Cynicism is so 2000-late. Get over it. It’s not hip or cool or intellectual. It’s only occasionally funny, and then best reserved for the appropriate context, which is not everyday conversation.

Ayn Rand was even more detailed in her indictment of cynicism:

There is nothing so naive as cynicism. A cynic is one who believes that men are innately depraved, that irrationality and cowardice are their basic characteristics, that fear is the most potent of human incentives—and, therefore, that the most practical method of dealing with men is to count on their stupidity, appeal to their knavery, and keep them in constant terror.

In private life, this belief creates a criminal; in politics, it creates a statist. But, contrary to the cynic’s belief, crime and statism do not pay.

A criminal might thrive on human vices, but is reduced to impotence when he comes up against the fact that “you can’t cheat an honest man.” A statist might ride to power by dispensing promises, threats and handouts to the seekers of the unearned—but he finds himself impotent in a national emergency, because the language, methods and policies which were successful with parasites, do not work when the country needs producers.

Ayn Rand Letter, III, 26, 3

“To know and not to do is not to know.” ~ Wang Yangming

Image: Qihuii de Hanabi

Now I agree that texting while driving is downright reckless.

Wait, did I say reckless?

Isn’t there already a state law against reckless driving?

Yup, sure is. Texas Transportation Code, Sec. 545.401:

Sec. 545.401.  RECKLESS DRIVING; OFFENSE.  (a)  A person commits an offense if the person drives a vehicle in wilful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.

There’s already a law that covers this – it just needs to be enforced. And the existing law takes care of all the ambiguities and irrationalities around the new law. For example, just pressing the next song button on your phone seems to be illegal under the new law, but shuffling through radio stations or even swapping CDs isn’t. And how is a GPS on your dash any less distracting than the GPS on your phone, which you can hold up in front of your face so you can see the road at least a little better? Or what about the proverbial putting on makeup or shaving while driving?

No one will probably ever get stepped for pressing the next song button, because cops can’t see it, and it doesn’t noticeably affect their driving. But the point is…that shouldn’t be illegal. The point is…it’s not the act of texting itself that violates the harm principle; it’s the reckless driving that results from it. And there’s already a law against that.

So really, Austin City Council, don’t you have anything better to do with your time???

Image credits: (1) poka0059 (2) junkmonkey

The Guest House

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice.
meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.

Be grateful for whatever comes.
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

— Jelaluddin Rumi,
   translation by Coleman Barks

Image by by Poorfish via flickr