wifeisafurd said:
I tend to agree with Pete that corporate power may be too strong among the largest companies, but that small companies are being made uncompetitve by the government, whether federal, state or local. For example, Pete points out that big companies should be held accountable for diversity, but small companies are lucky just to retain the employees they can get to even worry about diversity. They wish they had those choices. Things are much more nuanced than politicians want to understand.
I view Harris as somewhat liberal on certain issues, but perfectly satisfactory for my voting tastes. Biden, Beto, and Klobachur are running as moderates who probalby could get my vote (not sure how viable a candidate Beto really is), so I assume you want my opinion on others. In term of the "socialist" type candidates, I won't vote for Sanders, Gilibrand, and Warren. Not sure what Booker stands for. He seems like a blowhard, so he is a no. I find Williamson and Yang weird so a no, but I'm sure Yang has an appeal to the under 30 set. I don't know enough about Mayor Wayne, Ryan, Swalwell (sp?), Hickenlooper, Delaney, etc. to comment. What are your thoughts on the candidates?
We align very closely and I agree with your takes on them. The one exception is that despite obvious weaknesses as a candidate, as a person I really like Warren. I don't think it will ever happen, but I think 4-8 years of her as president with the right support around her (that's the key) and the commitment for an American experiment, I could see her taking the country to a really good place. But it would have to be an America that like a young or controversial coaching hire, does so knowing it's a rebuild and that they are in it for the long haul.
I would love to see what an American version of regulated Free Market Democratic Capitalistic Socialism would look like. Is there some version of our economy sitting out there where the middle class gets healthy again and we thrive in education and innovation and lead the world in addressing Climate Change, internet security/privacy (a Bill of Rights for the Cyber Age?), universal healthcare, and reducing income inequality?
I think it would be fascinating to see our spin on what is working so well in Scandinavia. Make it distinctly American with small businesses driving the economy whose workers are invested in and owning that success.Collective capitalism with shared profits to workers and the fiduciary responsibility of ownership to a mix of profit AND the public good. Reduce the power and profit motive of the investor class and shift it to the inventors and workers and doers.
I think there are too many vested interests that would obstruct a vision like that and would stop it even if it would work and it would make the country a better place.
If I had to vote today. In order: 1) Pete, 2) Warren, 3) Grudgingly Biden, 4) Harris.