| Yeah, you've been respectful.
I understand what you're saying.
I think the best response I have is that I tend, in discussions, to consider the ideal forms of, in this case, capitalism and socialism as opposed to how they currently exist. And I also consider them only in their relation to economics.
Also, the big reason why it is probably true that people want socialism to work best but capitalism rings truer is because... and I want to make sure I convey this correctly...
Socialism (economically) is better for a perfect Communism (government) populated by citizens where each and every one of them has more moral and social responsibility towards their fellow man than they have themselves.
Capitalism (economically) is better for a perfect Democracy (government) populated by citizens where each and every one of them votes based on a moral and social responsibility towards themselves before others.
We perceive the former as nobler, loftier, and a greater aspiration.
But the truth is that what makes us human is that we prefer that latter... and we dislike that aspect of ourselves.
And here is how this relates to your comments...
I think that one of the many reasons this country struggles is because politicians have tried to force us to accept a system that is based on that selfless moral / social responsibility while still trying to maintain aspects of the individual moral / social responsibility.
Foremost on my mind is the problem with monopolies.
A monopoly represents the ultimate in Capitalist achievement, and that entity which holds the monopoly knows that it cannot gouge prices, or else they will no longer provide that service.
When monopolies were established (in America, at least), instead of letting the public control the market themselves, which is a natural consequence of a "greedy" monopoly, the government intervened in market affairs. |