We need to drive down requirements for the schools. In the 19th century, we increased the quality of the schools by higher education saying, 'You can't come in unless you have these skills, unless you've taken these courses.' We did that in Wisconsin when I was there, it helped to transform the secondary school system.

Sex education has to do with what's in people's head.

Asking the government to help you for short periods of time is different than asking the government to take care of you for the rest of your life.

I would argue that we have a generation of young people, particularly minorities, who are no longer putting up with the kinds of things their parents put up with. They're much more self-confident. It's no longer acceptable to make fun of people because of race or sex. But it has always been present in American society.

I am interested in getting people to use the healthcare system at the right time, getting them to see the doctor early enough, before a small health problem turns serious.

We have not yet concluded that needle-exchange programs do not encourage drug use.

We can't afford as a nation - not because of money but because of our social fabric - to have large numbers of people who are not working.