John Hickenlooper on Capitalism

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/27/us/politics/john-hickenlooper-capitalism-socialism.html

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In an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal in May, former Gov. John Hickenlooper of Colorado said he was “running to save capitalism,” and he criticized leaders who he said were pushing for policies that “would ultimately destroy” that system.

Among those leaders, he said, were people in his own party who were calling for “massive government growth and even socialism.”

Mr. Hickenlooper is a successful entrepreneur. After opening a microbrewery in downtown Denver that helped revitalize the city, he expanded into a chain of Midwestern pubs and restaurants.

As governor of Colorado, Mr. Hickenlooper was known for his business-friendly policies. He once worked for oil and gas companies.

Still, he has acknowledged that “capitalism simply isn’t working” for many Americans.

Mr. Hickenlooper has proposed a number of reforms to bolster the current capitalist system. For instance, he has said the country should provide free community college and raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour.

And yet, in a primary that features high-profile candidates who wish to disrupt the economic system, Mr. Hickenlooper’s defense of capitalism as a whole reflects his reputation as a moderate Democrat who is looking to tweak but not overhaul it.

Mr. Hickenlooper will almost surely face criticism from liberal primary challengers who have been more critical of capitalism, including Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who has argued for Democratic socialism.