Drawing on President Bush's reform plan, which would allow citizens to transfer part of their Social Security contributions into personal accounts, an alteration of the current system is needed to make necessary change.

Civility is not about dousing strongly held views. It's about making sure that people are willing to respect other perspectives.

It is hard to cement any relations with any country based on promises that may not be deliverable.

The arts and humanities are vastly more important in troubled times.

Politics has high and low moments. Sometimes it brings out the better angels of our nature; sometimes baser instincts.

I am appalled by the notion of cultural wars.

I think America is going to have to think through whether it wants to uplift the political dialogue or advance an approach that divides and, frankly, can lead to violence.