Reply #6: I dont' think that's quite the issue.

[AP]

I don't have a problem with inventiveness being turned into the production of goods that people really want and need and which make life more interesting, rewarding and pleasurable.

The problem isn't so much the underlying commercial incentive. The problem is when you have some commercial interests that are so large and powerful that they exert themselves on the marketplace (and the university) in way that's meant to stifle any inventiveness that would threaten their hegemony.

For example, say, in the US, that the oil industry becomes so powerful that it decides to undermine research at state universities, and research subsidized by the federal government in renewable energy sources. Well, solar and wind power commercial interests trying to be inventive are still interested in commerce and making money. So it's not that they are capitalist that is the problem. The problem is that we have very powerful interests looking after short term profitability who have control over the government.

Socialism isn't the solution. The solution is to limit the power of money in politics in society. It's to level the playing field, and not to get rid of capitalism.