You know, the biggest problem with today's capitalism is the failure of Democratic party leadership (and we rank and file people) to clearly articulate the message of public good. There are some things the private sector cannot and will not do, and these things are generally called 'public goods' because people need them and would not have them without their taxes paying for government services.
This goes for prisons, which should NEVER be privatized. Certainly we need to quit goofing around trying to privatize K-12 with 'vouchers' and instead build a world class system that puts our children first. We could use affordable, or even free postsecondary schooling up to the Bachelor's level, or in special cases Masters or Doctoral level. Particularly with MDs. We have to stop digging our own children into inescapable pits of debt - if you have the brains to go to college, and it ought to be challenging, then you should go and not owe because you'll more than pay society back as a higher functioning citizen.
And, of course, if we implemented Medicare for all Americans and phased it in over say, four or five years, then it would immediately free up lots of money for American businesses - it is a very expensive line item.
This United Airlines thing? Geez. Airlines should not have been deregulated. Very few make any money at all and when we fly treat us like animals instead of customers. Nope. Airlines, like taxicabs, busses and light rail/commuter trains, should be public utilities.
Naomi Klein talks about global warming being the end of capitalism, but I believe it will actually spur us to great heights of entrepreneurship, which is not the same as capitalism.
As to capitalism, the government should force changes to corporate charters so that the shareholder is no longer the only fiduciary responsibility of the CEO, COO and other 'c-level' people. We should add labor, without which there could be NO profit whatsoever, the customers, the community and the environment.
There is some good, though. Lots of good things happening at local levels. Microlending. Public banking. The neoliberal philosophy of the Mercers and Kochs and others isn't shared by many CEOs, who really do seem to be committed to being good corporate citizens. I do lots of work in economic development (I am an economist) and when I address boards of directors, chambers and economic developers I talk about how the patriotic thing to do is invest in our labor force, and our infrastructure. I don't lay it on too thick, but I do speak consistently about affordable housing, adequate transportation infrastructure that keeps up with growth, clean air and clean water - quality of life things that are the very bedrock upon which the American dream stands (got this wording from Rabbi Lerner and Haidt who wrote the Righteous Mind - the right wingers don't give a rat's rear end about our rights - their eyes glaze over, but when you talk 'patriotism' and 'purity' and 'American dream,' you have a better chance of getting them to at least listen.)
I'm scared to death about Trump though, because he is incompetent. I didn't agree with Obama always, mainly on the secrecy with which he surrounded TPP and its ISDS process, but O was sane, and I believe genuinely tried to do his best. And his best was pretty good.
Trump? Not so much...
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