In the United States especially, politics and economics don’t mix well. Politicians have all sorts of reasons to pass all sorts of laws that, as well-meaning as they may be, fail to account for the way real people respond to real-world incentives.

The conventional wisdom is often wrong.

The key to learning is feedback. It is nearly impossible to learn anything without it.

No matter how expert you may be, well-designed checklists can improve outcomes.

Don't trust, just verify.

Data, I think, is one of the most powerful mechanisms for telling stories. I take a huge pile of data and I try to get it to tell stories.

Information is a beacon, a cudgel, an olive branch, a deterrent--all depending on who wields it and how.