If you have capitalism that is heavily supported by a non-market system then you don’t really have capitalism. Heck, the big thing about capitalism is that there’s a massive threat of being without which forces people into exploitative situations. The concept of money is not locked to capitalism, despite the beliefs of what seems to be the majority of people, it is simply hyper-prioritized in that system.
Capitalism is where those with the most money have the most power, socialism is where society at large has the most power, etc. Whatever goes in front of the -ism is what gets put first.
Basically, you can 100% have private businesses under an -ism which largely prioritizes people, not capital. A government will operate utilities, education, healthcare, etc., as well as offer basic services like grocery stores and internet, and private business can handle your fancy bakeries, clothing stores, electronics, instruments, and all that stuff.
If this was the case where we have to adheree strictly to the definition of capitalism then what the US has is no more a capitalistic society than say the Nordic nations. We have a hybrid approach to capitalism in the same way that we have to a democratic Republic and not a democracy. The Nordic nations employ a form of capitalism called welfare capitalism. They have the fallback that OP was asking about and is still capitalism. The US has social programs so therefore is not pure capitalism. Full stop. Why not slide the gradient a little more?
If you have capitalism that is heavily supported by a non-market system then you don’t really have capitalism. Heck, the big thing about capitalism is that there’s a massive threat of being without which forces people into exploitative situations. The concept of money is not locked to capitalism, despite the beliefs of what seems to be the majority of people, it is simply hyper-prioritized in that system.
Capitalism is where those with the most money have the most power, socialism is where society at large has the most power, etc. Whatever goes in front of the -ism is what gets put first.
Basically, you can 100% have private businesses under an -ism which largely prioritizes people, not capital. A government will operate utilities, education, healthcare, etc., as well as offer basic services like grocery stores and internet, and private business can handle your fancy bakeries, clothing stores, electronics, instruments, and all that stuff.
If this was the case where we have to adheree strictly to the definition of capitalism then what the US has is no more a capitalistic society than say the Nordic nations. We have a hybrid approach to capitalism in the same way that we have to a democratic Republic and not a democracy. The Nordic nations employ a form of capitalism called welfare capitalism. They have the fallback that OP was asking about and is still capitalism. The US has social programs so therefore is not pure capitalism. Full stop. Why not slide the gradient a little more?