Category Archives: Political Science

America Will Be (More) Authoritarian

Posted on July 14, 2020 by N.S. Palmer

History is full of surprises, but this prediction is a pretty safe bet: In the next 10 years, America will become even more authoritarian. It probably won’t be called “America,” though that change might take a little longer. The continent … Continue reading →

Posted in Political Science, Society | Tagged Anarcho-Tyranny, Anarchy, Authoritarian, Authority, Civic virtue, Edmund Burke, Nationalism, Order, Rule of law, Shared culture, Terrorism, Tolerance | Leave a comment

Intimidation Is Not Argument

Posted on July 3, 2020 by N.S. Palmer

One aspect of civilized behavior is that we try to settle disputes by rational argument, not by violence and coercion. Sadly, many people don’t know how to make a rational argument. Their first choice is to use the “argumentum ad … Continue reading →

Posted in Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology | Tagged Argumentum ad baculum, George Floyd, Insurrection, Logical fallacies, Logical fallacy, Mass Hysteria, Race relations, Race riots, Social Conflict | 3 Comments

Why Beliefs Divide Us

Posted on June 25, 2020 by N.S. Palmer

Why do beliefs divide us? This will sound like a joke, but it’s the truth: Beliefs divide us because it’s part of their job. We usually think of beliefs simply as being about facts: Two plus two equals four. Flowers … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Society | Tagged Belief, Civil conflict, Civil religion, Dogma, Group beliefs, Group identity, Group membership, In-Group, Mass Hysteria, Mass movements, Out-Group, Race riots, Religion, Woke | 2 Comments

Why People Are Not Things

Posted on June 17, 2020 by N.S. Palmer

Is it ever justified to treat people unequally? Before you try to answer, notice something about the question: It’s not a factual question. It doesn’t ask what is, but what ought to be. We might include facts in our answer, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Human Relations, Life, Philosophy, Political Science, Society | Tagged Crime control, Difference in degree, Difference in kind, Human Dignity, Human Rights, Humanity, Justice, Moral persons, Personhood | 2 Comments

How Easily We Are Stampeded

Posted on June 16, 2020 by N.S. Palmer

Today, we lurch drunkenly from one moral panic to another. Last month, it was Covid Cooties. This month, it’s Killer Kops. Next month, it might be something else, just as alliterative and just as loosely connected to reality: whatever will … Continue reading →

Posted in Political Science, Psychology, Society | Tagged Democracy, Elites, Meritocracy, Moral panic, Propaganda, Public opinion | Leave a comment

Chumps ’R Us

Posted on June 7, 2020 by N.S. Palmer

Our city government had imposed an 8pm curfew to discourage rioting and looting. But I’d had a busy day and I didn’t start my evening jog until 7:30pm. So when the appointed time arrived, I ended my jog early, went … Continue reading →

Posted in Political Science, Psychology | Tagged Injustice, Law, Middle class, Obedience to law, Ordinary Americans, Protests, Racism, Social harmony, Unequal treatment | 2 Comments

Peter Strzok on Racial Protest

Posted on June 7, 2020 by N.S. Palmer

Disgraced former FBI agent Peter Strzok is despised by most people who live between the gilded coasts, though possibly not as much as he despises them. However, knowing “who hates whom” tells us little about the merits of almost any … Continue reading →

Posted in Political Science, Society | Tagged Black Lives Matter, Plutocracy, Race riots, Racial protests, Strzok, White House protest | Leave a comment

The Costs of Forbidden Thoughts

Posted on June 4, 2020 by N.S. Palmer

“Truth has nothing to fear from open discussion and debate: in fact, they are its closest allies.” Continue reading →

Posted in Human Relations, Political Science, Psychology, Science, Society | Tagged Ayn Rand, Censorship, Forbidden knowledge, Hatefacts, Political correctness, Social Conflict, Solving social problems, Steven Pinker, Thoughtcrime | Leave a comment

Lockdown Imitates Art as “They Live”

Posted on May 22, 2020 by N.S. Palmer

“We are living in an artificially-induced state of consciousness … They have created a repressive society, and we are their unwitting accomplices.” — Scientist in “They Live” As countries around the world struggle to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Political Science, Psychology, Society | Tagged COVID-19, Fear, Freedom, Learned helplessness, Lockdown, Public policy, Risk, SARS-CoV-2, The American Spectator, They Live | 4 Comments

Free Yourself and Live

Posted on May 17, 2020 by N.S. Palmer

“You have at least nine months. Perhaps as much as eighteen.” “The first doctor gave me from one to two years.” “I hope he’s right. What are you going to do?” “Well, I have no family. I haven’t taken a … Continue reading →