Author: RP

We Don’t Need Elections to Figure Out What People Want

Source I read today a very thought-provoking piece by Yuval Harari, a historian and philosopher. “You can vote but you can’t choose what is true.” A paraphrased summary of his thesis: Elections are awful ways of determining what is true. For that, we need to turn to experts and institutions, not popularity contests. However, elections … Continue reading We Don’t Need Elections to Figure Out What People Want →

Rethinking Retirement Financial Planning

Source Disclaimer: The intended audience for this article is someone who is reasonably savvy on financial planning. If you’re a novice, stop reading now and just do whatever your financial planner tells you to do. The conventional advice for financial planning in retirement has generally been the 4% rule. Ie, on the day of your … Continue reading Rethinking Retirement Financial Planning →

The First Stoics – Philosophical Themes In The Bhagavad Gita

Source Stoic philosophy is often assumed to have originated entirely in Greece, through philosophers such as Zeno. However, such a characterization ignores vastly similar Eastern philosophies such as those found in Buddhism or the Bhagavad Gita - a text that was authored in a similar time period, transmitted orally for centuries prior, and is one … Continue reading The First Stoics – Philosophical Themes In The Bhagavad Gita →

Conservatives for Political Correctness

There is a widespread perception that “political correctness” is characteristic of liberals. It certainly is true that liberals are quick to pounce on statements that stereotype or offend certain demographics. That said, here are some instances of conservatives showing they can be just as politically correct, about the people and issues they care about. “Calming … Continue reading Conservatives for Political Correctness →

Is It Okay To Stereotype?

Source I've heard no shortage of stereotypes in my life. I've heard stereotypes about Men, Women, Whites, Blacks, Mexicans, Indians, Chinese, Arabs, Italians, French, Israelis, Canadians, Brits, Americans, Engineers, Lawyers, Bankers, Cops and even Postal workers. You name it, I've heard it. Every now and then, I come across a positive stereotype. "Japanese people have … Continue reading Is It Okay To Stereotype? →

A Centrist Blueprint for Immigration Reform

I'm a pragmatist when it comes to immigration, and I think it's hard to find politicians who are willing to publicly stake out pragmatic positions on this issue. Here's my blueprint for what I think immigration reform should look like. End Illegal Immigration We are all for immigration, but through the proper channels, and with … Continue reading A Centrist Blueprint for Immigration Reform →