Optimism is a strategy for making a better future. Because unless you believe that the future can be better, you are unlikely to step up and take responsibility for making it so.

Should we even have the classification system? Why shouldn't these things be open? There are things you want to keep secret, like the characteristics of your latest fighter plane or something like that.

If you're in a system where you must make profit in order to survive. You are compelled to ignore negative externalities, effects on others.

The reason academic disputes are so vicious is that so little is at stake.

The manufacturing industry is starting to press for some kind of national healthcare. Now it's beginning to put it on the agenda. It doesn't matter if the population wants it. What 90% of the population wants would be kind of irrelevant. But if part of the concentration of corporate capital that basically runs the country - another thing we're not allowed to say but it's obvious - if part of that sector becomes in favor then the issue moves onto the political agenda.

There is a big difference between tweeting to your friend about something that is happening and having a real personal relationship with people.

The United States invaded Iraq to gain control of one of the major sources of the world's energy.