Reply #13: The Constitution doesn't spell out capitalism as the means of

[MineralMan]

commerce, but it pretty much leaves commerce up to the states, in theory. It does offer a bit of regulation for interstate commerce by prohibiting tariffs and the like within the country.

I think the primary reason the Constitution blocks Socialism is the freedoms implicit in the Constitution. It would be an easy argument that an individual could engage in any business he or she wished, or to join in groups to engage in business. That would allow those businesses to compete with any governmental business. I don't think the federal government would be allowed to engage in business under the Constitution, even though it actually does in many cases, through government owned corporations like the Postal Service.

Very difficult question.