Let’s be real. If you look at the stock market, capitalism looks like it’s winning. Record highs. Tech giants worth trillions. But if you walk down a main street in a mid-sized town or try to buy a first home in 2026, the vibe is... different. It feels broken. People are frustrated because the "trickle-down" promise turned out to be more of a "stay-up" reality. Saving capitalism for the many not the few isn't just a political slogan anymore; it’s a survival strategy for the global economy.
Capitalism is the most powerful engine for innovation we've ever built. It’s pulled billions out of poverty. But right now? The engine is smoking, the oil hasn't been changed in decades, and only a handful of people are actually in the car.
The Monopoly Problem and the Death of Competition
Competition is supposed to be the "magic sauce" of a free market. When companies compete, prices go down and quality goes up. Simple, right? Except that in the last twenty years, we’ve seen massive consolidation in almost every industry. From meatpacking to digital advertising, a few "heavyweights" have basically built moats around their empires.
Look at the research from economists like Thomas Philippon. He’s pointed out that US markets have become less competitive than European ones in several sectors. When competition dies, capitalism becomes "cronyism." It stops being about who has the best product and starts being about who has the best lobbyists or the biggest legal department to crush startups.
Honestly, we need to get back to the basics of trust-busting. Remember Teddy Roosevelt? He wasn't anti-business; he was pro-market. There’s a huge difference. To start saving capitalism for the many not the few, we have to stop letting giant firms swallow every innovative upstart before they can even pose a threat. It’s about making the playing field level again, not just tilting it toward whoever already has the most gold.
Why Wages Got Stuck in the 70s
There’s this famous chart. You’ve probably seen it. It shows productivity and wages moving together until about 1973. Then, productivity keeps climbing, but wages just... flatline. Workers are producing more value than ever, but they aren't seeing it in their bank accounts.
Where is that money going? Mostly to shareholders and executive compensation.
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Back in the day, the average CEO made about 20 times what their typical worker made. Now? It’s often over 300 times. That’s not just a "success gap." It’s a systemic failure. When the majority of people can't afford the products they’re making, the whole cycle grinds to a halt. You can’t have a consumer economy if the consumers are broke.
Reimagining Ownership and the "Stakeholder" Shift
For a long time, the "Friedman Doctrine" ruled the world. The idea was that a company's only job was to make money for shareholders. Period.
That mindset got us high quarterly profits, but it also got us environmental degradation and a hollowed-out middle class. We’re starting to see a shift toward stakeholder capitalism. This isn’t some "woke" buzzword; it’s a pragmatic approach championed by people like Klaus Schwab and even some big-name CEOs in the Business Roundtable.
What does it actually mean? It means a company is responsible to its employees, its customers, and the community—not just the folks holding the stock.
- Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs): Imagine if every warehouse worker at a major retailer owned a piece of the pie. When the company wins, they win. This isn't theoretical—companies like Publix have used this model for years.
- Profit Sharing: Instead of just giving bonuses to the C-suite, spread that wealth down the line. It builds loyalty and, frankly, it’s just fair.
- Benefit Corporations (B-Corps): These are businesses legally required to consider their impact on society. Patagonia is the poster child here. They proved you can be wildly profitable while still giving a damn about the planet.
The Skill Gap and the AI Revolution
We can't talk about saving capitalism for the many not the few without mentioning AI. By 2026, automation isn't just taking over "blue-collar" jobs; it’s coming for the "white-collar" ones too. Paralegals, accountants, and even coders are feeling the heat.
If all the gains from AI go to the people who own the bots, inequality is going to explode.
We need a radical rethink of education. The four-year degree is becoming a luxury item that doesn't always deliver. We need shorter, high-intensity vocational training. We need "lifelong learning" accounts where the government or employers chip in to help people pivot when their industry gets "disrupted."
It’s about "upskilling," but it’s also about "pre-distribution." Instead of just taxing the rich after they’ve made their billions and trying to redistribute it (which is hard and messy), let's set up the system so more people have the tools to earn a decent living in the first place.
The Tax Loophole Headache
Tax codes are currently a mess of "loopholes" that only people with expensive accountants can find. While a nurse pays a significant chunk of their income in taxes, some of the world’s largest corporations have managed to pay zero in federal taxes in certain years.
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That’s not capitalism. That’s a rigged game.
Closing these gaps isn't about being "anti-rich." It’s about funding the infrastructure—roads, internet, schools—that allows businesses to exist in the first place. If the "many" are paying for the foundation, the "few" shouldn't get to live in the penthouse for free.
The Power of Localism
Globalism did a lot of good, but it also left a lot of people behind. We’re seeing a resurgence in "localism." Buying local isn't just about feeling good at a farmer's market. It’s about keeping capital circulating within a community rather than getting sucked out into a global vacuum.
Small businesses are the backbone of the economy. They employ the most people. But they’re getting crushed by high rents and the sheer scale of online giants. Saving the system means protecting these small players. Maybe that looks like local tax breaks for brick-and-mortar shops or zoning laws that prevent "big box" stores from killing every local hardware store in sight.
Actionable Steps Toward a Fairer System
We can't just wait for "the government" to fix this. It takes a mix of policy, corporate bravery, and consumer choices. If you want to be part of the solution, here is what actually moves the needle:
1. Vote with your wallet. Support B-Corps and local businesses. When you buy from a company that treats its workers well, you’re literally funding a better version of capitalism. Stop giving money to the "bad actors" just because their shipping is two hours faster.
2. Demand transparency. If you’re an investor—even if it’s just a small 401k—look at where your money is. Are you invested in companies that pay a living wage? Use platforms that let you filter for ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) criteria.
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3. Advocate for "Open Markets." Support policies that crack down on monopolies. This isn't a "left vs. right" thing. Both sides of the aisle should want more competition. Support the "Right to Repair" movement and other initiatives that give power back to the consumer.
4. Rethink the "Hustle Culture." For the "many" to thrive, we have to stop valuing humans based solely on their productivity. A healthy capitalist society needs healthy people. Support flexible work arrangements and mental health resources in your own workplace.
5. Support Apprenticeships. If you're a business owner, stop requiring a Bachelor's degree for jobs that don't need one. Build an apprenticeship program. Train the next generation yourself. It’s cheaper than headhunters and builds way more loyalty.
Capitalism isn't a static thing. It’s an invention. And like any invention, it needs to be updated when it stops working for the people who use it. By shifting the focus from short-term greed to long-term stability, we can actually build a system where "getting rich" doesn't require everyone else to stay poor. That’s how you save it. That’s how you make it last.