TIME 100 Roundtables

Talking about the future of technology is a little like talking about the future of the future. The topic is so broad. Where do you start? Luckily, we had help from some of the smartest folks in tech — Jay Adelson, Jeff Han, Michael Arrington and Philip Rosedale — all previous TIME 100 honorees. Strap on your rocket pack and let's go

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Tavis Smiley

Radio Host and Broadcaster

Chris Buck for Time
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On capitalism
I don't think that left to its own devices, capitalism moves along smoothly and everyone gets treated fairly in the process. Capitalism is like a child: if you want the child to grow up to be free and productive, somebody's got to look over the shoulder of that child.

On the bailout
Let's be clear: everybody in this room now is a stockholder in companies that we did not intend to be stockholders in. I'm a stockholder now by chance and not by choice.

On poverty
I think the American people are O.K. with rich people doing O.K. There is no war against the rich in this country. The question is, When do you start balancing the conversation and start talking about how to lift everybody else up out of poverty? That's not what's happening.

On unemployment
A rising tide lifts all boats, but if you're in a yacht and I'm in a dinghy, we still got a problem here. And that's not counting the folks who are in the water but don't have a yacht or a dinghy.

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