No, You’re Not “Entitled” To Your Opinion

The Article: No, you’re not entitled to your opinion by Patrick Stokes in The Conversation.

The Text: Every year, I try to do at least two things with my students at least once. First, I make a point of addressing them as “philosophers” – a bit cheesy, but hopefully it encourages active learning.

Secondly, I say something like this: “I’m sure you’ve heard the expression ‘everyone is entitled to their opinion.’ Perhaps you’ve even said it yourself, maybe to head off an argument or bring one to a close. Well, as soon as you walk into this room, it’s no longer true. You are not entitled to your opinion. You are only entitled to what you can argue for.”

A bit harsh? Perhaps, but philosophy teachers owe it to our students to teach them how to construct and defend an argument – and to recognize when a belief has become indefensible.

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Department of Justice Meets Snuggly the Security Bear!

With the help of the Department of Justice and Attorney General Eric Holder, Snuggly the Security Bear is successfully waging war against freedom terror.

The Truth About Hedge Fund Managers

If you’re still not convinced that class warfare exists, you’re part of the problem. For a more in-depth look at wealth inequality in America, check out this video we posted back in March.

Don’t Get Cancer: Even With Insurance, You’ll Probably Go Bankrupt

The Article: Americans Who Battle Cancer Are Twice As Likely To Go Bankrupt, Even If They Have Health Insurance by Tara Culp-Ressler in ThinkProgress.

The Text: Cancer patients are much more likely to go bankrupt than Americans who aren’t faced with a cancer diagnosis, a new study finds. Even the Americans who have access to health insurance aren’t necessarily safe from bankruptcy, since the high cost of treating cancer can still put an untenable strain their finances.

A team of researchers in Washington state collected data from nearly 400,000 adults, evenly split between those who had been treated for cancer and those who were cancer-free. After checking to see which of those adults had filed for bankruptcy between 1995 and 2009, the researchers found that cancer patients were 2.5 times as likely to go bankrupt in that period.

Although the study didn’t specifically look at insurance coverage, previous research has demonstrated that the Americans who cite major health issues as the reason they filed for bankruptcy are actually often insured. One 2006 study found that more than 60 percent of bankruptcies in the United States are due to high medical bills, and in those cases, three-quarters of those Americans had insurance when they got sick. NBC News interviewed one cancer patient who found herself in this situation, even though she was employed and insured when she first got her diagnosis:

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The Best Of The “Hitchslap”

Fifteen minutes of cutting, Hitchens-on-top-of-Hitchens repartee. Enjoy.