I'd like to see a revival of state legislatures, in which I am a true Jeffersonian.

You hear all this whining going on, "Where are our great writers?" The thing I might feel doleful about is: Where are the readers?

Americans worship the Constitution but do not observe it.

We've had parallel lives. And frankly, I prefer mine to his. I would not like to be George Bush.

Most writers are middle-class and are the children of doctors or lawyers.

Americans are not only a less homogenous population than we were when we were 3 million ex-colonists, but we're less educated. On top of that, we have constant misinformation and manipulation by media.

Having no talent is no longer enough.