In 2022, the nations that are free, partly free, not free

[Hortensis]

7. :) Hi. I'm saying that socialism cannot be a viable answer to the

dangers of the development of uberwealthy, uberpowerful classes -- because socialism doesn't work and people don't want it. Most simply are not suited to it, above all because of its limitations on personal freedoms and possibilities. We know that.

While the huge problems arising from far too much wealth and power being amassed by a few are horribly real, the answer to the threat of that kind of authoritarian control simply cannot be any system that won't work well. (!)

Most of the problems being attributed to capitalism to make it seem unsustainable (beyond its genuine well known drawbacks), are actually problems of bad management of capitalism. By people. All of whom would still be here under any system. (Just look at the aggressive macro-authoritarian mischief what "socialist" China became is making around the planet, btw.)

Reality is that capitalism done even partway right is proven many times over to work far better, make far more freedom possible, and suit the wishes of far more people than any other system.

I know I'm being redundant, but it matters enormously that capitalism has never had to be imposed on "the masses" by ruthless leaders, lied about to trick people into voting for it, pushed to desperate people as a last option, or kept in place by increasingly harsh authoritarian controls. It happens naturally. Like any system, it does need to be controlled, directed, adjusted, and perhaps even remade to fit to new realities.

As for blaming attacks on freedom on capitalism itself, rather than failure to control the attackers, check the OP's map? It's not a coincidence that the world's free nations all have capitalist or at least free market economies.

The institution of capitalism helped lift whole populations, large majorities, out of the previous abject poverty that was the human condition and helped make possible the personal choices that are the essence of freedom. It's what we do with it.

Under any system, the answer to the problems you describe all too well has to be putting a leash on those people who would (and do!) abuse any system to amass far too much wealth and power -- and relieving them of both.

I'm all in with completely eliminating uberwealthy classes that didn't exist 50 years ago and vastly shrinking income disparities -- and good news is that not only is capitalism no barrier, but we've done it before before. Also that the danger's grown to the point that there are increasing national and international efforts to get that leash on.

Thanks for the interesting graphs. I'm always a sucker for them.