>Capitalism is good for stimulating growth, but extended use of it ultimately ends in a consolidation of wealth and power.

So long as institution are weakened/not strengthened.

So long as power is derived from the people/voters and there's transparency in the political process, there is nothing to worry about.

>Hell, even authoritarianism has its uses, although it's difficult (but not impossible) to institute temporarily. The handling of COVID is a perfect example of a proper time for authoritarianism for the good of humanity. Too many people were too dumb to follow the rules that could have made the impacts of COVID substantially less, meaning less deaths and less of a hit on the global economy and supply chain. There have been countries that successfully have used temporary authoritarian means for the good of the citizens, and then those powers were abandoned.

Political and voter realities are the only concern, if the people want to bestow emergency powers on the "imperial" president, then that's democracy and the will of the people (see de Gaul and Caesar)

>It's a dangerous move, but the tool itself is just a force, like you said.

Indeed.

>So yeah, they're all tools, but as the saying goes "if a hammer is your only tool, then everything starts to look like a nail", and you can cause some real damage when you don't use the right tool for the job. I think the problem arose mainly during the cold war when US vs Russia became Capitalism vs Communism, and economic systems were forced into our personal identities, and we were taught that capitalism was the best system for everything ever

I am not American or western but I still uphold the belief that capitalism (excepting laissez-faire capitalism and its ilk, of course) is the all around best mode of economy.

It is a system that supports meritocracy and fosters innovations that improve the quality of our lives.

Sure, some people will benefit more than others but a raising tide lifts all boats big and small and ideal shouldn't be the enemy of good.

>even though it only won out in that particular situation because that situation called for rapid growth,

False, I can't get into it in a reddit comment but communism was the main disease that caused the systematic symptoms that USSR suffered from.

I suggest you read up on communist command economy to properly understand it.