I think modern societies have to ask a very basic question: What strategies buy the most health for people? Doctors can do so many marvelous things now. They can keep a corpse alive, almost.

The Democratic Party is not the party of reform.

Let me offer you, metaphorically, two magic wands that have sweeping powers to change society. With one wand you could wipe out all racism and discrimination from the hearts and minds of white America. The other wand you could wave across the ghettoes and barrios of America and infuse the inhabitants with Japanese or Jewish values, respect for learning, and ambition. ... I suggest that the best wand for society and for those who live in the ghettoes and barrios would be the second wand.

The U.S. needs to do more than change presidents. It needs to change its political culture.

A Confucian or Jewish love of learning would gain minorities far more than any affirmative action laws we might pass.

Sprawl is the American ideal way to develop.

Amnesty is a big billboard, a flashing billboard, to the rest of the world that we don't really mean our immigration law.