In today’s economy, dignity and connection often feel elusive for Americans who struggle financially. The gig economy, enabled by platforms like Instacart and DoorDash, has traded human interaction and meaningful work for frictionless convenience. The person delivering your fast food is invisible, reduced to a transaction on an app as they deposit your order at your front door so you can return to gaming or streaming as quickly as possible.
For many Americans, the term “common good” may conjure metrics like gross domestic product (GDP), a measure of our economic status as consumers. But the common good in its original essence goes far beyond consumption. It is about a broader, more equitable distribution of assets. This shift is not just about fairness, but also about creating the conditions for dignity, participation and a sense of belonging. It is about enabling people to contribute to society, not just consume more inexpensively within it. It is about fostering a shared world where everyone has a stake.
Joe Waters is Capita’s Co-Founder and CEO
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