Dr Michael Hurd

If individual rights (or lack thereof) are the fundamental issue in politics, then one should judge political candidates for President based upon their stated adherence to (or lack of adherence to) the preservation and expansion of individual rights — that is,...

Al Gore claims he is trying to fight for “those who need a champion, those who need to be lifted up so they are never left behind.” Exactly who is Al Gore championing, and in what name? Is he championing the ideas of independence and self-responsibility?...

Al Gore promises cheap or free prescription drugs for everybody. Wow! What a deal! I’m going to vote for Gore. How nice of him! Where has he been all these years? Wait a minute. There must be a reason why some drugs are so expensive. Could it be that drug...

Do not interrupt. Allow your partner to finish what he is saying. When there is a pause, politely ask, “Are you finished?” Actively listen. In other words, think about what she is saying. Look for evidence of honest misunderstandings. They are almost...

In my last I covered seven principles of Stress Management. Here are seven more: 8. Process your feelings, and introspect, regularly. When you encounter a dilemma or issue, discuss it with a close friend, a professional counselor, or yourself (e.g., in the form of a...

The past arrest of Peng Cheng by the Chinese Government, and the more recent “strong” statements against Taiwan, shows how little has changed in that country. Take the case of Mr. Cheng. Mr. Cheng was sentenced to three years in a labor camp on...

Have you ever suffered from any of the following symptoms? Poor concentration. Forgetting to do important tasks. A pervasive sense of helplessness or hopelessness. Nervous behaviors (shaking leg, biting nails). High blood pressure. Blowing up or snapping at loved ones...

A good therapist can offer you something most other people cannot: psychological information on how to explain troubling emotions, better manage stress, and obtain an objective perspective from somebody not involved in your personal life. No therapist, however, can...

President Clinton is angry because Americans supposedly waste too much food, especially at holiday time. World hunger is not a problem of redistribution. World hunger does not exist because you throw out half a stick of butter or an unfinished Coke. The real problem...

Governor George W. Bush claims prosperity is not enough. Instead, he says, we need prosperity with a “purpose.” The crucial question remains: whose purpose? In a free country, individuals are left free to decide their own purpose, so long as they do not...

The Canadian health care system of single-payer, socialized insurance is in trouble. Now, thanks to the ignorance and cowardice of our politicians, the American system is moving in the same direction. A growing number of Canadian doctors, angry at irrational...

Most of us assume that selfishness is both wrong and unhealthy. But is this true? Selfishness means acting in one’s rational self-interest. Contrary to popular opinion, all healthy individuals are selfish. Choosing to pursue the career of your choice is selfish....

JFK, Jr. represented many things. He was handsome. He was the son — and namesake — of one of America’s most famous and beloved Presidents. He was the little boy who saluted his slain father’s casket in that memorable picture. JFK Jr.’s...