoid pain. Elite people learn what they need to get the grade, ace the test, win the award, gain certification, impress people, and obtain honors. Ascendant people don’t care about accolades or awards or tests or stickers or stars. They learn exactly what’s needed to solve a problem that matters to them, exactly when it’s needed. No more, no less. No sooner, no later.
Patriotism, an Abomination
How exactly does “celebrating freedom” equate to swearing allegiance to a republic (which is a form of “government,” or ruling class)? Well, it doesn’t. And, for those who dare to look, this is where the true, diabolical nature of “patriotism” starts to rear its ugly head.
NAP Permission
Let’s be clear. Just because the NAP (Non-aggression Principle) provides a relief valve for self-preservation does not mean violence is OK. Violence is never preferable, it is excusable, at best, in very limited cases.
The Unexpected Pleasures of More Than a Decade of Reading Harry Potter
I absolutely love the Harry Potter series, and have had the immense pleasure and honor of reading it to my kids, learning new things each time, finding new pleasures with each one, rediscovering details I’d forgotten, falling in love with the characters all over again each time. Reading the series with four kids brought me some unexpected pleasures.
Statism’s Made-Up Concepts, Words, and Delusions
Most “crimes” aren’t wrong. They certainly aren’t unethical, and are probably not immoral, unless the State’s opinion colors your morality–in which case your “morality” is less than worthless to me.
War, and Those Who Make It
What is it with people glorifying war and those whom governments use to make war? War isn’t manly, heroic, or honorable. It is childish. Allowing a government to send you to someone else’s territory to make war is stupid.
A Guide to Fear Mastery
We normally think of fear as something that’s holding us back, or something to be avoided … but what if we could see it as a powerful tool? What if we could master that tool? We’d become masters at life, able to push through fears of rejection, failure, ridicule, and more.
Police Culture Poisons the Individual
While a good guy could become a cop, the culture poisons the individual. The incentives of government, monopolies, unions and feeling camaraderie with others in the same culture all concentrate themselves into a situation that cops must be immoral and indecent to remain cops.
Kids Learn Naturally: Why Compulsory Schooling is Unneccessary and Even Harmful, A Case Study
Life is learning. Language has a definite purpose for us, and utility. In short, learning the language our mommy and daddy use to communicate has meaning. We need to get that milk! We need our blessed diaper changed! This language stuff gets shit done! Without meaning, “education” is a breathtakingly inane and pathetic waste of an individual’s time.