Capitalism and Its Alternatives

In American society, capitalism functions more like a religion than a mere economic system. Criticizing the system has meant breaking a taboo. In a welcome development, polls indicate that the majority of younger people no longer view the free market system as sacred, particularly since it is not working very well for them, and actually prefer socialism. In this section, I address the simple-minded, often wrong, and destructive psychological assumptions that underly capitalism. I also suggest that our economy be based on a more sophisticated and compassionate understanding of what makes us tick.