6-25-16 Hodgepodge

Three on the Brexit

I am inclined, as has Michael Hurd, to give two cheers for Great Britain's decision to leave the E.U. last week. As Hurd puts it:

If Britain had a Margaret Thatcher to lead it away from the E.U. and towards economic freedom, it would be one thing. If their government works to privatize socialized medicine, reduce taxes to a minimum, and focus on building a strong defense to guard and retaliate against Islamic terrorism, the greatest threat in the world today, then it would be a cause for uninhibited celebration.

Nationalism for its own sake means nothing if the nation does not make itself healthy. There's little reason to think Britain will move towards a healthy, independent state; not if it clings to its policies of wealth redistribution and market manipulation, which will be just as unhealthy on the local level as on the global level.

Hurd goes on to discuss what Britain ought to do in another post and Yaron Brook of the Ayn Rand Institute will discuss the Brexit on his next radio show, which will be today.

Weekend Reading

"While the immune system's role can never be understated, an even more powerful protector is the faculty of consciousness." -- Amesh Adalja, in "Infectious Diseases Won't Cause Extinction" at The Atlantic

"One of the reasons homosexuality is such a hot-button issue is that it forces people to confront their contradictions ... surrounding 'selfishness' and self-interest." -- Michael Hurd, in "The Root of Anti-Gay Issues" at The Delaware Wave

"The more that Muslims attack us -- brutally, even with political incorrectness, as in the case of Orlando -- the more the progressive leftists hold their ground." -- Michael Hurd, in "Terrorists Can't Destroy America, but PC Will" at Newsmax

"It is precisely because this issue is so important, that I don't want to see the debate over American gun policy distorted by bad science supported by a government agency with an anti-gun bias." -- Paul Hsieh, in "Why I Don't Trust Government-Backed 'Gun Violence' Research" at Forbes

"Some people carry around a pervasive sense of resentment and anger, which can result in a feeling of entitlement and a desire for revenge." -- Michael Hurd, in "Shoplifting and the Psychology of Thrill-Seeking" at The Delaware Coast Press

"[O]ur monetary planners pervert lending into a win-lose deal." -- Keith Weiner, in "Money Supply Arguments Are Flawed" at SNB & CHF

But Why the "Brentrance"?

Reader Snedcat emailed me a link to a now-viral scene from Yes Minister concerning why Britain ever joined the E.U. in the first place. Quite entertaining!

-- CAV