Category: Common Sense

You’d think that most people would understand something with “common” in its name?!

Ohio Banned the Cameras That Catch You Speeding. It Kept the Ones That Watch Everyone.

Ohio spent a decade fighting traffic cameras. When its first restrictions were struck down by the Ohio Supreme Court in 2017, the legislature switched to the purse, deducting camera revenue from cities dollar for dollar and later banning county and township programs outright. In the same decade, automated license plate readers spread with almost no scrutiny, upheld by courts across the country. This essay gives the case for that distinction its full due, including real due process and revenue objections, then shows where it breaks: we banned the tool that observes guilt and kept the one that observes everyone. Featuring a Georgia ticket captured on a Flock camera, and a hard reconciliation with my own argument that cameras everywhere might save civilization.

“That’s an Appeal to Authority!” No. It Isn’t.

Name a fallacy, win the argument. That is the ritual, and it is nonsense. This essay takes apart the most abused phrase in modern discourse: the reflexive charge of "appeal to authority." It traces what Locke actually meant by argumentum ad verecundiam, lays out the narrow and specific conditions under which the fallacy is real, and explains why citing Einstein on physics is not one of them. It also gives the skeptics their due, because institutional authority has earned suspicion. But the answer to unreliable experts is getting better at evaluating them, not declaring all expertise fallacious. Featuring the fallacy fallacy, Schopenhauer being characteristically ruthless, and a direct answer to the most common objection to "Not All Opinions Are Created Equal."

13 Things You Should Give Up If You Want To Be Successful, And What Each One Actually Costs You

Originally appearing on Medium.com, '13 Things You Should Give Up If You Want To Be Successful' by Zdravko Bato Cvijetic is a MUST READ and now it is proudly part of my #requiredreading list. Below is the pithy list but trust me, not only should you read the entire essay, you should soak it up and make it a part of who you are.

You Can’t Steal an Idea. So Why Can You Own One?

If I steal your car, you no longer have a car. If I steal your idea, you still have it, which means theft and copying were never the same act, no matter what patent law assumes. This essay traces that distinction into the price of medicine, gives the honest incentive argument for patents its full due, and shows where it stops holding up, using publicly funded research, generic drug pricing, and entire industries that already innovate just fine without any legal monopoly at all.

You Are the Rich Person in This Argument

We treat "tax the rich" as self-evident. It is not. This essay states the honest case for progressive taxation before taking it apart, traces just how recent and contested the modern income tax actually is, and lands on a simpler argument: if you believe the wealthy should give more, you already know one, by any honest global standard. Featuring a citation-backed nod to the strongest form of the opposing case, instead of a strawman.

Compete Against Yourself Today. Tomorrow, You Will Defeat A Lesser Foe

Max Ehrmann warned us in 1927. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter. He was right. The only competition that has ever made sense is you versus yourself from yesterday.

We Don’t Talk About the Weather

Reflecting on a deep friendship with Chad, emphasizing that meaningful conversations focused on significant ideas and honesty overshadowed trivial topics like the weather. I try to highlight the importance of genuine connections that enhance personal growth and urge readers to prioritize substantial discussions over small talk, reinforcing that vital conversations require intentionality.

Leading from Behind

Some of the most powerful leaders you will ever encounter are the ones you barely notice. This essay explores the concept of leading from behind, inspired by a conversation with someone whose wisdom and grace left a lasting impression. It makes the case that true leadership is not about barking orders or taking credit, it is about asking the right questions, creating the conditions for others to discover things on their own, and serving without any need for recognition. Featuring a quietly remarkable story of anonymous generosity, fifty-one years of partnership, and the belief that mentoring the next generation is not optional. It is what we are here for.

Not All Opinions Are Created Equal

We live in a world that treats all opinions as equal. They are not. This essay makes the case that expertise matters, that direct experience outweighs uninformed confidence, and that the willingness to ask 'what does this person actually know, and why?' is one of the most underrated habits in modern life. Featuring a hard look at how we evaluate polarizing public figures, and a simple framework for thinking more honestly about whose opinion deserves your attention.

You Think Gas Cars Are Better Than Electric. You Are Wrong.

I have been a Tesla owner since 2021 and investor since 2013, and here I argue against common objections to electric vehicles (EVs) based on a decade of experience. I emphasize the safety and efficiency of Teslas over gas vehicles, refuting claims about battery issues and charging times. I invite readers to engage with my AI agent for more insights!