In my latest National Post column I argue that the surge in opioid overdose deaths alone since March proves that in weighing the benefits of pandemic lockdowns, science and economics alike demand that we also count the very real human costs.
“There are two levers for moving men; interest and fear."
Widely attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte online but I have not found a specific attribution (mind you, I once worked for someone who said “There are two ways of motivating people – one is fear and I’ve forgotten the other” and the funny thing is, he was a great boss. But I was afraid of incurring his justified displeasure.)
“Percentage of Americans who say vacationing leaves them tired: 54”
Harper’s Index in Harper’s magazine October 2020
In my latest National Post column I say the U.S. has entered a new political era in which it would promote healing if one side could admit there are very good reasons for people to support Donald Trump, for instance their distaste for identity politics, and the other side could admit Trump is an awful person and a nasty President.
“The common theme of the essays that make up this book is that the proper design of public policies requires a clear and sober understanding of the nature of man and, in particular, of the extent to which that nature can be changed by plan.”
1st sentence of author’s Introduction to James Q. Wilson Thinking About Crime Revised Edition
“All purposeful human action is self-interested, in the crucial sense that it aims at goals accepted by the individual, using means evaluated by the individual. Greed or selfishness, by contrast, is a matter of claiming for the self more than is due.”
Paul Heyne “The Concept of Economic Justice in Religious Discussion”
“Really skilful people never get out of time, and are always deliberate, and never appear busy.”
Miyamoto Musashi A Book of Five Rings
In my latest Loonie Politics column, I explain why whoever wins the American election it will be so bad that both parties should be ashamed.