Quotes from Robert Reich

When times are tough, public employees should have to make the same sacrifices as everyone else.

So why don't nurses do home visits to Americans with acute conditions? Hospitals aren't paid for it.

It's not government's business what people do in their private bedrooms.

If we want corporations to act differently, we have to force them to do so through laws that are fully enforced and through penalties higher than the economic benefits of thwarting the laws.

America spends a fortune on drugs: more per person than any other nation on earth, even though Americans are no healthier than the citizens of other advanced nations.

The monied interests are doing what they do best - making money. The rest of us need to do what we can do best - use our voices, our vigor, and our votes.

The only way to grow the economy in a way that benefits the bottom 90 percent is to change the structure of the economy. At the least, this requires stronger unions and a higher minimum wage.

Economies are risky. Some industries rise, and others implode, like housing. Some places get richer, and others drop, like Atlantic City. Some people get new jobs that pay better, many lose their jobs or their wages.

Over the long term, the only way we're going to raise wages, grow the economy, and improve American competitiveness is by investing in our people - especially their educations.

Public employees should have the right to bargain for better wages and working conditions, just like all employees do.

It is impossible to fight bullies merely by saying they're going too far.

As income from work has become more concentrated in America, the super rich have invested in businesses, real estate, art, and other assets. The income from these assets is now concentrating even faster than income from work.

Obviously, personal responsibility is important. But there's no evidence that people who are poor are less ambitious than anyone else. In fact, many work long hours at backbreaking jobs.

The Tea Party grew out of indignation over the Wall Street bailout - an indignation shared by the vast majority of Americans. But the Tea Party ended up directing its ire at government rather than at big business and Wall Street.

In truth, government has been good to Wall Street and big business.

America has become the most unequal society among advanced countries, and rich people are now free to spend as much money on political campaigns as they wish.

There's sort of a chilling effect on non-profits and the media and a lot of other places because the establishment is so powerful. That's where the money is.

You've got to just follow the money [in Washington]. You see it. There's no countervailing power.

Every organization, no matter who it is, just follow the money.

I grew up poor. My mother raised a family of four on between $9,000 and $15,000 a year.

True patriotism isn't cheap. It's about taking on a fair share of the burden of keeping America going.

There will always be a business cycle, and white-collar workers will get hit in the next recession like they always do in recessions.

The liberal ideal is that everyone should have fair access and fair opportunity. This is not equality fo result. Its equality of opportunity. There's a fundamental difference.

Globalization and free trade do spur economic growth, and they lead to lower prices on many goods.