Author Archives: leotoribio
Limits of Ideology
Conservative writers teach their followers to adhere to “received wisdom,” to adhere to traditional ideas and rules, and resist or even reject new ideas out of hand. But the brain is a navigational device. People are in constant motion in an ever-changing world. When the … Continue reading
Overcoming Cognitive Dissonance in Politics
When you hear a politician running for office proclaim that “government can do no good,” think of him or her as someone applying for a job, because that’s exactly what he or she is doing, and think of yourself as … Continue reading
Lessons in Life
One of the most valuable lessons I learned, at a very early age, was how to deal with opinions expressed about me by other people. If someone praised me or something I did, I learned to look critically at myself … Continue reading
The Human Brain
A well-written article by Carl Zimmer in the NYT http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/26/science/in-the-human-brain-size-really-isnt-everything.html?hp discusses recent research into what makes the human brain different from the brains of other mammals. He writes that “Once that cranial growth was underway, our forerunners started leaving behind … Continue reading
Economics 202
In a New York Times article, Thomas Edsall examines a question raised by MIT’s Daron Acemoglu: “Why can’t America Be Sweden?” Acemoglu is an economist, and economics is far from an exact science, so Mr. Edsall is able to find … Continue reading
The Ultimate Right
In an article in the New York Times , conservative ideologue Ross Douthat presents a one-sided view of suicide. Although there may be a shred of truth in what he wrote, he passed up an opportunity to examine the issue in … Continue reading
The Right to Bear Arms
There has been much discussion by people in the NRA and others against legislation restricting sales of firearms. Much of that centers on the 2nd amendment of the U.S. Constitution. But what does the 2nd amendment actually say? 2nd … Continue reading
