Be Different

Not So Fast Luddites. You Can Put the Robot Smashing Hammer Down Now.

While I would recommend reading Player Piano and learning to code, the economic effects of automation may be over-estimated by science-fiction writers and fans of the new automated menu at McDonalds. Libertarian blogger Garry Reed suggests we consider all the possibilities and reminds us that the future has not been written. Whether or not it will be automated, the future will be written by you.

Pragmatism Inevitably Depends on a Principled Voter Base

I’m sorry. I was not going to post any more of these libertarian political strategy diatribes. However, I had an epiphany I feel must be shared. Ultimately, no amount of pragmatic political strategy will work until there is a solid libertarian voter block that cannot be swayed. The only way to build such a base is to convert more people to libertarianism.

In order to convert people to libertarianism, you must reflect on what it took to become a libertarian yourself. The true core of libertarianism is a deep desire to learn more and share that knowledge. You are not recruiting people to a political party. You are not recruiting people to an ideology. You are recruiting people to a lifetime of learning, discovery, and developing a better understanding of how the world works and people relate to one another and how we could improve human relationships without violence. Continue reading →

TANSTAAFL

While I would rather not comment on the absurdity that political discourse has become, I cannot stand by when the phrase “there ain’t no such thing as a free lunch” [TANSTAAFL] is being used to attack political opponents. The main purpose of TANSTAAFL is to remind people  to think outside the box and consider the entire picture.

TANSTAAFL is used by economists to discuss opportunity costs and how there are costs associated with even products or services that are advertised as free. The term is also used by scientists when discussing biological systems and energy systems. There is even a No Free Lunch Theorem in Machine Learning Systems.

In most instances, TANSTAAFL is used to encourage people to consider the consequences of decisions and how they affect the world around them. In Machine Learning, TANSTAAFL is used to remind programmers there is no perfect system. It is a reminder to avoid developing tunnel vision and consider other possibilities.

The Real Aleppo Gaffe

This isn’t about politics. This is about cognition and the societal biases that interfere with asking questions, and learning from mistakes. Yes, Gary Johnson made an error of thought. However, asking for clarification should not be frowned upon. The gaffe was not made by Johnson but by everyone who judged him for doing what we should all strive to do: seek better understanding. Continue reading →

Courting McDaniel

The Mississippi Libertarian Party [MSLP] has been trying to recruit Chris McDaniel for years. Yet even though Republicans are jumping ship after Trump’s nomination, there is still no word from Chris McDaniel that he is considering joining the Libertarian Party [LP]. (Don’t bother searching for “Chris McDaniel joins Libertarian Party.” All you will find is trash.) This is not “something new to think about;” this idea is a dead end. The MSLP needs to forget about Chris McDaniel and try something different and empower its members to be more active and involved the way #VoteDifferent is. Continue reading →

You’ve Been Trolled

Yes, Melania Trump probably plagiarized Michelle Obama’s speech. It was probably intentional, but what is the real take back from this? That the Trump campaign is unscrupulous? We already knew that. That’s not news. Why did Donald Trump’s campaign want this repeated ad nauseam in the news cycle? What does this actually say?

Amidst all the hatred and vitrol directed at Democrats throughout the RNC, deep down we share the same values. The same people who cheered at empty attacks towards Hillary Clinton stood up and cheered at Michelle Obama’s words. Politics makes us forget these values and become ugly people that focus on hate and anger.

To top it off, when the Trump staffer took the fall, she referenced the growth mindset in her letter:

“People make innocent mistakes and we learn and grow from these experiences.”

Donald Trump’s entire campaign has been centered around trolling the media, and he’s done and said some despicable things. This is actually one of the best plays I have seen the Trump campaign perform, especially since the troll contains some valuable messages.