David Cay Johnston on Human Nature

"We have to... channel... greed so that it becomes useful to our society."

"While only a minority of people was taxed during World War II, the politicians got a taste of the huge revenues... by expanding the tax base. After the war... the income tax was steadily expanded until it applied to most Americans..."

"Whose society lasted 3,300 years? It was the Pharaohs. ...They figured out through public works how to keep people busy and out of trouble, and every high-born Egyptian was taught... how far you can oppress people before they would strike back. ...hey also learned one other lesson. You've all heard of the?"

"I don't have any problem with people pursuing their own self-interest. It's just there has not been a push-back from the rest of society, as we have seen unions, which helped push back, decline; and other areas where there was push-back, decline. The... churches were involved with this, and we've seen them decline."

"ne of the great geniuses of our Constitution was the recognition that the liberties of the people depended on a certain set of standards. being a crucial one, the ability to speak your mind, the ability to follow or not follow religion as you chose... hen we put these in place, we had this flourishing society. It's not perfect. We've got lots of things wrong in our society. Government has problems... but there is no civilization, there is no liberty, without government."

"One of the criticisms I've... gotten is "You're a reporter, what are you doing writing with a moral tone?" ...es, this is a book about political culture and morality. I cite, the Bible and as moral authorities in this book. ...Andrew Mellon says that people are more important than capital and people have to be thought of first, not capital... that's not our culture today. All throughout the Bible, the most frequently denounced evil is taking from the poor to give to the rich. The Bible tells us in both books that your society will come to ruin if you do this."