Ep. 45: Joe Waters on the Common Good, Family Policy, and Predictability

Lura Forcum and Lauren Hall host Joe Waters, CEO of Capita, to discuss how government should promote the common good by creating social conditions that help people and families flourish. Waters explains Capita’s founding in 2018 to address how major transformations—artificial intelligence, demographic change, political realignment, and climate disruption—affect families, and to push longer-term policy thinking beyond short-term fixes. He highlights Capita’s work with the Aspen Institute on the U.S. Early Years Climate Action Task Force and its Unifying Family Policy series. The conversation focuses on public distrust driven by systems failures, the need for politicians to listen more directly to constituents, and the importance of stability and predictability in work schedules and public institutions. They also discuss mental health as shaped by family and community conditions, Waters’ Catholic social teaching framework, and sources of optimism including springtime and anticipated papal interventions.00:00 Common Good Defined00:44 Podcast Introductions02:18 Why Capita Exists05:52 Climate and Early Years08:08 Family Policy Agenda10:27 Wicked Problems Framework11:58 Center Left Lost Narrative17:20 FDR Lessons on Trust19:17 Listening and Access Gap26:47 Stability and Predictability29:47 Unpredictability And Politics30:48 Regressive Impacts Of Closures32:01 Institution Attacks And Chaos33:54 Democrats And Durable Governance34:42 Cuts Medicaid Snap Fallout36:15 Exploitation And Anti Incumbent Wave37:43 Mental Health Beyond Individuals42:07 Common Good And Citizenship45:59 Stability Across Ideologies49:56 Catholic Social Teaching Lens51:22 Wrap Up And Where To Follow52:18 Optimism Spring And Pope Leo54:33 Final Thanks And OutroResourcesFind Joe and his podcast Per Capita at Capita.org. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wemadethispolitical.substack.com