John Hickenlooper: A lesson on capitalism for President Trump

[brooklynite]

Medium

Last night, Trump claimed I’m “ashamed of capitalism.” The reality is, I’m ashamed of him.

I believe in the market as a driver of growth and innovation. As a small businessman, I started a company from scratch and ultimately created over 1,000 jobs in brewpubs and other businesses across the Midwest. As a Governor, I cut red tape and bureaucracy that bogged down the openings and expansions of small business. I worked closely with the private sector to help pull Colorado out of the recession. During my eight years, we went from 40th in job creation to the number one economy in the nation. Colorado now also has one of the fastest growing rural economies in the nation.

So I may be a capitalist, but I’m sure not a Trump capitalist. We didn’t achieve economic success in Colorado by letting corporations and the wealthy run wild. We expanded training and apprenticeship programs, created high-quality pre-K for four-year-olds in Denver, invested in light rail, and much more — things that markets alone don’t accomplish on their own.

America only “works” if people have equal opportunities to compete. It is well established that where you are born determines if you start on first, second or third base. Racial discrimination and wealth disparities create advantages that have been intractable over generations. Trump capitalism disinvests in average people, reduces competition and slows growth even as it widens advantages for large companies, very wealthy individuals, and the politically connected.

[Raven123]

1. I think Hickenlooper might want to improve his interview skills

His answer to Joe Scarborough’s question as to whether he (Hickenlooper) was a capitalist was painful to watch. He had to know that question was coming. That clip will haunt him, I suspect.