A generation ago [the Democratic Party] stood for progressive change. Now they defend every federal program as if each were sacred. They have become the most conservative force in American politics.
American young people have got to understand from an early age that the world pays off on results, not on effort. Not everyone should win a prize no matter where he or she finishes.
Countries don't compete directly with one another in economic terms. When Singapore or China gets richer, America does not become poorer.
In general, if you were to design a country ideally suited to flourish in the world we are living in, it would look more like the United States than any other.
It cannot be said often enough: Well-paying jobs don't come from bailouts. They come from start-ups, which come from smart, creative, inspired risk takers.
It is the American example that deserves the most credit for the global spread of democratic politics and free-market economies. In this sense, too, the world of today is a world that we invented.
When children come to school knowing that their parents have high expectations, it makes everything a teacher is trying to do easier and more effective. Self-esteem is important, but it is not an entitlement. It has to be earned.