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How to Make America 2.0 a More Equitable Society How to Make America 2.0 a More Equitable Society
(5 months later)
So, what exactly is “America 2.0”? And, more important, who gets to decide?So, what exactly is “America 2.0”? And, more important, who gets to decide?
One thing is certain: It’s a term I have been hearing a lot lately from tech types. That’s no surprise, since they tend to go into version-speak as shorthand for everything and anything that is not working and needs the benefit of a “pivot,” another word that’s a Silicon Valley favorite. “Pivot” is a euphemism used to mask the real meaning of what is happening, which is usually a product failure or start-up disaster that requires a turnaround disguised as a triumph.One thing is certain: It’s a term I have been hearing a lot lately from tech types. That’s no surprise, since they tend to go into version-speak as shorthand for everything and anything that is not working and needs the benefit of a “pivot,” another word that’s a Silicon Valley favorite. “Pivot” is a euphemism used to mask the real meaning of what is happening, which is usually a product failure or start-up disaster that requires a turnaround disguised as a triumph.
And while the United States is no longer a start-up, this time I do not mind using hoary tech speak to frame what needs to happen next. The Covid-19 crisis may, in fact, provide a unique opportunity to reshape business, society, health and more in this country and throughout the world.And while the United States is no longer a start-up, this time I do not mind using hoary tech speak to frame what needs to happen next. The Covid-19 crisis may, in fact, provide a unique opportunity to reshape business, society, health and more in this country and throughout the world.
In a recent interview, the investor and pundit Ray Dalio called it the “new future.” That is certainly a feel-good, high-gloss, let’s-go way to put it — and it raises the right question: Can we launch a fresh version of America and finally fix the systemic problems that have become so obvious as they have become uncloaked by the virus?In a recent interview, the investor and pundit Ray Dalio called it the “new future.” That is certainly a feel-good, high-gloss, let’s-go way to put it — and it raises the right question: Can we launch a fresh version of America and finally fix the systemic problems that have become so obvious as they have become uncloaked by the virus?
Thinking up what America 2.0 will look like is very different from the manic rush to “open up” prematurely, well before we have the chaos around the basics like testing and treatment and mitigation under control. In fact, resuming pre-Covid life too soon would be in keeping with the social-media-lathered nature of our society of late, a byproduct of the twitchy Trump administration, which has taken to governing in 280 characters or less, but with 100 percent more ephemerality than the life of a tweet.Thinking up what America 2.0 will look like is very different from the manic rush to “open up” prematurely, well before we have the chaos around the basics like testing and treatment and mitigation under control. In fact, resuming pre-Covid life too soon would be in keeping with the social-media-lathered nature of our society of late, a byproduct of the twitchy Trump administration, which has taken to governing in 280 characters or less, but with 100 percent more ephemerality than the life of a tweet.
Of course, what needs to get the 2.0 treatment depends on where you are sitting, especially how much money and power and education you have. Still, there’s a long list of necessary changes that affect us all, including how to redefine what an employee is, what the new workplace should look like and how to provide better access to good education and health care for all.Of course, what needs to get the 2.0 treatment depends on where you are sitting, especially how much money and power and education you have. Still, there’s a long list of necessary changes that affect us all, including how to redefine what an employee is, what the new workplace should look like and how to provide better access to good education and health care for all.
What role could tech play in solving these societal challenges (and so many more)?What role could tech play in solving these societal challenges (and so many more)?
When it comes to how tech can help today, much of the focus has been on charitable giving by the world’s richest — many of whom are billionaires because of the digital boom — or on using tech giants like Apple and Google to help track the virus’s march. Yet it is the longer-term trends we see in the midst of this health crisis that are more critical to consider.When it comes to how tech can help today, much of the focus has been on charitable giving by the world’s richest — many of whom are billionaires because of the digital boom — or on using tech giants like Apple and Google to help track the virus’s march. Yet it is the longer-term trends we see in the midst of this health crisis that are more critical to consider.
A prime example is the notion of “essential” workers. While that includes doctors and nurses and the police, a huge other chunk of these people hail from the gig economy that has been fueled in large part by tech. Whether it is food delivery people or warehouse workers, they have been the people who previously did not have job protections or health care, but upon whose cheaper labor many tech company fortunes have been built. Before this crisis, most of these workers had not come close to getting the kinds of basic benefits they deserve, not to mention earning a living wage, even as they are now given the lofty title of “essential.”A prime example is the notion of “essential” workers. While that includes doctors and nurses and the police, a huge other chunk of these people hail from the gig economy that has been fueled in large part by tech. Whether it is food delivery people or warehouse workers, they have been the people who previously did not have job protections or health care, but upon whose cheaper labor many tech company fortunes have been built. Before this crisis, most of these workers had not come close to getting the kinds of basic benefits they deserve, not to mention earning a living wage, even as they are now given the lofty title of “essential.”
More like “sacrificial,” as The Times reporter Nikole Hannah-Jones, who focuses on income and racial inequality, told me in a recent podcast interview, given how long it has taken to provide a lot of these workers with basic things like masks and adequate testing.More like “sacrificial,” as The Times reporter Nikole Hannah-Jones, who focuses on income and racial inequality, told me in a recent podcast interview, given how long it has taken to provide a lot of these workers with basic things like masks and adequate testing.
