I doubt that national languages will disappear. In fact, to some extent they're becoming more diverse, like in Europe.

The more there is a need to talk about the ideals of democracy, the less democratic the system usually is.

The shutdown itself is bad but not devastating. The real danger will come up in a couple of weeks. There's legislation which is in fact routine - it's passed every year - which allows the government to borrow money, otherwise it can't function. If Congress does not approve this budget request, the government may have to default.

U.S. international and security policy . . . has as its primary goal the preservation of what we might call "the Fifth Freedom," understood crudely but with a fair degree of accuracy as the freedom to rob, to exploit and to dominate, to undertake any course of action to ensure that existing privilege is protected and advanced.

The [Ronald] Reagan administration told the business world that they were not going to enforce the labor laws.

Religion is based on the idea that God is an imbecile.

No sane human being devotes 100% of his or her life to political activism.