1/ In addition to handling the pandemic, the Western States Pact needs to expand its ambitions. First priority (and related to the pandemic): a regional "Medicare for All" that serves the needs of what would be the 4th largest economy in the world.

But that's not all…

2/ We need to think of the Pact as a kinda EU for the West Coast states. We need to adopt uniform standards and regulations (like fuel efficiency) across the three states so that we can leverage the size of our regional market to incentivize high standards and compliance…

3/ We need to adopt high labor standards (min wage, overtime, paid leave, collective bargaining) across the three states so that we can assure a highly paid and resilient workforce…

4/ We need to normalize regulations and licensing across the states so that businesses and licensed professionals (from doctors to plumbers to hair stylists, etc) are free to do business across state lines...

5/ And we need to agree to stand together against corporate interests so that we don't compete against each other in a race to the bottom in order to attract and keep jobs...

6/ We should also work to better integrate our state college and university systems so that credits are easily transferred, and all residents of the three states receive "in-Pact" tuition in all three states...

7/ And we should build high-speed rail across the length of the West Coast, so as to physically tie our states, our people, and our economies closer together.

8/ Those are just a few ideas for where the West Coast Pact goes next. Unfortunately, the US Constitution has left us with a federal government terribly unsuited to the moment. But apart from waging war and printing money, the West Coast Pact can help fill the void.