Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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Political Spectrum
I liked the discussion over at KVNU’s For The People about how labels can be misleading regarding someone’s political philosophy. As always, there are quizzes to help someone figure out their own philosophy. KVNU linked to The Political Compass. Another popular one is Worlds Smallest Political Quiz. I’ve seen both of them before, but it’s…
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Conspiracy of Confusion
Diet is about as far from my normal topics as I can imagine. Part of the reason for this is that I generally follow the world’s simplest diet: “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” (Michael Pollan January 28, 2007) I have followed that basic idea for years without knowing anything about Michael Pollan or…
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Comments Window Closing
For those affected by the MountainView Corridor, I am reminded that the window of opportunity to comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement is closing next week. Comments must be received no later than January 24th. Now is the time to make your voices heard if you have any interest in this project. Instructions on…
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The Electability Trap
In what is probably the best non-partisan political commentary I’ve read recently, Ron Klain at Campaign Stops (a New York Times blog) writes about the dangers of choosing a candidate based on electability. Whether you are looking for the person you think would be the best president or the person with whom you agree on…
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Excessively Complex
Witness the Achilles Heel of bureaucracy as demonstrated by my local elementary school (and probably many others in the state as well). Members of the legislature are working (in vain) to ensure that our children get an excellent education. Leaders of the NEA/UEA are working (probably in vain as well) to ensure that teachers do…
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Case for Absitnence
I was surprised as I read this Op-Ed piece in the New York Times by Caitlin Flanagan. I doubt it was her intent, but I found a very strong argument in favor of abstinence as the preferred attitude toward extra-marital sex. She argues that there is a double standard related to the burdens of teenage…
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Politics and Marriage
I was invited to share my views on political issues relating to marriage and was pointed to DefendMarriage.org as a reference point. I think the issues relating to marriage and the politics surrounding marriage (gay rights and abortion rights are listed in the invitation and states rights are a part of the political discussion as…
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Unalienable Rights
On the issues of gay rights, abortion rights, or womens rights I think that Ron Paul captures the truth with his repeated assertion that there is only one kind of rights – individual rights. These are the rights that were called unalienable rights in the Declaration of Independence. When individual rights are properly protected many…
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The Irony of Supressing Votes
I find it rather funny that we have such a fuss being raised about laws requiring voters to show ID at the polls that a case has to be heard by the Supreme Court on the issue. What strikes me is that: if we had more voters voting, whatever fraud the voter ID laws are…
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Uncommitted in Michigan
In case this election cycle was not convoluted enough already we now get to approach the Michigan primary. The combination of having an open primary and having the DNC strip the delegates from Michigan for moving their primary into January meant that we faced the prospect of Democrats in Michigan voting in the Republican primary…
Got any book recommendations?