Sanity Restored

Ah, the good news today is Dr. Sanity's return to blogging after a four month absence. That's a long time to go without a bit of her theraputic wisdom. Obviously rested and ready, in today's post she brings us her insightful commentary on the ingredients of human progress. The focal point for this exploration is Matt Ridley's new book, The Rational Optimist: How Prosperity Evolves, and a review by Gagdad Bob. The blog has a fine examination of the role of ethics and how its erosion leads individuals and the society they lead into narcissism and decline. References and links to the works of Ayn Rand and Thomas Sowell add to the discussion. If the following observation catches your attention, you will appreciate the wisdom this post brings to our attention:

There is no doubt in my mind that the key "boundary conditions" that have enabled the incredible advances in human progress around the world which have decreased both human misery and poverty everywhere is due to the adherence to a rational ethical system that allowed individuals to interact in a socially productive and mutually beneficial manner--"between brains" so to speak; without the use of brute force and government coercion.

Those boundary conditions are being systematically and deliberately dismantled and replaced by a medieval, irrational and unethical system, that depends primarily on force, involuntary servitude, and the submission of the individual to the will of the State.

Dr. Sanity is a medical doctor specializing in psychiatry and aerospace medicine. The photo of her at work is from her blog--obviously enjoys the work. I feel better already.