Many millions of well-intentioned yet muddle-headed people (along with a much smaller number of opportunistic megalomaniacs) have put forth a “philosophy” that has ended up getting tens of millions of people murdered. How could that possibly happen?
Tag: poverty
Trump & Co.’s Vile Anti-Immigrationism
It should not be the government’s prerogative to define and ensure immigrants’ “success” and assimilation. We have zero reason to be confident in the ability of politicians and bureaucrats to predict success, however defined.
What Are You Running From?
Too many people treat the process of “finding what you love” or “following your passion” as if it’s some kind of golden ticket that exempts them from the otherwise normal human experience of self-doubt, temptation, stress, risk, and adversity.
It’s a Good Thing the Internet Makes it Easier for Crazies to Find Each Other
The fact that we political and parental radicals have found these ideas and each other is not only a silver lining to this larger phenomenon, nor should we who recognize this and the other kinds of crazy that are persisting and spreading lament it as such. I think we do our voluntaryist ideals a disservice when we do, which brings me to my second reason.
The Flynn Effect vs. the Greatest Minds in History
What do rising IQs really show? I remain undecided, but here’s an argument that strongly inclines me to pessimism. To wit: When I read the smartest thinkers from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, they seem roughly as smart as the smartest thinkers from the 20th century. In fact, the same goes for the smartest Greeks from the 4th and 5th centuries B.C.
Evolution IV — Elevation of Reason
We should be able to solve most problems, particularly those arising through war, poverty, irrationality, and malfeasance. But the scroll of history shows the contrary. We have little to boast of in any of these areas.
Evolution III — End to Poverty
We cannot say that our species is a positive contribution to evolution as long as poverty exists on a substantial scale. The scale will be substantial as long as we have institutionalized slavery, human trafficking, exploitation, famine, and drought.
Evolution I — Query
What would be counted as successes in the evolution of humans? I have often observed that I regard the human species as a failed experiment in creatures with rational tools. I believe there will be a fork for the better in some future iteration.
Why Do People Espouse Anarchy?
Because they believe that kindness is better than cruelty, cooperation is better than conflict, truth is better than lies, reason is better than force, honesty is better than deception, peace is better than war…
What the American Flag Means to Me
The American flag, the “star-spangled banner” is one of those things whose meaning to me has changed significantly over the course of my life. Once upon a time it meant being a winning nation, the best the world had ever seen in terms of righteousness, justice, freedom, and opportunity. When I saw the flag, those are the ideas that were brought to mind, ideas that I value, and produced the warm and fuzzies deep inside. I admired and waved the stars and stripes with a sense of pride. What the American flag means to me today is very different than what it meant to me as recently as 10 years ago.