Welcome to the new, sorta socialist era of American capitalism

Carl Godfrey for BI

This is the first story in Business Insider's new series "The Future of Capitalism." The series looks at ways Americans' confidence in capitalism has been eroding, and what related changes in our economy mean for your work and wealth.

To believe in American capitalism has long meant believing in a mostly laissez-faire approach from the government — it sets the rules of the game, but it doesn't have a piece on the board. Markets pick winners and losers, not Washington.