For many people, “capitalism” conjures up images of politically connected financial institutions receiving government favors; multinational corporations “outsourcing” American jobs to cheaper and less regulated labor markets abroad; giant retailers crushing helpless smaller competitors; exploitation of conscientious workers by uncaring employers; and the awarding of multi-billion-dollar bonuses to rich Wall Street executives.

Although most of these undesirable events result from massive government interference in the economy, the public at large perceives them as failures of capitalism. This happens because of the pervasive influence of the media and the public education system, both of which are overwhelmingly friendly to “activist” government and hostile to business.

However, propagandists for big government find it almost impossible to demonize the phrase “free market.” Both words in this phrase resonate favorably with the public, and “free market” is familiar to many people as shorthand for a system of voluntary exchange. While “capitalism” can readily be personified and caricatured (“evil capitalist,” “plutocrat,” “exploiter,” “monopolist”), the term “free market” does not lend itself to such verbal distortion — we never hear statists castigating “evil free marketers.”

When we promote our ethical and political principles through the use of logic, we are evoking people’s mental images as we attempt to appeal to their rational faculties. Our arguments can be much more persuasive if we strive to use words and phrases that evoke the most favorable images and associations in their minds. In this instance, promoting the “free market” rather than defending “capitalism” is more likely to achieve this goal.

From:
http://www.libertyunbound.com/node/1201

It's the difference between belief and understanding. Belief is easy, understanding is hard. "Capitalism is bad" is a mantra and mantra's are designed to be believed without critical analysis. It requires very little effort to memorize a few catch phrases and pretend they represent the truth. The reasons for the success of capitalism are complex and require an understanding of, at least, the basic elements of economics. When people do not comprehend liberty they cannot understand capitalism.

What is badly needed is a condensed version of Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations, including a point list of the features of a free market and why it works. An accompanying volume should be a criticism of today's market structure as a crippled form of crony capitalism, which leads to fascism.

This is what progressives want the youth of today to think, in spite of the fact that progressives created this problem.
It follows the liberal mindless out look of life...blame everything, everyone else for your own failures; it's a shear lack of accountability, a lack of awareness and no contact with a mind.

America and capitalism, just as much as mankind's ascension into consciousness posed a threat to the status quo.- those that cannot create value.

The degree of ignorance about economic systems is truly astonishing. When trying to explain the differences to some misguided folks, I am constantly confronted with, "Yes, but....." Which is the preface to an entirely misunderstood or outright ignorant statement. I have been having discussions like this for over 50 years and in all that time, I have never encountered such downright dumbness as I do now. If Ayn Rand were alive today, she might no longer hold her belief in the possibilities of the human race. Truth be told, I've come to the point where I am giving up on such discussions. I am not the voice of the turtle.

And they're adults today, Old ones.

Yes. Many people who are against capitalism are against some perversion or caricature of capitalism. I recall almost no anti-capitalist elements in my education, but it wasn't until after college that I learned what capitalsim was really about.

kids can learn capitalism through the barter system
among friends! . we should figure out a way to
encourage them! -- j
.

Its easy to get caught up in the complexities of life such that the idea of unregulated capitalism, free trade among people , and just being yourself gets lost.

Maybe simplicity is one of the attractions of pets. There is no lying with dogs and cats, and if you are not being open and honest, they know right away.

Capitalism is really easy to understand if you go to a farm in the country to buy things from the guy who grew the food. Its a pretty free exchange of something you have for something that the farmer has. Government has little influence out there insofar as the transaction is concerned.

So I would disagree somewhat with Ayn Rand that people have no way to discover the actual nature of capitalism. Its just not "called" that in the situation I describe above.

We are so far from that scenario in everyday life today, however, with the government involved in nearly everything we do. Its not capitalism any more.

Having just completed Dinesh D'Souza's book Stealing America, a scenario about a flute and 3 young people. Carla crafted a superb flute. But, she could not play it. Ann was a superb flute player. Bob wants the flute because he is poor and never had one. All 3 wanted the flute. I would suggest that if Bob had capitalistic talent he could take the flute and sell it. He could pay Carla to make more. Carla could provide a flute to Ann who could be paid for superb flute playing. Ann could repay Carla.
Viola!!!! All are happy productive citizens.
It is all so simple. This scenario from Amartya Sen's The Idea of Justice. I added the solution.

Ayn Rand thought it was that bad back in her day! Imagine what she would think of our "Educated" young people of today on the subject of them "understanding" or even having a clue as to the nature of Capitalism! It is scary what the Academic Elite have been able to get away with! If I were a college graduate of today, I would be lining up lawyer to file a Malpractice lawsuit against all of the schools I attended from Kindergarten up to and including graduate school or higher. Institutionalized ignorance is what they have paid for with their student loans, etc.

Tell it, Girl!
(That's why her picture hangs on my wall.)

Absolutely right. They also have no idea about the objective fairness, monotonic optimizing efficiency and natural basis of this system.