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MY BLOGS
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The Rational Optimist
http://www.rationaloptimist.wordpress.com/
Commentary of Life, Society, Politics, and Philosophy
LATEST ARTICLES ( 1301 )
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New Evidence on Religion and Morality
Without God, everything is permitted, said Ivan Karamazov in Dostoyevsky’s novel. Atheists are hit with this constantly: that people are basically bad and need... Read more
Posted on 26 December 2015 CULTURE, POLITICS, SOCIETY -
What Do Trump Supporters and ISIS Recruits Have in Common?
No, it’s not a joke question. Both actually do reflect a similar dynamic: a wave of disaffection and psychological alienation. Trump supporters and ISIS recruit... Read more
Posted on 19 December 2015 CULTURE, POLITICS, SOCIETY -
Harper Lee’s “Go Set a Watchman”
Then . . .You author a lone book that’s a huge cultural icon, then never write another word and basically submerge for over 50 years. That’s Harper Lee’s tale.... Read more
Posted on 15 December 2015 CULTURE, POLITICS, SOCIETY -
Climate Change: What They Don’t Tell You
World bigwigs meet in Paris and solemnly pledge carbon emission cuts to combat climate change. Columnist David Brooks likens this to a Weight Watchers meeting,... Read more
Posted on 11 December 2015 CULTURE, POLITICS, SOCIETY -
How to Defeat Terrorism: by Ignoring It
With every terrorist atrocity, like San Bernardino, I ask myself – what the f— do these people think they’re accomplishing?The objective in war is to subdue... Read more
Posted on 08 December 2015 CULTURE, POLITICS, SOCIETY -
Happy Hanukkah – a (snake) Oil Story
Hanukkah was a relatively minor holiday until modern times, when it was puffed up mainly so Jewish children wouldn’t feel bad while their goy friends celebrate... Read more
Posted on 05 December 2015 CULTURE, POLITICS, SOCIETY -
China Versus America: the Candid Truth
I was recently on panel, with two Chinese natives, comparing our respective countries’ cultures. Here (a bit condensed) is my presentation:China is a great... Read more
Posted on 03 December 2015 CULTURE, POLITICS, SOCIETY -
Do You Believe Poverty is Worsening?
The global population living in extreme poverty has risen in the last 20 years – indeed has almost doubled – say two-thirds of Americans in a recent survey.... Read more
Posted on 28 November 2015 CULTURE, POLITICS, SOCIETY -
Human Ingenuity: a New Way to Count
My business is collector coins, which I often have to count. When they’re all identical they can be counted in stacks of ten. But for non-uniform coins, there... Read more
Posted on 24 November 2015 CULTURE, POLITICS, SOCIETY -
Syrian Refugees at the Golden Door
While Europe is taking in around a million Syrian refugees, the U.S. has signed up for 10,000. But even that’s being challenged unless our government can... Read more
Posted on 19 November 2015 CULTURE, POLITICS, SOCIETY -
Fantasy Sports Versus the Killjoy Nanny State
The issue of the day is whether online “fantasy sports” (where you select imaginary teams from among real players, whose actual performance determines winners)... Read more
Posted on 18 November 2015 CULTURE, POLITICS, SOCIETY -
God and Man in Paris
We all must die.But we don’t let that stop us enjoying life. Indeed, it makes it all the more precious. Those Parisians were out enjoying life – at... Read more
Posted on 16 November 2015 CULTURE, POLITICS, SOCIETY -
The Next President Will Be . . . Marco Rubio
News flash: The Rational Optimist blog can now call the next presidential election for . . . yes, Rubio.We’re told Trump and Carson are “frontrunners” for the... Read more
Posted on 12 November 2015 CULTURE, POLITICS, SOCIETY -
Self-Driving Cars – Buckle Your Seatbelts
Recently I responded to an essay suggesting that technological progress is juddering to a halt. Its author pointed to airplanes, hardly changed in decades. Read more
Posted on 07 November 2015 CULTURE, POLITICS, SOCIETY -
Charter Schools: How Democrats Betray Blacks
“Draining” is the word of choice. As in “draining money from public schools.” As if charter schools hurt public education – a sinister plot (“corporate” of... Read more
Posted on 01 November 2015 CULTURE, POLITICS, SOCIETY -
What Is “Socialism?”
Bernie Sanders calls himself a “democratic socialist.” The word “socialist” has gotten much use in the past century. “Nazi” was actually short for “National... Read more
Posted on 21 October 2015 CULTURE, POLITICS, SOCIETY -
Being Mortal
How would you like to spend your last days in a nursing home? In a tiny cubicle with no privacy, no autonomy, no possessions, everything gone that made life... Read more
Posted on 15 October 2015 CULTURE, POLITICS, SOCIETY -
Hollow Hillary’s Trade Terrors
Republican presidential candidates are falling over themselves pandering to a right-wing activist base that dominates party primaries – exemplified by Scott... Read more
Posted on 11 October 2015 CULTURE, POLITICS, SOCIETY -
Things We’re Not Allowed to Say
Blacks can say the N-word. Whites like me cannot. Not even in my own blog, nor even when talking of its offensiveness (as Christopher Hitchens once learned... Read more
Posted on 07 October 2015 CULTURE, POLITICS, SOCIETY -
The End of the Man on the White Horse
The Man on the White Horse is a hoary staple of the political imagination. The hero, with integrity, ideals, and vision, the leader who will put things right. W... Read more
Posted on 02 October 2015 CULTURE, POLITICS, SOCIETY