QUORA*: ‘Is it fair to claim that capitalism does not create better lives, but simply shifts the suffering somewhere else?’

QUORA*: ‘Is it fair to claim that capitalism does not create better lives, but simply shifts the suffering somewhere else?’

I posted this answer:

It’s not fair to claim either.

Every social system aside from capitalism--socialism, theocracy, feudalism, monarchy, democracy, whatever--is based on the idea that the individual is subordinate to the ruler. In other words, statism.

Capitalism, the logical result of the Enlightenment principles essentialized in the Declaration of Independence, for the first time rejects the subservient premise to declare that every individual is to be free to govern is own life according to his own judgement, in strictly voluntary association with others. Unlike all other systems, capitalism has no central planner; no social organizer; no czars, no grand force “creating better lives” or “shifting the suffering.” The consequence has been widespread flourishing based on individual effort to whatever extent capitalism is allowed. But the fundamental cause is individual rights.

The error behind a question like this is that the correspondent starts from the standard of collectivism/statism. It can’t be done. Capitalism is individualist/constitutional republicanism. If some people succeed and others don’t, look to the individuals--to their character and choices, to whatever extent anti-capitalist (anti-liberty) government policies inhibit their advancement, etc.

Related Reading;

Why Capitalism Needs a Moral Sanction

QUORA: 'Can certain forms of capitalism be made to work for the people instead of just the elite?'

Capitalism .org

What is Capitalism—Ayn Rand

The Capitalist Manifesto: The Historic, Economic and Philosophic Case for Laissez-Faire—Andrew Bernstein

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