If you read literature, you put yourself in somebody else's shoes. You learn from great figures in literature.

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

When I look at Social Security, I consider it the most important social program in the United States, arguably the most successful program in the world.

If you read literature, you put yourself in somebody else's shoes. You learn from great figures in literature.

America is very decentralized in how it supports the humanities, unlike European countries where virtually everything stems from the central government.

I am appalled by the notion of cultural wars.

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.