System Upgrade: Running a 2026 Economy on 1938 Software

My entire campaign could be about holding this Republican administration and Congress to account for its corruption, incompetence, and lies.

But we have to look to the future. We have to plan for progress.

We are standing at a precipice in history. The internet, robotics, automation, and Artificial Intelligence are making us more productive than at any point in human existence. We are generating record wealth.

But here is the system error: We are running this hyper-modern 2026 economy on 1938 software.

The 40-hour work week became the standard in 1938. That was 87 years ago.

In 87 years, our technology has gone from steam engines to self-driving cars, but our definition of "full-time work" hasn't changed by a single minute.

It is time for an upgrade.

The Proposal: A 32-Hour Work Week We need to move the standard full-time work week from 40 hours to 32 hours—with no loss in pay.

If technology allows us to do 5 days of work in 4, the worker should get that day back.

The Economic Engine This isn’t just about enabling the pursuit of happiness; it’s about hard economic growth.

• Labor Demand: When we reduce hours, companies need to hire more people to cover the shifts. That tightens the labor market and reduces unemployment.

• The Leisure Economy: A three-day weekend means more travel, more dining out, more hobbies, and more local commerce. Leisure time fuels the economy.

How It Works

• For Salaried Employees: We move to a 4-day work week. Same pay.

• For Hourly Workers: We increase the base wage by 25%. That means a worker earns the exact same paycheck for 32 hours that they used to earn for 40. Every hour after that is overtime.

We create a massive stimulus of time, jobs, and spending. We can’t just let AI replace us. We have to design a system where technology liberates us.

We’ve been running the same code for 87 years. It’s time for an update.