Too much to comment on here. In short your definition of capitalism is being defined by the "other." If there is physical coercion it is not capitalism.

Capitalism is non-coercive economic activity not directed by government. So, an anti-capitalist food co-op is a capitalist enterprise. People joined forces to create an enterprise (the very definition of in-corp-oration); they were not directed by the government; and they existed in freely -involved trade.

Take a look at Paris and Rome. Take a look at cities before elevators and you will find numerous beautiful, liveable areas with buildings in the 50-60 range. That is a good height. You're complaining about a 35 foot building?

Enforce yes. Having an ever increasing mission creep no.

No. Jails are not a sign of socialism. There is a lot wrong with our criminal justice system but, as far as I can tell, there aren't political prisoners. (Killing cops is to be punished even if the motivation was political.)

I bring this up because people fear corporations. But silly them they don't fear governments. Governments can imprison you; can kill you. Corporations simply try to sell you stuff and try to avoid paying salaries by bringing in cheaper workers - and sometimes try to skirt safety laws. ALL free-market capitalists from Menger, to von Mises, to Hayek to Ayn Rand to Milton Friedman all had strong roles for government (though limited). Not one of them was an anarcho-capitalist.

That's why you have limited government so that powerful forces cannot use the government to enforce their wishes.

No. Communism is the economic system in which individuals do not own any property - not simply the means of production.

and re France? If socialism is so good how come so many French people are emigrating to England and the US? Because they want to speak English?

Capitalism is the freedom of exchange through trade. What is possibly wrong with me trading one value (good or service) to you for another value? That, in essence is all capitalism is: the freedom to trade. Socialism states that this trade must first be approved by a government entity.

So, if I grow, make, create X and you're willing to pay for X what is the harm in that? Must everything (like kids selling lemonade) be documented, regulated and approved by a bureaucrat? You sure you want to live like that.

Socialism is where the means of production are entirely (or in practice close to entirely) run by, or controlled by, the government.

And socialism causes SOO much good. Yeah to governments telling everyone what to do and putting you in jail (or killing you) if you disagree.

People (companies) free do what they want. BAD

People with guns and the weight of the "law" (government) free to do what they want. GOOD.

I don't think so.

Are you seriously pretending that we have a free market in today's health care system?

I was born and raised there. I've lived in places with a 5 foot kitchen (24" stove, 6" landing, 18" sink, 12" landing) with the only cupboards above this. (That was the kitchen - the "back" was the living room.) I had more than 3 days worth of food in those cupboards. You had to worry about roaches so everything was in jars and the shelves were lined with jars of rice, beans, lentils, pasta, tomato sauce. I would buy 50 pound bags of rice and bags of dried beans and lentils and boxes ramen noodles and pasta. (Those were my starving student days.)

So, even in a small space people have more than 3 days of food.

Re batteries and other supplies (candles, oil lamps) yeah people are woefully unprepared which is why I think the lack of electricity is the real problem. You live above the 10th floor or so and you need electric pumps to bring water up to your floor.

I'm not going to comment on the rude and crime part. Whatever.

But the 3 days worth of food is simply silliness. Do you think people don't have food at home? What will turn NYC (and any big city into a nightmare) is the absence of electricity. The city will grind to a halt with that. One day is fine - but by day 3 that could be a real problem. And as time goes on and police and fire are unable to respond the situation can turn bad quickly. Without electricity there are no phones, no refrigeration, no cooking (a lot of people have electric stoves), no elevators, no subways, no traffic lights (not to mention no tv, no radio, no tunes).

But people will have enough food at home. (Whether they can cook the rice and beans and pasta is another story.)

One size does not have to fit all. That's a key problem with the sclerotic public school system we have today.

So what is states rights for except as a check and balance on the federal government. Take a look at the constitution and see what powers were given to congress and see if, perhaps, just perhaps, they've overstepped their reach.