Reply #181: Capitalism constrains everyone to the same social outcome by making the Rat Race NECESSARY. Run or

[patrice]

DIE, to heck with your real abilities and talents if you can't compete with Wal Mart, you'll just have to starve. And we don't want your better widget because its different and you don't belong to our club and TPB don't want us to want it anyway. And if you make a widget that's a whole lot better than ours, we'll either buy or steal the rights to it and destroy it, a la Saturn's EV electric car.

The right forms and levels of socialism could provide enough of the basics that people would be free enough to complete their educations, or pursue the development of their talents, or become entrepreneurs, or engage in low-paid, though vital services, such as CNAs. Those who want them will have many more options with more than one economic game in town.