No-one can say when the unwinding began, when the coil that held America together in its secure and sometime shifting grip first gave way. George Packer americabegincoil Change image and share on social
All over Africa, people are wearing what Americans once wore and no longer want. Visit the continent, and you'll find faded remnants of secondhand clothing in the strangest of places. George Packer africaamericanclthe Change image and share on social
I thought Obama was in a position to do some things. I thought 2008 was a turning point in history, with him and the Wall Street crash happening at the same time, but you just learn that those entrenched powers were really entrenched; those decayed institutions were really decayed. George Packer crashdecayentrench share on social
In the extremity of war, character is revealed. George Packer characterextremityreveal Change image and share on social
The phrase 'change the world' is tossed around Silicon Valley conversations and business plans as freely as talk of 'early-stage investing' and 'beta tests.' George Packer betabusinesschange Change image and share on social
On foreign policy, Obama has talked softly and carried a big stick. George Packer bigcarryforeign Change image and share on social
The Senate was an odd compromise between the founders and the early leaders of the republic who wanted a single house which was based on popular sovereignty representing the people and those founders who wanted two houses, the upper house, the Senate, being the more aristocratic. George Packer aristocraticbasecompromise share on social
The information age has made Thiel rich, but it has also been a disappointment to him. It hasn't created enough jobs, and it hasn't produced revolutionary improvements in manufacturing and productivity. The creation of virtual worlds turns out to be no substitute for advances in the physical world. George Packer advanceagecreate share on social
I worked as a carpenter for a few years. I began writing. I wrote a book about my time in Africa - that came out in 1988 - called 'The Village of Waiting.' George Packer africabeginbook Change image and share on social
Lawyers, judges, doctors, shrinks, accountants, investigators and, not least, journalists could not do the most basic tasks without a veil of secrecy. Why shouldn't the same be true of those professionals who happen to be government officials? George Packer accountantbasicdoctor share on social