I jumped into libertarian philosophy as soon as I discovered it. Finally, I felt like I found a home for my political, economic, and philosophical beliefs. Too bad I was so late to the game. I wish I'd discovered it a lot sooner. But it didn't take long though to discover that there are many factions that fall under the libertarian philosophy. And it's not just about the minarchist and anarcho-capitalist variety either. There's are whole new factions emerging, and the debate among them is … [Read more...] about The Libertarian Snob Factor
Comparing New Home Prices
Here’s a little cautionary note when comparing new home prices. Many believe it is useful to use a square foot calculation to gauge the cost of a home, and perhaps use it to determine if you’re getting a good deal on the home. It is sometimes a fair way to go about it, so long as you understand that it is at best, a ball parking tool and more often than not, it is deceptive and off the mark.As a home gets larger, the price per square foot of the home usually gets smaller. And that’s not … [Read more...] about Comparing New Home Prices
Good Reasons to Lie
I'm occasionally confronted with the conflict of when it is okay to lie. Some suggest it is never okay. In general, I don't believe it's okay, but there are, on rare occasions when I think it's acceptable. Here are some rare, but somewhat realistic examples that meet that criteria for me:You've just lost a loved one to an accident. You have to call siblings, children, or parents to tell them. Some children are more capable of dealing with such things than others in the immediate shock. … [Read more...] about Good Reasons to Lie
Vows
I went to a wedding last weekend. I'm a stereotypical man. I don't like weddings and I only go to make my wife happy. This time something happened that made me reflect on my own marriage. Instead of zoning out during the ceremony, I actually listened. When they got to the vows, which included the standard "in sickness and in health," it reminded me of the depth of those vows. I'll share why by relaying a personal anecdote.About six or seven years ago, I decided to undergo a rather … [Read more...] about Vows
The Suitcase
The following is a thought experiment wrapped in a story. While the idea seems unlikely, if it were to happen, most of us would not find it unbelievable. Nevertheless, you have to admit you'd like to know what would happen if someone actually did this. Despite the title, this is a story about economics. Not just local economics, but an the entire body of macro-economics as it exists in our country today. But please don't let that boring subject scare you away. I promise there are no charts, … [Read more...] about The Suitcase