Joe Sampson

“There are lots of planned economies-the United States is a planned economy, for example. I mean, we talk ourselves as a "free market", but that's baloney. The only parts of the U.S. economy that are internationally competitive are the planned parts, the state-subsidized parts--like capital-intensive agriculture (which has a state-guaranteed market as a cushion in case there are excesses); or high-technology industry (which is dependent on the Pentagon system); or pharmaceuticals (which is massively subsidized by publically funded research). Those are the parts of the U.S. economy that are functioning well.”
― Noam Chomsky, Chomsky On Anarchism

“Assertiveness is critical for feeling empowered in your own mind as well as at work and at home.  It’s saying honestly to yourself and others, “This is who I am.  This is how I want to be treated,” while respecting other people’s rights and opinions.  Assertiveness isn’t about being liked all the time, nor about making sure everyone is happy.  It is about standing up for your right to be treated fairly. There are many advantages to assertiveness.  First,”
― Judy Murphy, Assertiveness: How to Stand Up for Yourself and Still Win the Respect of Others

“Trump is the best thing ever to have happened to the new American oligarchy. In addition to his tax cuts and regulatory rollbacks, he stokes divisiveness in ways that keeps the bottom 90 percent from seeing how the oligarchy has taken over the reins of government, twisted government to its benefit, and siphoned off the economy’s benefits. His deal with the oligarchy has been simple: He’ll stoke division and tribalism so most Americans won’t see CEOs getting exorbitant pay while they’re slicing the pay of average workers, won’t pay attention to the giant tax cut that went to big corporations and the wealthy, and won’t notice a boardroom culture that tolerates financial conflicts of interest, insider trading, and the outright bribery of public officials through unlimited campaign donations.”
― Robert B. Reich, The System: Who Rigged It, How We Fix It

“Action springs out of what we fundamentally desire ... and the best piece of advice which can be given to would-be persuaders, whether in business, in the home, in the school, in politics, is: First, arouse in the other person an eager want. He who can do this has the whole world with him. He who cannot walks a lonely way”
― Dale Carnegie, How to Win Friends & Influence People