Oct 6, 2010 | Speaking Events, Tea Party Speeches
On Saturday, October 9, I will speak at the Tucson Tea Party, in Tucson, Arizona. Last year some 8,000 people flocked to this important event. This year let’s shoot for twice that number! I will give a main-stage talk on why Individual Rights is the only proper principle to be embraced by the Tea Parties, because it is America’s founding principle. I will be selling books both before and after, profit-minded American that I am.
Oct 6, 2010 | Health Care Reform, Speaking Events
On October 4 I chaired a seminar, for first-year medical students at Duke University, on Health Care Reform and Individual Rights. My contention is that any meaningful, proper proposal for health-care reform must recognize and defend the rights of doctors to practice medicine as they deem fit, in voluntary, contractual agreement with their employers and patients. Students (and the public) rarely hear this point of view–it was almost entirely missing from the debates over the passage of Obamacare. It should not be surprising that such a defense is entirely missing from the bill, and that the bill massively undermines such rights.
For a sample of the ideas at the forefront of this seminar, see a lecture I gave in 2009 to Duke medical students:
Oct 6, 2010 | Speaking Events
On September 29 I had the pleasure of visiting friends and colleagues at the University of Minnesota, and offering a lecture on Israel’s Moral Right to Self-Defense–and to Exist. What does it mean for a nation to have the moral right to exist? was the opening salvo. But I laced this argument with experiences I had while traveling through Israel–where in Tel Aviv I met women in Muslim dress, saw a mosque under renovations, and bought fruit from Arabs selling at an outdoor market. I reflected on the rejection, by Arab leadership, of the “two-state” partition agreement in November 1947, and the state of war declared against Israel on its founding in 1948. There was some push-back from a few members of the audience, who did not wish to grasp what it means to live under such a declared state of war, and who failed to condemn the suicide bombing of Mike’s place or indoctrination of preschool-aged Palestinian children into jihad. I was amazed at those who claimed that Israel was wrong because so few of its people have died in wars–as if an attack on a sovereign nation should be understood by counting bodies. But the evening was enlightening to me, and energizing, since I was always learn something from such exchanges, even from (or at times especially from) adversaries. Two and a half fruitful hours at the podium.
The day after I toured a steel processing plant and a defense contractor’s research and development labs, had lunch on the banks fo the Mississippi River, and took a boat ride on one of the state’s beautiful lakes. Thanks to everyone in Minnesota for making this possible!
Jun 1, 2010 | Health Care Reform, Speaking Events
On May 10, 2010 Americans for Free Choice in Medicine sponsored an event at the National Press Club in Washington, DC: Redeeming Reform: What Health Care Reform Could and Ought to Be.
This video was my contribution to this important event. It is my first public speech since last fall.
My voice may be weak, but the idea is strong: a proper, and moral, health care policy–and proper reform–must begin with the moral conviction that each person’s life belongs to him, not to the state. Each person is individually endowed with the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The purpose of government is to secure these rights, not to blast them aside in order to forcibly redistribute the wealth, efforts and lives of the citizens of this nation.
My thanks to Richard Ralston of AFCM for arranging this event, and to the many other participants who have dedicated their efforts to proper health care reform.
Nov 13, 2009 | Health Care Reform, Speaking Events
A Lecture and Q&A, presented at The Davison Council,
Duke University Medical School
November 13, 2009
Watch the Video! Part 1
Video Part 2
Video Part 3
Video Part 4
Video Part 5
Video Part 6
About one hundred medical students heard this presentation–and followed it with an energetic Q & A.
Nov 1, 2009 | Speaking Events
SEE THE VIDEO!
The Carolina Review hosted a debate between me and a UNC professor on the question:
“Is Government Intervention in the Free Market Moral?”
Date: Wednesday, November 6
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Murphey 116
Website: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=178947119387&ref=ts
The debate was free and open to the public.