DoC Blog

Should You Have a Vision Greater Than Self?

Submitted by kim on Fri, 11/22/2013 - 00:15

by Don Beezley
 
It’s common to try and motivate folks by urging them to “have a vision greater than self” i.e., to place something else above the value of the individual. It sounds appealing—we all want our lives to have meaning, be a part of great causes, make a difference and leave the world a better place. All of that is possible and desirable. However, there is a catch in this “something greater than self” thinking.
 
As soon as you believe that the individual is not the primary value, you accept the possibility that something else can be more important than the individual, and the individual can, therefore, reasonably be sacrificed to that cause or vision....

Eric Weissman On Syria

Submitted by kim on Wed, 09/04/2013 - 10:26

Dear Friends:
It's been a while since I wrote you – but the crossroads facing our nation is too important not to be addressed. The President should be commended for following the Constitutional order and referring questions of initiating hostilities to the Congress.  Congress – and the nation – will have a debate.  Let’s be clear: The United States should not use military force in Syria.
Military action must be used only where vital national interests are at stake.  America’s vital interest in the Middle East are four: fighting Islamic terrorism, preventing proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, ensuring the free world’s access to...

Three Cheers for Tim Cook!

Submitted by michael on Tue, 05/21/2013 - 16:01

If you believe that America has big problems because our culture no longer recognizes rights, encourages innovation or celebrates success – then you gotta be a little encouraged by Apple’s CEO.  If you are looking for some spine amongst the producers of the world to get involved in the battle for our culture, Mr. Cook showed a hint of what we really need.  Cook was unapologetic in front of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations about Apple’s use of the tax code to reduce its tax burden as much as possible for shareholders.

Like many successful corporations, Apple keeps some of its earnings overseas to avoid paying taxes in the US.  There’s been a...

All Progress Starts with the Truth

Submitted by michael on Fri, 03/01/2013 - 15:18

We can't get anywhere unless we identify the truth and Helen Raleigh nails it in this article.  I especially like her use of the Frederick Douglas quote:  “The life of a nation is secure only while the nation is honest, truthful, and virtuous."

Douglass was truly an American hero and I'll write a post someday about how much of a defender of capitalism he was.  Look up Self-Made Men by him and you'll get a flavor of how he might respond to Obama's "you didn't build that" view of the world.

 

 

"Illegal" immigrants and Nuremburg

Submitted by michael on Tue, 02/19/2013 - 08:42

by Harry Binswanger
(posted with permission from HBL:  www.hblist.com
 
Other than (most) HBLers, virtually everyone regards “illegal” immigration as dishonorable, if not contemptible. There is a stain of dishonor here, but it brands the illegalizers. Making free, peaceful travel illegal is a grave violation of rights, the rights of immigrants and of the Americans who would trade with, learn from, and befriend them.
 
Given that laws restricting immigration are dead wrong, what are we to think of those who break these laws? Well, the “illegals” broke them because they value America. They broke them in order to live a...

Free Speech goes with Free Markets

Submitted by michael on Wed, 04/18/2012 - 20:03

It's interesting to see a sort of a slow but growing alarm on the part of both sides of the political aisle over President Obama signing HR 347 which is purportedly to correct and simplify the language of an earlier law that makes restrictions on free speech or protests around certain government buildings or grounds. 

It gives much wider latitude for the Secret Service or law enforcement to make a judgment call about potential “threats” to the president or other elected officials and it allows these officials to request and set up "No Free Speech Zones", insulating them from protests.  The law’s supporters are saying it’s only designed to make sure we don’t have some hair brained...

A Better Movie: “A Better Life”

Submitted by Michael Williams on Wed, 08/24/2011 - 00:00

I want to highly recommend a movie:  "A Better Life".  Anyone who fights for freedom should see it.  It's a simple, yet profound story and even if you're not pro-capitalism but have any interest in immigration issues, child rearing, or the future of this country, you'll want to see it and discuss with people you respect. 

Plot spoilers to follow.

It's about an illegal immigrant (Carlos) raising his teenage son in the East Los Angeles barrio.  Typical for someone who's made it across the border illegally, he's not well educated and has little money.  Also typical for someone who views the world honestly, he knows that he has to work hard to support himself, respects other...

Bring on the Competition

Submitted by Michael Williams on Tue, 03/15/2011 - 00:00

Are you competitive? Of course you are. So am I.

I remember hot summer days, strutting onto the tennis court with my brothers and dad. Each of us slipped into our routine: twirling racquets, checking the net, stretching, sizing each other up, talking noise about a thunderous serve or someone’s weak backhand or who won last. Then we do battle—pretty evenly matched so all the more fun, though mom couldn’t always tell. After the shots were made and the sweating and cussing ended, there was a winner; I wanted to beat these guys at their best.

But, c’mon, competition isn’t primarily about beating someone else. I can thrash my nine-year-old on the court, yet this would be...

Another Chance at Hope? The Gradual Self-Education of the American Citizen

Submitted by Michael Williams on Thu, 02/10/2011 - 00:00

Is there time for education to work?

It’s being called a historic election because of the grassroots influence of the Tea Party. Commentators have struggled to define this movement but all agree it impacted the outcome. Some say the Tea Party was the cause of the Democrats losing control of the House of Representatives. Others contend it caused the Republicans to not pick up more seats in the Senate. They’re both right; but more importantly, the Tea Party has given us a chance to rediscover what it means to be a citizen of the greatest country in history. It’s given us a chance at genuine hope.

Despite being demonized by the...

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