Public decision-making does not lend itself to certitude.

Civility is not simply about manners.

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

There's probably a little greater case for pessimism than optimism. But I do not rule out optimism.

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.

History provides a sense of where we've been and lessons that can be taken forward.

The majority of U.S. high school students don't know within 50 years when the Civil War occurred.