What the Web has never figured out is how to pay for reporting, which, with the collapse of print newspapers, is in desperately short supply, and without which even the most prolific commenters will someday run out of things to say. George Packer collapsecommentersdesperately share on social
'Charlie Hebdo' had been nondenominational in its satire, sticking its finger into the sensitivities of Jews and Christians, too - but only Muslims responded with threats and acts of terrorism. George Packer actcharliechristian Change image and share on social
It might not be wise for a sometime political journalist to admit this, but the 2016 campaign doesn't seem like fun to me. George Packer admitcampaignfun Change image and share on social
Character is destiny, and politicians usually get the scandals they deserve, with a sense of inevitability about them. George Packer characterdeservedestiny Change image and share on social
It's - the working class of San Francisco and the Bay Area is being pushed out of its old neighborhoods because of the skyrocketing cost of housing, and there's no real working class left because these are jobs for engineers and managers and designers - very smart people. George Packer areabayclass share on social
Walmart's period of explosive growth coincided with decades of wage stagnation and deindustrialization. By applying relentless downward pressure on prices and wages, the company came to dominate both consumer spending and employment in small towns and rural areas across the middle of the country. George Packer applyareacoincide share on social
No one pretends anymore that the Olympics are just about sports. It's routine to talk about what effect holding the Games in this or that capital will have on the host country's international reputation, how a nation's prestige can be raised by its medal count. George Packer anymorecapitalcount share on social
The war in Afghanistan is not of a peace with the rest of Obama's worldview. It's a holdover from the era that his election was supposed to bring to a close. George Packer afghanistanbringclose Change image and share on social
Too many talented and supremely calculating politicians, including Nixon and Clinton, have destroyed their careers, or come close, by acting in ways that were obviously against their own interests. George Packer actcalculatecareer Change image and share on social
I actually think that self-interest is overrated as an all-purpose guide to political motive. It leaves out something at least as powerful and immovable - individual psychology. George Packer guideimmovableindividual Change image and share on social