We're live! Tune in for our conversation with @marcorubio & @RepAGonzalez, What Next: A Multi-Ethnic, Working-Class Conservatism

. @RepAGonzalez begins the conversation with a discussion of how his constituents most care about "kitchen table issues" of jobs, education, etc.

In tech, there's the idea of being "obsessed with the customer." @RepAGonzalez says he take the same approach to his constituents, spending as much time as possible talking to them and making sure the economy works for them.

. @marcorubio: "Limited government and federalism" is not an anti-government message. Government exists to serve us—the people—not the market or the international community.

It's not in our national interest to have communities gutted and good-paying jobs wiped out, says @marcorubio.

"If we have to choose between efficiency and the national interest, we need to choose the national interest."

. @marcorubio: "Most Americans are not ideological. But they do have a tremendous amount of common sense and don't like crazy ideas" like defunding the police, etc.

What's the number one thing at the top of your list that deserves focus as we move toward a multi-ethnic, working-class conservatism? asks @oren_cass

"The biggest shortcoming is on health care. Conservatives need a real answer to the Medicare For All debate," says @RepAGonzalez. Families should feel financially secure in their health care decisions, and right now, we don't have that.

Industrial policy is an idea that @marcorubio says we should pay much more attention to.

"If you're not the country that makes those things, you eventually won't be the one who invents it either."

"The idea that we have a truly free-market libertarian economy is a myth," says @marcorubio.

Right now we have rules and laws, but many times they incentivize the wrong thing. The incentive shouldn't be for doing stock buybacks, but for building a factory—real investment.

. @marcorubio: "To the extent that government is involved in our economy already, let's make sure that those incentives are pro-America."

"Where I think people rightly get very frustrated with government intervention in their lives is at the micro level—controlling and putting pressure on everyday decisions," says @RepAGonzalez

. @RepAGonzalez: Investments in innovation and industry are critical because if we are able to lead in these industries, those technologies will be informed by our values. We should be asking, what can we fund at the basic research level?

. @oren_cass: We already have industrial policy—it's just a question of what kind. Operation Warp Speed is not an example of just the free market running wild—it's the result of years of government investment, R&D, and incentives.

There are going to be some projects that we invest in at the R&D level that don't work out, but in the long run, the ones that do will make it well worth it, says @RepAGonzalez

The idea that everyone needs a college degree is more of a coastal idea—in the heartland, in @RepAGonzalez's district, where more people build things with their hands, the idea that not everyone needs a degree is obvious.

We should be realistic about what people want in life, says @RepAGonzalez. He suggests that we allow Pell grants to be applied to non-college training programs to allow for more flexibility.

. @RepAGonzalez says that when he talks to employers he hears that there's a big gap between what employers want and what's out there in the labor pool.

On the opioid epidemic: "In a lot of our communities, we have what I would call a crisis of hope. It feels as though there isn't as much opportunity as there once was. ... Building a stronger, more stable economy is going to be the best antidote to that," says @RepAGonzalez

. @RepAGonzalez: "From a policy standpoint, we are very much a party in transition. What set of policies actually win out will be determined by our voters—which is a beautiful thing."

For a long time the GOP has been a market fundamentalist party, says @RepAGonzalez. But the reality is that the costs and benefits are not evenly distributed, and we need to grapple with that.

Where do you see prospects for progress in the next few years?

@RepAGonzalez: Infrastructure. One way to get a lot of people back to work quickly is with an infrastructure package combined with skills training.

Thanks to all who tuned in and to @RepAGonzalez & @marcorubio for participating!

If you haven't yet, read our full What Happened collection on our website: https://americancompass.org/collections/what-happened/