Is capitalism a religion?

[opebo]

However, there are many who (quite foolishly, in my opinion) completely refuse to admit any fault in the free market whatsoever.

There are faults as in any system, but it does work a good deal more effectively than government controlled economies.

All economies are State controlled, CC.

[opebo]

Say what you will about the benefits of the free market, but that's not one thing it would have fixed nearly fast enough to be just.

Well, the purpose of the free market system is not justice, equality, or fairness, but the efficient distribution of goods and services. If the ultimate goal is justice rather than efficiency, then, I suppose, you might support a different economic system.

Each person will judge each economic system subjectively, Emsworth, so to the vast majority - the working class - the 'efficiency' of the capitalist system is of no use.  To them it is higly inefficient at serving their interests, however efficient it may be at serving the interests of the owners.  Efficiency as in which system can produce the most from a given economy is of course of little interest to individuals, except as it effects their interests.

So, laissez faire capitalism fails the interest test for the great majority of people because of its distribution of production, and socialism fails the test (I am willing to assume) because of its inadequate overall production.  Either one is a bad choice for most people.  Which is why I advocate a perfect compromise between the two.