COVID has taken a toll on our society. We’re seeing a rise in permanent job loss, and it’s likely to worsen. For a more resilient economy in the 21st century, we need to shift modern American capitalism's focus.

Here's the first part of a 3 part series: https://senmarkwarner.medium.com/toward-a-resilient-21st-century-american-capitalism-a9fefdf86fe

The proposals are organized around 3 central pillars of reforms:

1. Rebuilding the safety net for a 21st century economy.
2. Reorient priorities to invest more in workers.
3. Reform our corporate system for a more sustainable form of capitalism.

Today, we see corporation after corporation outsourcing low wage workers – usually without any benefits. In a pandemic, that makes our entire society vulnerable. We need to create a 21st-century social contract.

We used to get this right. In the 20th century following World War II, America’s entrepreneurial free enterprise system lifted millions of families out of poverty, creating the world’s strongest middle class.

But, American capitalism no longer holds the promise it once did. If nothing changes following the end of the COVID-19 pandemic and opportunities continue to concentrate for the most privileged, the promise of a robust middle-class life will be out of reach for many Americans.

In this first part of the series, I argue that we need to create a robust and portable safety net for all Americans, regardless of the type of work they do, how much they make, or how long they have been at a job.