The budget surplus should go partly to education, Galbraith said, but not in order to increase the long-term productivity of the economy.

Rather, he said, education should serve to increase our "enjoyment of life."

Galbraith was a New Deal administrator and adviser to presidents John F. Kennedy '40 and Lyndon B. Johnson. He has authored over forty books, most famously The Affluent Society.

When asked about the current race for the Democratic nomination, Galbraith said, "I have a long relationship with the Gore family that transcends any other matter. That I freely confess."

But for second place, he said, he preferred former New Jersey senator Bill Bradley to Texas Governor George W. Bush. At another point, Galbraith talked about the "appalling" campaign finance situation in light of the current presidential race.

"Raising money is George [W. Bush]'s greatest qualification for the presidency--maybe his only one," Galbraith said.

Joseph N. Sanberg '01, president of the Harvard College Democrats, said his group invited Galbraith because he "has an important perspective on the most important issue of the day--economic inequality."