California Gov. Gavin Newsom told a press conference on Wednesday that the coronavirus crisis provided an opportunity to usher in “a progressive era” through policy changes that shift American society away from capitalism.
A reporter with Bloomberg News asked Newsom whether he saw “the potential, as many others in the [Democratic] Party do, for a new progressive era, if you want to call it that, in national politics and policy … and whether there’s the opportunity for additionally progressive steps … on the national and state level.”
The California Globe reported Newsom’s response:
U.S. House Majority Whip Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) said before the passage of the $2 trillion coronavirus relief bill last month: “This is a tremendous opportunity to restructure things to fit our vision.”The governor admittedly gave a long-winded answer which culminated in, “yes,” admitting there is political opportunity born out of the pandemic. “There is opportunity for reimagining a [more] progressive era as it [relates] to capitalism,” Gov. Newsom said. “So yes, absolutely we see this as an opportunity to reshape the way we do business and how we govern.”
