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Famed political commentator George Will wrote a recent Washington Post column suggesting Colorado Gov. Jared Polis has presidential potential.

I like the idea of Republican nominee Liz Cheney vs. Democrat Polis in 2024, in large part because no matter who wins, I believe the country benefits. I likely would support Polis in such a matchup. First, I feel he’s been a great governor and has substantially helped the state. Second, I disagree with parts of Cheney’s conservative platform.

This matchup would mean that Trump, DeSantis, and their ilk have been marginalized. Even if any of them choose to compete as independent candidates, the likely outcome would be to ensure Polis’ election by bleeding off voters who otherwise would support Cheney.

Will’s column continues, “Although his parents were, he says, 1960s hippies, he chose to make a mint from capitalism rather than overthrowing it. After sailing through high school in three years, at 17 he arrived at Princeton, where, as a sophomore, he and two friends founded an internet-access company. He founded two other internet-related companies, sold all three for more than $1 billion, and used some of this to found — heresy alert — two charter schools. This sin against progressivism was perhaps forgivable because the schools’ primary purpose was to help children of immigrants.”

In his column, headlined “Why Colorado Gov. Jared Polis could answer Democrats’ 2024 prayers,” Will notes that it’s “time for public discussion of Democrats who are plausible presidents. The nation could do worse than to start here. Colorado’s Gov. Jared Polis is artistic in his rhetorical avoidance of presidential politics: The mere mention of it produces a Jackson Pollock-style splatter of verbiage about how he thinks, and presumably dreams, always and only about Colorado. However, if he is reelected in November, his personal fortune might be put in the service of his impressive political talents and ambitions. If so, a national audience can assess his knack for leavening his high-octane progressivism with departures from that church’s strict catechism.”

I happen to agree with what I would call Polis’ “capitalism with a conscience.” Unfettered, laissez-faire capitalism that only caters to greed, power, and money has created huge toxicity in corporate America. In contrast, practitioners of capitalism with a conscience leverage the best of capitalism with the desire to do good, not just be good on a balance sheet.

Some very successful companies worldwide have found that a consummate, benign commitment to customers/clients, employees, and other stakeholders also feeds a healthy bottom line. One worldwide movement, B Corp, is dedicated to certifying companies demonstrating their commitment and adherence to a variety of “do good” initiatives ranging from customer service to saving the planet (the most “global” stakeholder of all).

To those who promulgate that this “three legged stool” of good business—customers/clients, employees, and bottom line—is liberal-minded BS, I offer one word: “Costco.” Through consistently solid customer service, employment treatment far above the retail norm, and support of other stakeholders, their bottom line is solid and growing. They “do good” (profitability) by “being good” (supporting stakeholders).

Costco-like companies are becoming more commonplace. But not commonplace enough. The old-line “greed is good” mentality still prevails, evidenced by the words and actions of Trump and his adherents.

It’s way past time for some old-fashioned, truth-laden enlightenment. Clearly, we’re not going to get it from the radical right…or radical left for that matter. Politicians such as Jared Polis, who thankfully seem to have aims toward statesmanship (versus “say/do anything to gain power” politics), are what this country needs to cultivate.

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