Welcome back to the 10 Blocks podcast. This is your host, Brian Anderson, editor of City Journal.

The American working class is facing an ongoing crisis. Wages have stagnated for more than a

generation. Reliance on welfare programs in many sectors of society has surged. Life expectancy has

actually declined in various areas as substance abuse and suicide rates climb.

The future of work has become a central issue for us here at City Journal.

Last year we published an entire issue called The Shape of Work to Come,

featuring articles on the great American domestic crisis of our time, long-term joblessness.

Today, we're going to talk about a fascinating

and vitally important new book by Oren Cass, the once-in-future worker, a vision for the renewal

of work in America. The book has already generated a blizzard of comment and discussion,

including a time cover story and a column by the New York Times

as David Brooks, calling it absolutely brilliant.

Our conversation with Oren begins after this.

Thank you. Hello again, everyone. This is Brian Anderson, the editor of City Journal. Joining me on the show today is Oren Cass. Orrin is a senior fellow

at the Manhattan Institute, where he focuses on issues ranging from welfare to climate change,

and he writes regularly for City Journal, among many other outlets. Before joining us, he was

Domestic Policy Director of Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential campaign. Orrin's new and first book

is called The Once and Future Worker, a Vision for the Renewal of Work in America. Orrin, thanks for

coming to New York. Oh, thanks so much for having me. Now, to start off, what exactly is the

government's role in labor markets?

This is a crucial theme of your book.

There are laws about the right to organize unions, unemployment benefits, but what's the range of it?

...