Capitalism is criticized a lot on here (especially by American users, it seems to me). Most of that seems well-founded, but I also have the feeling that most of these complaints are simply venting and not the first step to improvement.

So I would like to know what specific changes you (especially Americans) want to see from lawmakers.

  • This comment really speaks to how I feel.

    In addition to flattening the wealth curve on the high end, I think the first change I would want is to increase the federal minimum wage. For decades wages have been stagnant while cost-of-living has grown which has led to mass economic insecurity. I think a lot of current political tension is a direct result. That makes it difficult to cooperate to implement policies that would help people.

    • Basic income - probably at right where our minimum wage is now - would be my solution to the poverty at the other end. Honestly that’s more important, but it didn’t really fit into the format of my post so well.

      Some other assorted economic policies on my wish list: Publicly-funded elections, the end of restrictive residential zoning, bigger carbon taxes right around the social cost, very open economic immigration policy, a government sponsored system for opening up intellectual property, and maybe some sort of single-payer law system because it’s a bit shit you can buy justice sometimes.

      A lot of people would call me a communist for this. Communists are currently telling me I’m an idiot in another thread. Thankfully we live in an open society where I can just do my own thing and it doesn’t matter.