American secessionists and states’ rights advocates are rightly disappointed by the outcome of the September 18 Scots Independence Referendum. Given the decisiveness of the outcome, the result was probably never in doubt. The Queen didn’t even have to break a sweat, in keeping with her lifelong abstinence from productive labor. I’ll bet she’s never even broken a fingernail polishing the royal silverware. But I digress. Continue reading
When I was growing up, my mother made me write and send Thank You notes to each and every person who ever gave me a gift—Christmas gifts, birthday gifts, graduation gifts, you name it. It’s a habit I carried into adulthood. When my wife and I were married, we had Thank You cards in the mail within a week of the occasion. We have been blessed with a 17-year-old son. Ever since he’s been old enough to grasp a pen, he has been sending out Thank You cards for every gift received on every occasion. It’s only right and proper. Common decency and etiquette demand it. We must express our appreciation to those who have given to us. Continue reading
Capitalism is the application of reason to the problem of scarcity.
Robert J. Seyko
One of the most misused words in the English language is “free,” as in “it’s free.” Whether it’s the free samples of stuff at Costco, or the free pens and refrigerator magnets they give away at your local bank or car dealership, or the free hip replacement your mother-in-law just received, we use the term freely, so to speak, without ever considering it’s true meaning. When we say “it’s free,” what we really mean is that someone else is paying for it—voluntarily or involuntarily. And this is a very important distinction. Because one is morally defensible, while the other is not. One involves a clear violation of private property rights, enshrined in the Seventh Commandment, while the other does not. The Seventh Commandment states, “Thou Shalt Not Steal Thy Neighbor’s Goods.” This is the clearest affirmation of private property rights ever handed down. By The Man Himself. And it’s etched in stone. You can’t take someone else’s things, period. And just because you take something from someone and turn around and give it to someone you believe is deserving doesn’t justify it either. The Seventh Commandment is everything the Good Lord ever had to say about “social justice,”–about what is mine and what is thine. Continue reading
Conservative pundits and bloggers are fond of asking themselves in times of crisis or despondency, “What would Ronald Reagan do?” I’m afraid I have bad news for you. We are well past the point of “What would Ronald Reagan do?” We have reached the point of “What would Samuel Adams do?” Continue reading
Never confuse charity (benevolence) with welfare. Acts of charity are volitional acts undertaken on behalf of fellow human beings. We choose to help those we believe are deserving and freely determine the extent to which we are willing to help them. Charity is undertaken voluntarily and never coerced. It is motivated by compassion, never pity. As charity is an act of free will, it is a virtue. Continue reading