In America 2.0, we must address the changing work force and figure out a new way to formulate what an employee actually is, as the economy continues to change quickly. It begins by acknowledging after the crisis that our essential workers are, in fact, essential and not fungible.In America 2.0, we must address the changing work force and figure out a new way to formulate what an employee actually is, as the economy continues to change quickly. It begins by acknowledging after the crisis that our essential workers are, in fact, essential and not fungible.
The same goes for education. While it is no secret that the system to educate our children is broken in many places, the virus has shown us how quickly it can break for everyone and how badly tech solutions work as a replacement. I know of no parents, including those living in what are considered good school districts, who are happy with their children’s online classes.The same goes for education. While it is no secret that the system to educate our children is broken in many places, the virus has shown us how quickly it can break for everyone and how badly tech solutions work as a replacement. I know of no parents, including those living in what are considered good school districts, who are happy with their children’s online classes.
While tech has long held itself out as the promise for universal education — for all from anywhere — the industry’s ability to provide an experience that is close to the analog has been an embarrassment. It’s a mishmash — including the security and privacy minefield of Zoom, the relentless lack of creativity of Google docs and a lot of confusion with basic scheduling online. This is true for those in lower grades up to college.While tech has long held itself out as the promise for universal education — for all from anywhere — the industry’s ability to provide an experience that is close to the analog has been an embarrassment. It’s a mishmash — including the security and privacy minefield of Zoom, the relentless lack of creativity of Google docs and a lot of confusion with basic scheduling online. This is true for those in lower grades up to college.
And it is worse still for those without adequate internet connections or proper devices to do their schoolwork, the very children most at risk in these lost months. Tech-driven online schools do not work for the mass of people in any way that inspires learning. There is a real opportunity to come up with truly creative solutions to allow more students to thrive.And it is worse still for those without adequate internet connections or proper devices to do their schoolwork, the very children most at risk in these lost months. Tech-driven online schools do not work for the mass of people in any way that inspires learning. There is a real opportunity to come up with truly creative solutions to allow more students to thrive.
Interestingly, the work-from-home technologies have been more adaptable. While the same security and privacy issues exist for adults using work-from-home tools, the use of video conferencing, combined with productivity technologies from companies like Slack, has made WFH a pretty good experience for many.Interestingly, the work-from-home technologies have been more adaptable. While the same security and privacy issues exist for adults using work-from-home tools, the use of video conferencing, combined with productivity technologies from companies like Slack, has made WFH a pretty good experience for many.
I think a lot of employers will find that productivity has risen in the past month or so. Of course, this works only for “knowledge workers,” not for those who must be physically present at jobs, which points to the imperative to further fund an economy that can flexibly shift its work force to meet whatever needs come up. Work has been changing quickly and usually to the detriment of those who are in the jobs that will ultimately — and now much sooner — be sidelined by automation and robotics advances, which will now get even more attention to protect us in the next crisis.I think a lot of employers will find that productivity has risen in the past month or so. Of course, this works only for “knowledge workers,” not for those who must be physically present at jobs, which points to the imperative to further fund an economy that can flexibly shift its work force to meet whatever needs come up. Work has been changing quickly and usually to the detriment of those who are in the jobs that will ultimately — and now much sooner — be sidelined by automation and robotics advances, which will now get even more attention to protect us in the next crisis.
And if one thing is certain for America 2.0, there will be a next crisis — and one after that. While many of us like to think that this pandemic is a “black swan” event that no one could have prepared for, there were many smart people who sketched out this crisis many years ago.And if one thing is certain for America 2.0, there will be a next crisis — and one after that. While many of us like to think that this pandemic is a “black swan” event that no one could have prepared for, there were many smart people who sketched out this crisis many years ago.
In his now famous and prescient speech at TED in 2015, the Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates drew an imaginary picture that might as well be a photo of right now. After outlining what could happen, he noted that “we’re not ready for the next epidemic,” and he clearly mapped out a way to make a new kind of world, one that could have been created right away:In his now famous and prescient speech at TED in 2015, the Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates drew an imaginary picture that might as well be a photo of right now. After outlining what could happen, he noted that “we’re not ready for the next epidemic,” and he clearly mapped out a way to make a new kind of world, one that could have been created right away:
We can build a really good response system. We have the benefits of all the science and technology that we talk about here. We’ve got cellphones to get information from the public and get information out to them. We have satellite maps where we can see where people are and where they’re moving. We have advances in biology that should dramatically change the turnaround time to look at a pathogen and be able to make drugs and vaccines that fit for that pathogen. So we can have tools, but those tools need to be put into an overall global health system.
Sadly, his plans were not put into place. But that does not mean we can’t make new ones for the next phase of our lives. Whatever you want call it, America 2.0 or a pivot or the new future, it’s time to start.Sadly, his plans were not put into place. But that does not mean we can’t make new ones for the next phase of our lives. Whatever you want call it, America 2.0 or a pivot or the new future, it’s time to start.
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