PART III

Renewing Democratic Capitalism

DEMOCRATIC CAPITALISM AS A TWO-PART POLITICAL and economic system is facing its most perilous doctrinal challenge since its creation more than 200 years ago. Previous pages have focused on the incentives and contrivances particularly within capitalism that are driving apart these two ideologies. In earlier years they worked rather well together. Can the sense of shared purpose be re-created?

Part III turns to what can be done to enhance the common good. Chapter 12 confirms just how fragile our situation has become. Chapter 13 asks whether change is now empowered or imperiled. Chapter 14 provides specific measures that can reform capitalism and return our economic system to maximizing its contributions to our political well-being. And we close with a summons to character and reason, which can be mustered anew given the popular and political will to do so.