Democratic Capitalism (aka "Let's do Star Trek!")

 Our economic system is broken. The majority of the population lives in anxious desperation, while a mere handful of people control 90% of wealth. There are those who claim that “the market” will correct, as if it is some great equalizer, but we have seen the market’s correction in action – a funnel that channels currency from the hands of those who work into the hands of those who already own capital. If the market is your God, then you must pray to be born rich, otherwise you are in for a lifetime of hard work just to break even. And while they siphon away your life for profit, they will teach you to blame – not them, for of course money is tied to merit, and they have money, so they must be meritorious – but the poor, who clearly are not working hard enough to earn their keep. Which somehow we all believe, even knowing how miserable it is to work at a factory or a warehouse or a farm or a restaurant, or any one of the hundreds of jobs that are so essential to have, but not to pay adequately for.

But I have an idea. Call it democratic capitalism. A system of credits, based on the number of people in the country, combining the stability of a resource-backed currency with the flexibility of a promissory currency. A series of strata, 5 income ranges for jobs to maintain, with a 30 hr workweek. And a yearly vote, listing job categories for citizens to rank their top 50, in a ranked-choice vote to determine which jobs would receive which income range.

Income ranges:

50k-100k (base)

100k-200k (20 categories)

200k-500k (15 categories)

500k-800k (10 categories)

800k-1mil (5 categories)

No one makes below 50k a year. Conversely, no one makes above 1mil a year. A minimum and maximum wage. Individual workers can make above their strata amount, but no one can make more than maximum wage.

There would be a reserve system issuing credits to businesses based on their number of workers. The total number of credits in circulation equivalent to the total population x their maximum strata amount, with an amount in reserve. As population increases, amount of credits increases; as population decreases, credits move to reserve.

Groups like retirees, the unemployed, the disabled, and stay-at-home parents, would receive minimum base pay, as recognition of their contributions and right to life even without employment. There would be no lending at interest. Loans issued may charge a flat fee of up to 10% of loan amount, but no progressive interest rates.

A system built not on desperation and unsustainable expansion, but on rewarding people for their contributions. Where the determining factor is not the ephemeral “market” or the whims of the wealthy, but the will of the people. The goal not of more, but enough.