The Thing That Works
The article discusses the criticisms of capitalism, particularly among young people who attribute various societal issues to it. Despite these criticisms, the author argues that capitalism has been the most effective system for improving living standards and reducing poverty. The piece emphasizes that wealth creation through voluntary transactions benefits both buyers and sellers.
- ▪Young people often blame capitalism for poverty, racism, and climate change.
- ▪The author argues that capitalism, despite its flaws, has lifted more people out of poverty than any other system.
- ▪Voluntary transactions in capitalism create wealth, benefiting both consumers and producers.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
The Thing That Works John Stossel 4:00 PM | May 16, 2026 AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite Young people now blame capitalism for poverty, racism, high prices, even climate change. They listen to people like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who says, "Capitalism ... is the absolute pursuit of profit at all human, environmental and social cost. That is not a redeemable system." Advertisement googletag.cmd.push(function () { googletag.display("div-gpt-300x250_4"); //googletag.pubads().refresh([gptAdSlot["div-gpt-300x250_4"]]) }); Give me a break. Yes, capitalism is often ugly. It brings out greed in some, exacerbates wealth differences, creates pollution (creating an actual need for government regulation, which capitalism funds) and leaves some people behind.
…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Hot Air.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from Hot Air
