American Happiness

I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them. - Thomas Jefferson 


It looks like sad times may get sadder.


(Other posts on Government) 

Self Employment

In business for yourself, not by yourself. - William James 


At a minimum there is always you and your customer. If you don't have a customer you are not in business.


(Other posts on Business) 

Attacking Ideas

The question of who is right and who is wrong has seemed to me always too small to be worth a moment's thought, while the question of what is right and what is wrong has seemed all-important. - Albert J. Nock 


Be sure to attack ideas, not the person who holds them, because you have every right to expect the same from others.


(Other posts on Criticism) 

Lead by Being Average?

We can't drive our SUVs and eat as much as we want and keep our homes on 72 degrees at all times... and then just expect that other countries are going to say OK. That's not leadership. That's not going to happen. - Barack Obama 


What a novel way lower immigration rates! Make our country just as crappy as all the others.


(Other posts on Leadership) 

Coping

All living souls welcome whatever they are ready to cope with; all else they ignore, or pronounce to be monstrous and wrong, or deny to be possible. - George Santayana 


So when trying to convince someone prepare them to be able to cope with your idea.


(Other posts on Persuasion) 

Keep Going

Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out they've got a second. - William James 


Keep going!


(Other posts on Achievement) 

Augmented Post

Sometimes I have more to say. From a previous post:


We are at the very beginning of time for the human race. It is not unreasonable that we grapple with problems. But there are tens of thousands of years in the future. Our responsibility is to do what we can, learn what we can, improve the solutions, and pass them on. - Richard Feynman 

We are not at the apex of knowledge on any subject.


When you adopt the point of view that a particular set of ideas are the pinnacle of thought it leads to some nasty habits like incessantly quoting that source, whether it be your chosen religious text or your favorite philosopher. As soon as you do that you have moved from reason into the realm of dogma which is reason enough to ignore everything you have said (or are going to say). These quotations are invariably presented with the implication that since the source is at the apex of knowledge on that subject and they said it, it must be true and since you quoted them you must be speaking the truth. Too big a leap for me - I'll just quit listening - thank you.


Sometimes people are amazed that I present quotes here from such varied sources as Homer Simpson, Hitler and Lao Tzu. It is not that I endorse their view of the world, it is because I find truth and thoughtfulness in one of their particular statements. I am not, and never will be, at the apex of knowledge. It is not the unattainable peak I seek but the climb, so I might see further. To adopt a particular set of words as the apex means you are stuck on what may only be a hill. Progress is a journey towards higher peaks - don't get stuck on a hill.

Judges Criteria

We need somebody who's got the heart, the empathy, to recognize what it's like to be a young teenage mom, the empathy to understand what it's like to be poor or African-American or gay or disabled or old - and that's the criterion by which I'll be selecting my judges. - Barack Obama 


I thought Judges were supposed to judge according to the law - that judging by emotion was legislating from the bench.


(Other posts on Law) 

Just Starting

We are at the very beginning of time for the human race. It is not unreasonable that we grapple with problems. But there are tens of thousands of years in the future. Our responsibility is to do what we can, learn what we can, improve the solutions, and pass them on. - Richard Feynman 


We are not at the apex of knowledge on any subject.


(Other posts on Achievement) 

Spreading Wealth

I think when you spread the wealth around it's good for everybody. - Barack Obama 


It's called Socialism.


(Other posts on Wealth)