Searching for the elusive middle ground in the muck that is now U.S. national politics?
If so, ponder advice from Democratic Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo who believes “it would be a serious tactical mistake to nominate any candidate who seems to be at war with capitalism.” “The Loneliness of the Moderate Democrat”
No, she’s not running.
But having been re-elected in a 2016 landslide, Governor Raimondo certainly has the creds to be heard on what might help bring the country back together. (And, not incidentally,develop a counterweight to the ultra-progressive wing of her party.)
Winning a second term is a reflection of the economic policies she has championed in the state. Among them: On one hand, tax incentives that brought some two dozen companies to expand or establish operations in Rhode Island; on the other hand, a proposal to tax companies up to $1500 annually for every employee enrolled in Medicaid because of non-coverage by their employers’ health insurance plan.
But Governor Raimondi admits, “It takes a lot of spine to be a centrist in America today.”
Another surprise: Her formula for moving forward involves business — capitalism — “at the table”. Here’s an excerpt from her New York Times interview published yesterday:
“We have become the party that is anti-business. We need to be the party of work.”
Citing grotesque income inequality: “… the system we have today is totally broken…
“I fall in the camp of ‘Let’s fix it’. Let’s embrace business to come to the table. Someone needs to make the case that it’s in the best interest of businesses and wealthy people to be better citizens.
Pay for health care. Help people get their college degree. Pay for job training…
“I think we are at risk if all we do is beat up and crap on businesses.”
Fortunately, business – via capitalism – may well be ready to play a key role as such corporate citizens. And its political influence is not to be doubted.
In many ways, Governor Raimondo’s advice reflects the evolving business model called Corporate Social Responsibility, Sustainable Development, or Purpose Companies – i.e.
the myriad progressive commitments of participating companies now integrating traditional business objectives and evolving social objectives in planning and operations.
(For more on this business evolution, see, “Society Evolves. Business Adapts – Again” )
We have eighteen days until the next U.S. government crisis. And the 2020 election cycle is apparently already upon us.
Will wiser heads prevail?