"Capitalism - relies on free-enterprise, competition and reward - efficiency and market driven - that flourishes best in free-thinking societies - for those to be truly free-thinking societies certain freedom's must exist - innovation must be encouraged which requires constant challenging of the status quo - that requires tolerance, pragmatism and flexibility - lack of central control and guidance rather than regulation - All of which has the ability to exist under a democratic form of government, the social conscience of the society being set as agreed by the people who make up that society."

Teribus

Perhaps, Mr T, if that's your take on Capitalism, then real Capitalism hasn't been tried ...

The system that we've got in the US/UK may depend on 'free-enterprise' and competition - but only the 'fat cats' seem to get the rewards. And it's not very efficient to allow the banking system to wreak such havoc that the whole f***king system collapses, is it?

In the capitalist enterprise that I worked in, until recently, innovation was certainly 'encouraged' (I think that senior management believed that they could have innovation by 'fiat'!) - just as long as it DIDN'T challenge the status quo. The whole 'enterprise' was run by the Marketing Dept. - who were among some of the most contemptible people I've ever met - shallow, vain, stupid,ignorant and insanely competitive and ambitious, yet, when it came to the crunch, terrified of risk. They wouldn't have recognised an innovative product if it had bitten them on the arse! All they really wanted to do was to slavishly copy the competition.

And when did you last challenge the status quo, Teribus? I thought that your whole aim in life was to defend it!

Recent events suggest that your darling 'free market' Capitalism is just as much of a shaky theoretical concept as Socialism. Still, look on the bright side, if we're patient, and wait for just a little longer, some of that wealth just might 'trickle down' - just like Thatcher said it would ... just a little longer ...