Edward, if capitalism worked, and it has been going for 250 years, we would not have:

1. A great divide between the first world and the 3rd world.

2. Climate change.

3. Continual wars.

4. 75% to 95% of people hating their jobs, depending on which country.

Don't confuse the freedom that the Enlightenment brought with the prosperty that Capitalism brought.

The old world grew rich with plunder during the 18th and 19th century. At the same time, steam engines, telecommunications, electricity, etc. were all in their pioneering stages. This had nothing to do with capitalism. It was because the Enlightenment laid down the rules for the scientific methodology and the power of the church was removed. No more people being burnt at the stake...

The early wealth of America also had nothing to do with the 'work ethic.' It had to do with plunder, theft, a new world where everything was for the taking. People could take what land there was, shoot bison, mine for gold, etc. People can't do that today. The world doesn't work that way anymore.

Also, don't confuse trade with capitalism. Trade has always existed. Capitalism has not. Also, an economy is a system of production and distribution. Profit is not necessary in order to produce things or to distribute things So long as people have their needs met, they are happy to do the work that needs to be dfone.

The people who want profit - excessive profits - lie when they say thaat people wouldn't be motivated to work if profit wasn't there. Most of the world works, and they don't make any profit, so it's a complete lie.

Also, the idea that business owners are smarter than other people isn't true either. Most of them take the ideas of other people and they have the resources to do so. I don't want to go into all of this. Your best bet is simply to read the work of economists like John Milton Keyes.