The conviction that taxation is intrinsically evil has achieved a sadomasochistic fervor in conservative circles—producing the Tea Party, their Republican zombies, and increasingly terrifying failures of governance[…] Conservatives view taxation as a species of theft—and to raise taxes, on anyone for any reason, is simply to steal more.
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By Madison S. Hughes (09.24.2008)
After twenty-three years of military service in the U.S. Army, I realized that I just got tired of being around so many closed-minded, fascist, obnoxious, xenophobic, misogynistic, overconfident, arrogant, anti-intellectual, bigoted, Conservative, self-righteous, jingoistic, militaristic, redneck Republicans that thump the bible and drape themselves in the flag. I could go on, but life is too short.
Arthur Schopenhauer, Ph.D., German Philosopher, Atheist
Consider, first, the absurdity of the desire for material goods. Fools believe that if they can only achieve wealth, their wills can be completely gratified; a man of means is supposed to be a man with means for the fulfilment of every desire… [A] life devoted to the acquisition of wealth is useless unless we know how to turn it into joy; and this is an art that requires culture and wisdom… Men are a thousand times more intent on becoming rich than on acquiring culture, though it is quite certain that what a man ‘is’ contributes more to his happiness than what he ‘has…’ Not wealth but wisdom is the Way… [O]ur happiness depends on what we have in our heads rather than on what we have in our pockets.
Arthur Schopenhauer, Ph.D., German Philosopher, Atheist
To be happy, one must be as ignorant as youth. Youth thinks that willing and striving are joys; it has not yet discovered the weary insatiableness of desire, and the fruitlessness of fulfilment; it does not yet see the inevitableness of defeat.
Arthur Schopenhauer, Ph.D., German Philosopher, Atheist
He that increaseth knowledge, therefore, increaseth sorrow. Even memory and foresight add to human misery; for most of our suffering lies in retrospect or anticipation; pain itself is brief. How much more suffering is caused by the thought of death than by death itself.
Arthur Schopenhauer, Ph.D., German Philosopher, Atheist
All religions promise a reward … for excellences of the ‘will’ or heart, but none for excellences of the head or understanding.
By Madison S. Hughes (08.I4.2011)
I much prefer written correspondence to verbal communication, for verbal communication does not allow for due diligence of thought. I would much rather be afforded the opportunity to inflect my thoughts through proper written word than to hear the inflection provided audibly.
By Madison S. Hughes (07.25.2011)
Since Norway’s tragedy, at the hand of a right-wing Christian terrorist, I have noticed two interesting, albeit predictable, responses from Christians.
1. “He is not really a Christian; he is a madman that is mentally ill.” Why is it that when a right-wing Christian terrorist commits an act of terrorism it is presupposed that the Christian has a mental condition, but if a Muslim terrorist commits an act of terrorism the Muslim is presumed to be an Islamic terrorist?
2. “Anything to an extreme is bad.” Well, this particular tragedy was committed by a right-wing religious extremist. Consider this, if you will, religious extremists would not exist if there were no religion.
Always Question Authority 