Asher Sisneros

Aspiring law student, infrequent blogger

I write essays about history, philosophy, politics, and life.

Hollywood Satire: His Girl Friday (1940)

His Girl Friday (1940) is about one domineering newspaperman’s attempts to win his ex-wife back before she marries an insurance salesman. But he does not try this through conventional means and sweet-talk. He does this by pulling her back into the world of journalism, which convinces her that she loves the exciting life with him…

by Asher Sisneros October 16, 2026

Jan Narveson: Why Charity is Optional

The million-dollar question is whether we have a responsibility to feed the hungry. Although Narveson says it is a morally admirable thing to do, he also says it is not a responsibility. The problem, as he points out, is that even if you accept a utilitarian premise, there is no guarantee that feeding the poor…

by Asher Sisneros October 13, 2026

‘The Bad and the Beautiful’ (1951): The Cost of Hollywood’s Studio System

The Bad and the Beautiful (1951) is a film about the rise and fall of a young and ambitious Hollywood producer named Jonathan Shields. On his way to the top, he screws over three people: a director, an actress, and a writer. But even though they hate him, his brilliance and unyielding standards also turned…

by Asher Sisneros October 12, 2026October 13, 2026

Have Robbery Statistics Improved? Do Our Perceptions About Crime Reflect Reality?

Our attitudes about the world are one thing, and they can be remarkably strong. But reality is another thing, and it can be something very different. This happens because our attitudes are affected by far more than just reality. They are affected by things such as longstanding religious beliefs and historic cultural attitudes, individual friends…

by Asher Sisneros October 2, 2026October 5, 2026

Conflict Theory on Illegalized Marijuana

As we study the nature and behavior of cultures and societies, there’s often a disparity between what’s legal and what’s socially acceptable (Conerly et al 2021). For example, cheating on your wife is very scandalous. Your friends will probably judge you. They may even ostracize you. But will the justice system do anything? As far…

by Asher Sisneros October 2, 2026

Stare Decisis: Should the courts follow precedent when precedent is wrong?

The Issue: Stare Decisis The U.S. Supreme Court is very controversial today. Some people think we need a strong Supreme Court to maintain a horizontal separation of powers between the three federal branches of government. Others think a strong court creates a duopoly of power between the executive and judicial branches of government, which helps…

by Asher Sisneros September 22, 2026