“The Tea Party people say they're angry about socialism, but maybe they're really angry about capitalism. If there's a sense of being looked down upon, it's that sense of failure that's built into a system that assures everyone they can make it to the top, but then reserves the top for only a tiny fraction of the strivers.”

American journalist, op-ed columnist, and author

Gail Collins is an American journalist, op-ed columnist, and author best known for her long career with The New York Times. She joined the paper in 1995 and later became its Editorial Page Editor, a post she held from 2001 to 2007 as the first woman to serve in that role. Her work at The New York Times made her a familiar voice in American public debate. She is known for commentary shaped by politics and current affairs, delivered with the clarity and wit associated with newspaper opinion writing.